YOUNG FLOWERS - The Daybreak

Young Flowers were a psychedelic , progressive rock group formed in Copenhagen in the summer of 1967 . The group consisted of Jens Henrik Dahl , guitar, he came from The Defenders , Peter Ingemann , electric bass and vocals, who had played in the Seven Sounds and Ken Gudman , drums, he also came from The Defenders.

Electric Sandwich - I Want You (1973)

Electric Sandwich were formed in late 1969 by a group of German students from Bonn. The band initially consisted of four musicians, all of whom had already played with other bands: bass player Klaus Lormann had been playing with "Chaotic Trust"; lead guitarist Jorg Ohlert used to be with "Slaves of Fire"; drummer Wolf Fabian, the founder of the band, had been touring with a band called "Muli and the Misfits", and singer Jochen "Archie" Carthaus sang with the "Flashbacks". Their own material has been recorded into the legendary Dieter Dirks Studio in Stommeln (1973 Brain catalogue). The music contains typical spaced out, freak n roll improvisations with many jazzy rock ingredients, folkish accents and Mellotron excursions.

Catapilla - It Could Only Happen To Me

Catapilla were an English progressive rock band and were active from the late 1960s till the first half of the 1970s. Their lead members were vocalist Anna Meek, and saxophonist Robert Calvert. They disbanded shortly after the release of their second album.

Catapilla were formed in the late 1960s in west London, with early members Malcolm Frith on drums, Dave Taylor on bass, Graham Wilson playing guitar and a wind section (Hugh Eaglestone, Robert Calvert and Thierry Rheinhart). Jo Meek was the first lead vocalist.

Black Sabbath manager Patrick Meehan produced the band's self-titled debut album, recorded with Anna Meek.

After the release of their first album, the group toured, and Eaglestone, Frith, Rheinhart and Taylor were substituted by Brian Hanson (drums), Ralph Rolinson (keyboards) and Carl Wassard (bass). With this new line-up, the band recorded their second album, Changes. This album is regarded as the group's main achievement, and had a great influence on other musicians of that time, although without mainstream success. Soon after the release of this album, Catapilla disbanded.

Members :

• Malcolm Frith – drums
• Dave Taylor – bass
• Graham Wilson – guitar
• Jo Meek – vocals
• Hugh Eaglestone – saxophone
• Robert Calvert – saxophone
• Thierry Rheinhart – woodwind
• Anna Meek – vocals
• Brian Hanson – drums
• Ralph Rolinson – keyboards
• Carl Wassard – bass

Discography :

• Catapilla (1971)
• Changes (1972)

Purple Overdose - 02 - Gonna Be Tomorrow, Today

PURPLE OVERDOSE were founded in Athens, Greece in 1987 by lead guitarist and vocalist Costas Constantinou. The band seeks to recreate the psychedelic atmosphere of the mid 1960's while blending hard rock, jazz, oriental and even some folklore into their music. The lyrics in English written by Constantinou, can be described as poetic and somewhat sentimental, and draw inspiration from the flower power movement of the 1960's. They embrace ideals of nature and freedom of spirit.

The band has released 9 albums: 5 studio albums, 3 live albums and a compilation album. The first album Exit 4 was released in 1988 and received critical acclaim. The arrangements on this debut album are slightly simpler than on later albums, incorporating elements of hard rock with psychedelia. The second album, Indigo (1990) marks a move towards more complex compositions. The next album to follow is the same-titled Purple Overdose introducing the flute (Vasilis Kapanikis) and elements of jazz, and a further move towards more progressive compositions. In the same vein is their forth album, Solemn Visions (1996) which experiments in places with a curious mixture of blues and oriental influences. The fifth studio album, Reborn, released in 1999, is arguably the pinnacle of their career. This album features longer spacier compositions, and again a variety of styles, showing the band at full maturity. Of the live releases of particular note is The Salmon's Trip whose title is taken from the track Reborn, a track which describes the life cycle of the salmon fish. There is also a composition album, Painting The Air which consists of tracks from the earlier years, as well as three previously unreleased compositions.

Purple Overdose have created the sound reminiscent of the 1960's while managing to produce modern, unique compositions to great effect, experimenting with a wide variety of sounds and styles. They are similar in style to The Smell Of Incense. Flower power lives on!

Musicians:
Costas Constantinou / Lead guitar, cymbal, effects, vocals
Christophoros Triantophilopoulos / Drums, percussion
Andreas Andriopoulos / Bass guitar
Vasilis Kapanikis / Keyboards, organ, mellotron, flute S.&T. recorders
Stavros Eleftheriou / Congas, jug, assorted percussion
Other contributors: Stelios Drisis, Aris Christou, Aris Kontoangelos, Tolis Labouris, Mihalis Vasiliou, Giorgios Papageorgiadis, Giorgos Nikas, and Makis Mpellos

Jack Of All Trades(gr.rock)- Freedom

This is a mini LP that closes the first and best period of the legendary Pegasus label. Jack Of All Trades was a great acid rock group from Greece, with double (male and female) vocals but unfortunately disbanded after this sole record. Four years after, on 1994, they released with different personnel one more album titled "Just Before Unfair Loss" on Ikaros Music.

Dragonwyck - Dead Man

This group from Cleveland were one of the most promising bands from the early 70´s in that area. After their first legendary 1970 heavy-psych album the keyboardist changed, and the band left their garagey Doors influences to create their own sound.
The music on these well produced stereo-recordings exists only on acetate (10 copies), and drifted more into the British vein of progressive rock, like King Crimson, Pink Floyd or Yes, but also reflects US-West Coast feeling like It´s a Beautiful Day.
By 1972 Dragonwyck was performing Moody Blues´complete 'Days of Future Passed' live on stage (!!!)

Central Nervous System - Why (1968)

Central Nervous System - 1968
Halifax

Doug Billard (vocals), Bruce Cassidy (trumpet), Keith Jollimore (saxophone, reeds), Jack S. Lilly (drums), Richard Oakley (bass), Jim White (guitar)

Band was originally known as "Five Sounds" and included keyboardist Joe Sealy. They released two singles in 1965 and 1966 on Epic which charted on Halifax radio station CHNS. In 1968 the "Five Sounds" were the house band on CBC television's "Where It's At" (the local segment of the national series) which was hosted by Frank Cameron and produced in Halifax.

In 1968 the band went to New York to record "I Could Have Danced All Night" album and changed name to "Central Nervous System" at the suggestion of Mark Joseph who worked at the Record Plant where the album was recorded. Album consisted of Billard and Jollimore penned originals and cover of Lonnie Mack's "Why".
Album was produced by Tom Wilson (Zappa, Dylan) and Eddie Kramer (Hendrix, Stones) was one of the engineers.This is a dance/pop/soul album with some occasional fuzz guitar.

Band split up in 1969 just before the album had a chance to try itself in the marketplace and dates were lined up to tour in the United States. Billard and White both went on to play in "Pepper Tree" at different times. Oakley switched to lead guitar and was a founding member of "Soma". Jollimore and Cassidy both went to "Lighthouse".

Albums:
1968 I Could Have Danced All Night (Music Factory) MFS-12003

Blackbirds - Give Me Freedom (1971)

Blackbirds

Studio Album, “Touch of music”, released in 1971

In early 1970 band leader Werner Breinig had to look for new musicians to join the band, and he found Peter Bely, who would replace Hubert Koop on the organ, and Eckhard Groß, who stepped in for drummer Georg Klein. Klein had already replaced Helmut Vigneron on the drums after the LP "No Destination" (LHC38) had been finished. Heinz Koop remained bass guitarist. The group tried to create an independent program and was eventually contracted to make records for BASF's sub label "Cornet". They changed their name into Blackbirds 2000, a fact that Werner Breinig comments on as follows: This was the record company's wish. Their aim was a long-term perspective, and the name Blackbirds 2000 was supposed to put this across.

In 1970 the single "Let's Do It Together"/"Preludium" (Cornet 5025) was published. The record company had "Woodstock-Sound" printed on the cover, so potential buyers would know what musical style the songs were. And indeed, "Let's Do It Together" turned out to be a psyche-delic-rock earworm that could compare with international recordings. "Preludium" on the B-side recalls Johan Sebastian Bach's opus, not just in name, but also in content, similar to "The Nice". This type of music was very popular back then. The proceeds of the single did not fulfil BASF's expectations and the contract was not extended. The band then changed their name back to the original The Blackbirds, and Werner Breinig set course for Progressive Rock. In 1971 the band recorded their 2nd LP "Touch Of Music" in the Rhenus Studio Cologne. Konrad (Conny) Plank, relatively unknown at that time, operated the mixing desk. Only Werner Breinig was left from the original band, and apart from vocals and guitar, he was now also responsible for flute and violin.

Peter Bely was still playing the organ, Wolfgang Bode the bass guitar and Charles Sikora the drums. The distinctive feature of the music was its very refined musical structure. Songwriter Werner Breinig had begun writing down the titles on sheets of music, not least since Peter Bely, although an excellent note reader, was less able to make own contributions and had to read from the sheets of music. Therefore it was up to Werner Breinig to hand in the score for "Touch Of Music", which got good reviews in contemporary reference books.... ”

Tracks:

1. Präludium (2:17)

2. All You Need (8:30)

3. Return From The Water (7:08)

4. Give Me Freedom (5:49)

5. What Is Free (4:08)

6. Come Back (10:55)

+ Bonus tracks:

7. Let's Do It Together (2:51)

8. Preludium (2:21)

Line-up:
- Peter Bely / piano, organ, vocals
- Wolfgang Bode / bass, vocals
- Werner Breinig / guitar, violin, flute, vocals
- Charles Sikora / drums, vocals

SEASTONE - mirrored dreams UK HEAVY PROG. 1978

SEA STONE - Mirrored Dreams. 

Christian rock

• Classic 1970s Christian rock
• Rare private pressing
• Finally back on CD
• Searing guitar leads

‘Richly melodic rock with world-weary vocals and tasteful guitar leads  – Galactic Ramble

Track Listing
1. Brand New Day
2. Rolling Stone
3. Helping Hand
4. Waves Of Loneliness
5. Foolish Hero
6. Unborn Child
7. Precious Dreams
8. Wake Up

Originally released on the tiny Plankton label in a tiny run in 1978, this British quartet’s sole album was recorded over the preceding five years. Containing some intense jams with searing guitar leads from leader Simon Law, it is widely regarded as one of the best albums to have emerged from the 1970s Christian rock scene.