The College Crowd Digs Me

TCCDM Pulls One Out: "Kings of Oblivion" - Pink Fairies (1973)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 21:35:49 +0000

"Kings of Oblivion" - Pink Fairies (1973)

I found Pink Fairies' "Kings of Oblivion," their third and last album, at The Record Ship shortly before their move to a more easily found spot at 2210 E. Douglas. Hailing from the UK, this was the band's only album ever released in the United States, and still not an easy square to find. At this point, the band was a fiery power trio, sounding a bit like early Hawkwind, but with some Detroit punk-chip attitude. And it's a banger. No ballads or slow burns. And though the band's earlier stuff was heavily psych-dusted, here the Pink Fairies leave the psych business behind for a more hard-rock proto-metal soundscape.

The band was made up of storm-bringer guitarist and songwriter Larry Wallis, bassist Duncan Sanderson, and drummer Russell Hunter, and in 1973 you can hear the band trying to push things forward, rubbing shoulders with both proto-metal and some aggressive attitude-scratch. Many call this album their favorite. All Music Guide gives this underground square 4-plus stars, and I agree. This is a strong porcupine.

"Kings of Oblivion" - Pink Fairies (back)

Favorites include:

"City Kids"

"Chromium Plating"

"Raceway"

"Chambermaid"

This copy of "Kings of Oblivion" is an original US pressing with "STERLING" stamped in the deadwax. The vinyl is VG+, and the cover is a strong VG with mild ringwear, but no spine damage or splits. I don't remember exactly what I paid, but The Record Ship was having a "Please Help Us Move" sale at the time, so I'm sure it was a good buyer's price. All I know for certain is that after a couple of spins, I had to make a refrigerator door-dash for some of my Bite Me BBQ I had leftover from last night.

Polydor label

Cat #

PD-5537

SIDE A DEADWAX

PD-5537-A-RE-1A STERLING 22

SIDE B DEADWAX

PD-5537-B-RE-1A 22

"Chromium Plating" - Pink Fairies / "Kings Of Oblivion" (1973)

TRACKS:

A1 "City Kids" 3:45

A2 "I Wish I Was A Girl" 9:41

A3 "When's The Fun Begin?" 6:13

B1 "Chromium Plating" 3:48

B2 "Raceway" 4:08

B3 "Chambermaid" 3:18

B4 "Street Urchin" 7:07

PERSONNEL:

Larry Wallis - guitar, vocals

Duncan Sanderson - bass, vocals

Russell Hunter - drums

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM In The Mailbox..."Garage Country" - Uncle Ben's Remedy (2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 23:03:41 +0000

"Garage Country" - Uncle Ben's Remedy (2026)

From various small towns of Western New York, Uncle Ben's Remedy delivers a satisfying square of edgy, poignant, rockin' alt-country, double-dipped in outdoor Americana sauce. It's fun, and it's real. The band sounds totally locked and loaded and make it sound easy, like a spatula working flapjacks. Their latest album "Garage Country" dropped October 16, 2026, and it's a player.

"Garage Country" is filled with real fire and passion, casting out one winner after another, with some songs having an almost country-rock Drive-By Trucker vibe and a little Todd Snider wink. But just a little. UBR bring their own ball to the court, and the listener quickly knows they’re in good hands. Tongue-in-cheek one minute, heart-on-sleeve the next, and a whole lot of raucous joy. And as good as the musicianship is and it's solid, it's Ben Westlund's songwriting that really captures the imagination. The songs are filled with lyrics that constantly please and surprise and are easy to claim. Lines like, "She was juggling kids like she always did, but gravity was being a jerk." and "You’ve owned every campfire you’ve ever played." Golden nuggets abound. Nothing sounds cheap or tossed.

Listening to "Garage Country," I got the sense Uncle Ben's Remedy is a band who’ve had to cut their teeth a time or two driving narrow roads where one side's cliff and the other's rock wall, and yet somehow made it through the mire unfettered and open for business. They're a band who's easy to pull for. And "Garage Country," the band's seventh square, is a widescreen door, an ice-cold pitcher of lemonade, and a real good place to pull up a piece of seat. Get you some.

"Garage Country" - Uncle Ben's Remedy (back)

Favorites include:

"Gravestone"

"Calving Season"

"The Going"

"Everything (Strawberry Wine)"

"Garage Country" from Uncle Ben's Remedy comes in a single cardboard sleeve with a picture of a raging barn fire. The back shows the band playing in the barn ashes. The CD holds ten songs and about 32+ minutes of music. I had UBR riding shotgun with me the other day when I drove out to Augusta, KS, about 21 miles east of Wichita, so I got to spend some quality time with "Garage Country." The time flew by. She's a fine driving companion, and I think I got a little better gas mileage from the spin. Links to purchase Uncle Ben's Remedy merchandise below.

Freckled Beaver Records label

"The Going" - Uncle Ben's Remedy / "Garage Country" (2026)

TRACKS:

01 "Alabama Slammer"

02 "Gravestone"

03 "The Going"

04 "All Dressed Up"

05 "Bud Heavy/Old Time"

06 "Calving Season"

07 "Animal"

08 "Bottom Of The Bill"

09 "Get Up And Go"

10 "Everything (Strawberry Wine)"

PERSONNEL:

Ben Westlund - vocals, guitar

Harmony Griffin - guitar

Shawn Huestis - keys, accordion

Kate Clark - fiddle, vocals

Brendan O'Connor - upright bass

Josh Mullin - drums

Uncle Ben's Remedy CDs and Vinyl

Uncle Ben's Remedy Official Website

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "Flash And The Pan" - Flash And The Pan (1979)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:18:40 +0000

"Flash And The Pan" - Flash And The Pan (1979)

Here is a good cheapie I found at the Maize Record Show a few weeks ago. I went with a psych album intent, and if I didn't find anything that popped my cork, I would at least leave with a couple of low-dollar fun finds. And that's exactly what I did. I found Flash And The Pan's self-titled debut album at "Garageman G's" table for a measly $3 and snagged it. I'd heard "Hey, St. Peter" from this very album the night before on KSHE's playlist, a song I had always liked but completely forgotten about. And the kismet stars just lined up for me to find it the very next day. Things like that happen to me from time to time. And what a surprising treat. Just excellent.

Only after taking it home, spinning the square, and reading about the band did I learn they had more than just a bit of music cred. Harry Vanda and George Young, who formed the band, were both former members of The Easybeats. Young also produced AC/DC's early albums that his younger brothers Malcolm and Angus Young were riffing and churning out. Flash And The Pan sound nothing like either. But the album leaves no doubt there was definitely something in the Australian water.

Flash And The Pan is filled with ten songs that are both weird and curiously addictive. Overall, it has an atmospheric presence, with various shades of moodiness. It's melodic alt-pop wrapped in new wave strangeness. In large part, because of the heady deadpan talk-sing vocals that ride over tasteful synth that carries things along. In many ways ahead of its time, the album has certainly aged well. Clever stuff, and a hell of a grower.

"Flash And The Pan" - Flash And The Pan (back)

Favorites include:

"Hey, St. Peter"

"Walking In The Rain"

"Lady Killer"

"California"

This copy is a US Terre Haute pressing with "STERLING" stamped into the deadwax. Three different album cover variants exist. The original Australian release — St. Peter over New York City. The European release — a woman with a raven. And the US release — flying frisbees over the heads of young people on the beach, with a mushroom cloud in the background. Your interpretation is welcome in the comments. The production sounds great and headphone-friendly. This square can be had for less than an Abe all day long, and ain't it nice to pick up a good one on the cheap for a change.

Epic label

Cat #

JE 36018

SIDE A DEADWAX

T1 AL-36018-1E 1E 1A STERLING 0

SIDE B DEADWAX

T1 BL-36018-1E 1E STERLING ꓥ¢ 0

"Walking In The Rain" - Flash And The Pan / "Flash And The Pan" (1979)

TRACKS:

A1 "Hey, St. Peter" 4:20

A2 "Man In The Middle" 3:12

A3 "Walking In The Rain" 3:10

A4 "The African Shuffle" 4:30

A5 "California" 4:19

B1 "Lady Killer" 4:04

B2 "The Man Who Knew The Answer" 4:20

B3 "Hole In The Middle" 4:15

B4 "Down Among The Dead Men" 4:40

B5 "First And Last" 6:34

PERSONNEL:

Harry Vanda - guitar, vocals, production

George Young - synthesizer, lead vocals, production

Les Karski - bass

Warren Morgan - piano

Ray Arnott - drums

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "Vagabonds Of The Western World" - Thin Lizzy (1973)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 03:02:03 +0000

"Vagabonds Of The Western World" - Thin Lizzy (1973)

My gateway album for Thin Lizzy was "Vagabonds of the Western World." It's the one I heard first. And listened to a lot. I loved it then and still love it. It doesn't have the familiar twin-guitar Lizzy sound that later studio albums would possess, and where the band did their real banking. But "Vagabonds...", their last album as a trio, is an incredible album in its own right.

Phil Lynott's songwriting is wonderful, as are his warm vocals and his bass playing, which is always a good time. Phil Lynott, with co-writers Eric Bell and Brian Downey, delivers the definitive macho jammer, "The Rocker," then turns around and kills us with his kindest of ballads, "Little Girl in Bloom," a song that offers so much hope. It's a beautiful ballad…and his best. Longtime drummer Brian Downey is on time as ever. And the often underappreciated guitarist Eric Bell really shines on this album. His riffing, sliding, and burning is tasteful and creative. Banging one minute, reaching for his paintbrush the next. The album is filled with tasty rockers, of course. Ballads. Nasty-good blues rock. And surprises. Again, this variety of sound is welcome and never jarring, if you know what I mean. No sore thumb.

And yet better albums were still to come; "Jailbreak" and "Johnny the Fox," with their full, rich twin-guitar spankage, quickly come to mind, but "Vagabonds of the Western World" will always be my favorite. Gateway albums have a way of doing that sometimes. Of the 12 studio albums Thin Lizzy released, I would put "Vagabonds..." in my top five. To me, it's that good. Phil Lynott, Brian Downey, and Eric Bell left behind an album that begs to be revisited.

"Vagabonds Of The Western World" - Thin Lizzy (back)

Favorites include:

"The Rocker"

"Gonna Creep Up On You"

"Little Girl In Bloom"

"Vagabond Of The Western World"

This is a beautiful original 1974 US copy with just a wee bit of ringwear, pressed by Horace V. Waddell, as indicated by the "W" in the deadwax. The word "STERLING " is also stamped on both sides and indicates the Mastering studio, which has a highly regarded reputation. "Vagabonds..." was the band's third studio album and the last album with original guitarist Eric Bell, who left for personal reasons. It was also the last Thin Lizzy album made as a trio. Jan Russell Schelhaas, who helped out on a couple of tracks, was also a keyboardist for the bands Caravan and Camel. Here is The College Crowd Digs Me interview with Eric Bell not to be missed.

London Records label

Cat #

XPS 636

SIDE A DEADWAX

ZAL 12520-W STERLING

SIDE B DEADWAX

ZAL 12521-W STERLING

"Little Girl In Bloom" - Thin Lizzy / "Vagabond Of The Western World" (1973)

TRACKS:

A1 "Mama Nature Said" 4:52

A2 "The Hero and the Madman" 6:08

A3 "Slow Blues" 5:14

A4 "The Rocker" 5:12

B1 "Vagabond Of The Western World" 4:44

B2 "Little Girl In Bloom" 5:12

B3 "Gonna Creep Up On You" 3:27

B4 "A Song For While I'm Away" 5:10

PERSONNEL:

Philip Lynott - vocals, bass, associate producer

Eric Bell - guitars, vocals

Brian Downey - drums, percussion

ADDITIONAL:

Kid Jensen - voice (A2)

Jan Schelhaas - organ (A1, A2)

Fiachra Trench - string arrangement (B4)

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "The Forest Of My Mind" - Paul Parrish (1968)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 01:15:22 +0000

"The Forest Of My Mind" - Paul Parrish (1968)

This is all flowers, patches, peace, love, and maybe something to pass around while everyone is in...the forest. Looking a bit like Freddie Mercury trying to decide what to bag up at the Nifty Nut House, Paul Parrish brings us a cool, groovy spin for the mind-palette. Included in The Acid Archives, the album "The Forest Of My Mind" is filled with well-written songs, with good melodies and nice arrangements, each lightly dusted in various shades of psychedelic folk-pop bliss. A cash-in of the lysergic variety, perhaps, but the album sounds much better than that. Nothing on this square is a mind-blow. Nothing here is deepy-deep by any means. However, "The Forest Of My Mind" is presented in such good faith that the spin makes it nigh on impossible to stay in a bad mood.

Bonus still, it's a square that somehow gets better with each new listen. Songs have flutes and strings and other instruments dropping by, plus the occasional knob-twist and button-push behind the glass, and there it is. And it doesn't hurt that Paul Parrish's vocals have a nice, pleasant mix of Donovan and Al Stewart timbre going on, too. The album has an overall gentleness, with nothing remotely twee. Paul Parrish wrote all the songs but for two covers. A Beatles song, "You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” and a Four Tops number, "I Can't Help Myself.” The covers are decent and neither here nor there, but the latter is the better surprise.

"The Forest Of My Mind" - Paul Parrish (back)

Favorites include:

"Walking In The Forest Of My Mind"

"Dialogue Of The Wind And Love"

"The White Birds Return To Warm Seas"

This is an original copy pressed on the Music Factory label, a division of MGM. The production is excellent, full, and clean. Paul Parrish hails from Detroit and has written songs for other artists, including Helen Reddy, Kenny Rogers, and The Dillards. (You might remember them as The Darlings from "The Andy Griffith Show.") Paul Parrish's "The Forest Of My Mind" is a lost light psych album that's a pleasure to rediscover. Plus it's always cool to pick up something mentioned in the Acid Archives.

Music Factory label

Cat #

MFS 12,001

SIDE A DEADWAX

MFS 12001 Side 1 MCS 1572

SIDE B DEADWAX

MFS 12001 Side 2 MGS 1573

"Walking In The Forest Of My Mind" - Paul Parrish / "The Forest Of My Mind" (1968)

TRACKS:

A1 "English Sparrows" 2:40

A2 "Suzanne" 2:45

A3 "Walking In The Forest Of My Mind" 2:37

A4 "The Painter (Who Lives In The Cellar)" 2:17

A5 "Dialogue Of The Wind And Love" 2:16

A6 "You’ve Got To Hide (Your Love Away)" 2:50

B1 "Tiny Alice" 3:05

B2 "Morning Train" 2:35

B3 "Something Of A Love Song" 2:12

B4 "The White Birds Return To Warm Seas" 3:08

B5 "Flowers In The Park" 3:40

B6 "I Can’t Help Myself" 2:25

PERSONNEL:

Paul Parrish - vocals

Bob Babbitt - bass

Uriel Jones - drums

Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey - flute and string arrangements

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Dig & Flip: The Complete Sherlock Holmes: Vol. One & Two - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1930)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:28:34 +0000

The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Vol. One & Two

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

(1930)

Hardcover, 1122 pages

NO SPOILERS:

The two volumes include 56 short stories and four novellas. I began The Complete Sherlock Holmes Volume One flipping imaginary pages on my Paperwhite. With Volume Two, I grabbed the hardback version. (see pic above.) Either way, it was a blast getting to know these famous fictional characters - Sherlock Holmes and his bestest friend, Dr. Watson. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sure had himself a winner when he began writing his Sherlock mysteries in 1886. The stories are clever and don’t waste much time dancing around. Each mystery is quickly set in motion. No dawdling. Just kick back and read how Detective Holmes uses his powers of deduction to the nines. Plenty of details and suspense, and sometimes a laugh or two.

Sherlock is a one-of-a-kind character who kowtows to no one. His skills of observation and deductive reasoning are spot-on and crystal clear. In solving mysteries, he will have Dr. Watson follow up on an idea that often makes little sense to the good doctor, but Watson is very much Sherlock's biggest fan, and you can almost imagine him tossing back a few peanuts and saying, “My boy is wicked smart!” It's a good and strange friendship, and I came to enjoy the boundaries betwixt the two. And apart from Sherlock Holmes being a bit full of himself, you quickly get over the "Sheldon" disposition, and pull for him.

As for the 60 mysteries that make up the original Sherlock Holmes canon, I encountered only two truly disappointing toads in the literary pond. As for the rest, though not completely without their flaws, they hold up pretty dang well. The stories get after it, and I quickly warmed to the rhythm and pacing of Doyle's style. By the time I had finished both volumes, I was kind of sad to let them go. It's a time-rush that these stories were written over a century ago. A century and a half, actually. And they still hold the tease. Fine, fun entertainment that still has some meat on the bone. Don't sleep on Sherlock. LKF: Sherlock Holmes never actually used the phrase "Elementary, my dear Watson." He used those words separately, but never combined them.

"Looking For Clues" - Robert Palmer / "Clues" (1980)

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "Lyle Lovett" - Lyle Lovett (1986)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:20:41 +0000

"Lyle Lovett" - Lyle Lovett (1986)

"Closing time. Unplug them people." I've been a fan of Lyle Lovett ever since watching him on Austin City Limits. As I recall, he performed several songs from this album. He had the audience in his back pocket. I also remember watching a clip of him performing at a small summer outdoor get-together, before his name meant anything, where some people half-listen and the other half do whatever. It reminded me of doing comedy at nowhere bars where they kept the TV on while you're trying to get some laughs. You just keep doing what you set out to do, telling yourself somebody's listening. And that's just what Lovett did. Sang his songs like he's selling fresh butter for hot biscuits. His debut album sounds a lot like that. Even when his tongue is firmly in cheek, we still hear echoes of truth. Drop the needle at the end of a long day, and it's a deep sigh.

Lyle Lovett from Klein, Texas, was initially thrown under the country genre bus, but that's not where he's really at. Lovett is a singer-songwriter in the same lanes as Townes Van Zandt or Lucinda Williams, or maybe Guy Clark, who adds a kind word or two on the back cover. The music gets close from time to time, but never lingers for too long as it teases us with folk rock, jazz dustings, traditional swing, and indeed, some country dabblings, but all with a unique and curious GPS route. As for this album, the songs tell you everything you need to know about this crazy-cool, hair-flair troubadour. Released in 1986, his debut album has only improved.

"Lyle Lovett" - Lyle Lovett (back)

Favorites include:

"Closing Time"

"This Old Porch"

"If I Were The Man You Wanted"

"The Waltzing Fool"

My copy is an Album Club Edition on the MCA/Curb Records label. The front cover had the initials "JT" marked out in trapezoid fashion, but the vinyl had been well cared for. It was in a bin along with mostly Country albums, and I took it home for an Abe. The square sounds really clean and rich. I found out later this can go for a little bit of money, so that's cool.

Lyle Lovett has gone on to record twelve albums along with dozens of acting gigs for television and films. And yeah, Lyle Lovett has received dozens of Grammy nominations and even won a few. One in particular was Best Country Album for his 1996 gem "The Road to Ensenada," and still not available on vinyl! Even with all the accolades, radio will never be accused of over-selling the guy. Whaddyagonnado? In the meantime, this is a good one to pick up for a little something different.

MCA Records / CURB Records label

Cat #

MCA-5748 / MCA 5440 / MCA 5615

SIDE A DEADWAX

R133603A 1 A1C 1

SIDE B DEADWAX

R133603B 2 1

"Closing Time" - Lyle Lovett / "Lyle Lovett" (1986)

TRACKS:

A1 "Cowboy Man" 2:48

A2 "God Will" 2:13

A3 "Farther Down The Line" 3:05

A4 "This Old Porch" 4:16

A5 "Why I Don't Know" 2:41

B1 "If I Were The Man You Wanted" 3:57

B2 "You Can't Resist It" 3:08

B3 "The Waltzing Fool" 3:49

B4 "An Acceptable Level Of Ecstasy (The Wedding Song)" 3:30

B5 "Closing Time" 3:43

PERSONNEL:

Lyle Lovett - vocals, acoustic guitar; b-vocals (B2)

Ray Herndon - electric rhythm guitar, electric lead guitar (A3, A5), b-vocals

Tom Mortensen - steel guitar

Billy Williams - electric lead guitar; saxophone arrangements

Vince Gill - electric rhythm guitar (B2)

Jon Goin - electric rhythm, lead guitars (B2)

Mac McAnally - acoustic lead guitar (A2, A3, B1)

Mathew McKenzie - bass

Emory Gordy Jr. - bass (A3)

Mark Prentice - organ; piano (A2, A3)

Matt Rollings - acoustic & electric piano

John Jarvis - synthesizer (B2)

Jeff Borree - drums

Bob Warren - drums (A3, A4, B4)

James Gilmer - congas

Glen Duncan - fiddle

Steve Marsh - saxophones

J. David Sloan - b-vocals

Rosanne Cash - b-vocals (B2)

Francine Reed - b-vocals (B4)

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Dig & Flip: Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, Vol. 1 (2002)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:43:48 +0000

Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, Vol. 1

Stan Lee (Writer), Jack Kirby (Illustrator)

(2002)

(First issues #1-10)

Hardcover, 240 pages

It's all about the nostalgia. Especially if you were a kid growing up in the early 60s. But it's still enjoyable and entertaining, even if you weren't. This Marvel Masterworks volume contains the first ten issues of The Avengers comic book that Marvel created in 1963, in all its colorful, innocent glory. The Marvel Masterworks are hardbound, look and feel classy, and bring to mind the old Time/Life books many of your parents might have picked up, now collecting dust on their shelves. These offerings can be pricey, but you can often find used volumes for much less. And the dust jackets can be just as cool, holding Easter Eggs for those who take an extra moment to look. If you tilt the book at a certain angle, famous comic book heroes and villains appear, along with beautiful swirling designs. The extra mile is a nice touch.

As for the stories within, we meet a new team of superheroes. Iron Man (whose drawing quickly changes from the initial clunky Tin Man look to a design much more efficient). The hammer-wielding Thor. Ant-Man, who can quickly change his size from giant to minuscule. And his partner, The Wasp. (The Wasp is the only female of the bunch and a bit of a wiseacre.) The Hulk, who we meet in the first few issues, is written out of the later ones for reasons explained. And we also get Captain America.

Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers, Vol. 1

(inside)

The dynamics amongst the characters are all a work in progress. And it's fun and a bit charming how they bond and banter with light-hearted encouragement or teasing remarks as they work out the bumps and kinks in their social tree.

The super-villains are just as entertaining. Evil-doers like Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil. Or the more famous anti-hero, Sub-Mariner, whose longevity in the Marvel world had longer legs. The action mostly revolves around crazy-mad villains wanting to be in charge of the world and The Avengers trying to thwart their plans. Plenty of smile-makers and eye-rollers lie within. As well as a much more innocent time when it was easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Plus the colorful panel drawings are fire. Don't overthink it. Just let Stan Lee and Jack Kirby grow their own. "A splendid time is guaranteed for all."

"Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" - The Beatles (1967)

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "Alamo" - Alamo (1971)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:35:17 +0000

"Alamo" - Alamo (1971)

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Alamo's eponymous one-and-done album jams off and rocks out with classic acid rock aplomb. Under the wide umbrella of early Grand Funk attitude, the album feels different enough, with its own strut, energy, and confidence to keep it real. I just luv this era of classic rock and "Alamo" is a killer album when you just want to leave some highway miles in your rearview mirror. Excellent guitar wahs and fuzz and churning Hammond organ strike a wonderful balance that's easy to like and hard to shake. And the drummer on this album is the pusherman. Good solid jammin' throughout.

The vocals are raw and raspy, melding perfectly with whatever track the band lays down. It has a familiar Terry Kath-like timbre that sells every word. And though the eight songs on this early '70s square don't especially push the envelope, they still bring the heat and make for a fun, banger of a spin. Plus the relative obscurity of this Tennessee band makes the square all the more fun to pull out and crank. Drop the needle and get outta the way.

"Alamo" - Alamo (back)

Favorites include:

"Soft And Gentle"

"Bensome Changes"

"Got To Find Another Way"

"All New People"

This copy is a Terre Haute pressing and has never been reissued in the States. The album artwork is cool, as is the back cover band photo. As for the band name, the Tennessee legend Davey Crockett fought at the Alamo, so the band adopting the name, I guess, makes perfect sense. RnR Trivia: Guitarist Larry Raspberry was previously a member of the 60s band The Gentrys and sang lead on their biggest hit, "Keep On Dancing" in 1965.

Atlantic label

Cat #

SD 8279

SIDE A DEADWAX

ST A702083-1B 2 T

SIDE B DEADWAX

ST A702084-1A 1 T

"All New People" - Alamo / "Alamo" (1971)

TRACKS:

A1 "Got To Find Another Way" 5:10

A2 "Soft And Gentle" 7:05

A3 "The World We Seek" 3:40

A4 "Question Raised" 4:08

B1 "Bensome Changes" 3:37

B2 "All New People" 4:53

B3 "Get The Feelin'" 6:06

B4 "Happiness Is Free" 4:22

PERSONNEL:

Ken Woodley - vocals, organ

Larry Raspberry - guitar, vocals

Larry Davis - bass

Richard Rosebrough - drums, percussion, engineer

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "2 Originals Of Neil Young" - Neil Young (1975)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:30:11 +0000

"2 Originals Of Neil Young" - Neil Young (1975)

Here's an album you seldom see. It's the first one I've ever come across, and I would've passed right over it if I'd not seen someone in the vinyl community hold one up. The square is easy to overlook because the album doesn't give off much of a Neil Young vibe, but more of a K-Tel Records compilation kind of thing. Whatever vibe the cover may be casting, it certainly doesn't scream "Cinnamon Girl" or "The Loner." But if you left it behind, you'd be missing something rather unique.

As strange as the outside cover of "2 Originals Of Neil Young" may be, open the inside gatefold, and you'll discover two actual Neil Young albums. The first is "Neil Young" (1968), and the second is "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969) with Crazy Horse. It's a cool and surprising mind-flip.

The album was pressed in Germany and is not rare at all, but it was never released here in the States. That's why you never see a copy in record bins or in the wild. I never have, anyway, until recently. "2 Originals Of Neil Young" was one of several good finds I picked up a few months back from a house a couple of miles from McConnell AFB. I've told this story before, but two or three airmen were sharing a house off-base, and at least one of them was being reassigned and was trying to thin out his record herd. I didn't need it. I already have original copies of both, but the novelty hooked me. I don't remember what I paid, but they're not expensive.

"2 Originals Of Neil Young" - Neil Young (back)

"2 Originals Of Neil Young" - Neil Young

(inside gatefold)

Favorites include:

"The Loner"

"Cinnamon Girl"

"Cowgirl In The Sand"

The vinyl is a 1975 German pressing on the brownish steamboat Reprise label. The label has the boxed GEMA just left of the spindle, indicating it was manufactured for the German market. The previous owner took good care of it, as the vinyl looks like it was played maybe once. Dropping the needle, both squares sound nice and clean. No tics or pops. The cover artwork may be an oddity, but the vinyl received nice treatment. A neat way to pick up a couple of Neil Young albums.

Reprise Records label

(1-2 & 3-4)

Cat #

REP 64 031 / LC 0322 (30 817)

SIDE 1 DEADWAX

WEA 64031-Axx 44059-A xx PF 20

SIDE 2 DEADWAX

R/S Alsdorf 64031 B2 x STRAWBERRY (0) 44059 B2x 5

Cat #

REP 64 031 / LC 0322 (30,911

SIDE 3 DEADWAX

WEA 64031 Cxxxx PF 10

SIDE 4 DEADWAX

R/S Alsdorf 64031 D3 STRAWBERRY (6) 5

"Cinnamon Girl" - Neil Young / "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969)

TRACKS: "NEIL YOUNG"

A1 "The Emperor of Wyoming" 2:14

A2 "The Loner" 3:55

A3 "If I Could Have Her Tonight" 2:15

A4 "I've Been Waiting For You" 2:30

A5 "The Old Laughing Lady" 5:53

B1 "String Quartet From Whiskey Boot Hill" 1:04

B2 "Here We Are In The Years" 3:14

B3 "What Did You Do To My Life?" 2:22

B4 "I've Loved Her So Long" 2:40

B5 "The Last Trip To Tulsa" 9:25

TRACKS: "EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE"

A1 "Cinnamon Girl" 2:58

A2 "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" 2:26

A3 "Round & Round (It Won't Be Long)" 5:49

A4 "Down By The River" 9:13

B1 "The Losing End (When You're On)" 4:03

B2 "Running Dry (Requiem for the Rockets)" 5:30

B3 "Cowgirl In The Sand" 10:03

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM In The Mailbox..."Mystery Ride" - Bay Station (2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 22:41:39 +0000

"Mystery Ride" - Bay Station (2026)

(CD front and back)

Sometimes Bay Station strolls up to the house through the front gate. Other times they come around to the back door, like familiar company often will do. Led by alt-country singer-songwriters Deborah Crooks and Kwame Copeland, Bay Station's latest offering, "Mystery Ride," is a collection of songs that are Americana-warm with an almost progressive root-rock dusting. Hailing from Alameda, California, Bay Station makes for good company.

There's a lot of good stuff to be found here. "And I remember the road that went on for miles.

We were laughing so hard, we were leaping turnstiles." ~ "Missed Exit" is a wonderfully sweet memory of once-upon-a-time love. "Such stillness down the canyon, just water in motion." ~ "57 Crows"...about having one of those rare, amazing mind-rushes that hit you like a personal, private gift...in this case, catching a glimpse of nature's beautiful, longstanding holiness. "You’ll settle your debts before you leave town." ~ "Cosmic Test"...a rockin' nod to the perils of reincarnation. The songwriting on this album has an odd coolness about it, taking unexpected turns that work in its favor, with the vocals surrounded by ace musicians.

The production is well-done and sounds great. "Mystery Ride" has a bit of an overall Lucinda Williams-Phil Lesh vibe, if I can put the reader in the ballpark. Within a stone's throw, anyway. But Bay Station has their own unique sound. Both rocking and relaxing with ease. Introspection and observation with emotional purpose. Deborah Crooks and Kwame Copeland make a good match for the songs offered, and though not everything is gold and glitter, there is enough Bay Station goodness to welcome a drop-by at the house any day.

"Mystery Ride" - Bay Station (CD disc)

The CD holds about 37 minutes of music and contains 10 songs; the longest track almost kisses the 5-minute mark. Bay Station's "Mystery Ride" drops on August 21, 2026.

Favorites include:
"57 Crows"

"Missed Exit"

"Cosmic Test"

"Slow Down"

"Missed Exit" - Bay Station / "Mystery Ride " (Due for release Aug 21, 2026) Teaser

TRACKS:

A1 "Missed Exit" 4:48

A2 "Everything Is Moving" 3:41

A3 "Slow Down" 4:10

A4 "Waterfront Property" 3:21

A5 "57 Crows" 4:07

A6 "The Times We're In" 3:18

A7 "King Coke" 3:18

A8 "Days Last Hawks" 3:37

A9 "Cosmic Test" 2:54

A10 "Mystery Ride" 3:22

PERSONNEL:

Kwame Copeland - vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, resonator guitar

Deborah Crooks - vocals

Steve Waters - electric guitar

Kevin T. White - bass

Mike Stevens - drums

Art Khu - piano

John Roy Zat - fiddle

Liz Stuart - vocals

Ben Bernstein - bass, producer

Bay Station Official Website

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "Golden Earring" - Golden Earring (1970)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 22:59:48 +0000

"Golden Earring" - Golden Earring (1970)

Golden Earring's eponymous album, sometimes referred to as the "Wall of Dolls" album (just look at the back cover), was already the Dutch rock band's sixth album, and yet it still left them virtually unknown in the States. I mean, Golden Earring seems to have already lived a lifetime before the US ever caught wind of them. That, of course, would finally happen three years later when the band dropped what would become their signature song, "Radar Love," from the "Moontan" album. However, this 1970 offering already sounds like fractured pieces from Classic Rock albums yet to come. Very balanced in the spectrum. It's not easy to find, but definitely one with plenty of bang-bang in the wax.

The album has everything I want. It's a banger with driving guitar that rocks, but then can chill in much the way Zeppelin could mellow out without losing balls and ramp back up again. There are dustings of an overall prog-psych vibe in places, thanks, in part, to some Tull-ish flute that drops in from time to time...but without taking over. And even some doom to tease the palate. The band sounds well-seasoned, and they really complement and bounce off each other. The haunting cool aura on this square gets into your head and doesn't let go. Nothing on here quite as electric as "Radar Love", one of the best driving songs ever, but what's on here is really good.

"Golden Earring" - Golden Earring (back)

"Golden Earring" - Golden Earring (inside gatefold)

Favorites include:

"I'm Going To Send My Pigeons To The Sky"

"The Loner"

"Yellow And Blue"

"As Long As The Wind Blows"

This is a promo copy on the Dwarf Records label. The label is orange with a Dutch-like elf throwing a peace sign to everyone. As you might guess, Dwarf Records was a Dutch label. And a small one. The track-list order on this album is different in some countries. This was an online purchase and a bit of a pony-up for me, but I was feeling the itch that day. No steal of a deal here. I paid about what the median price is on Discogs. However, the vinyl is excellent, and the cover is VG+, and I wasn't disappointed.

Dwarf Records label

Cat #

PDLP 2000

SIDE A DEADWAX

PDLP-2000 A 9-29-70 10-4 9-70 DB 10/70 T

SIDE B DEADWAX

PDLP-2000 B 9-29-70 10-4 9-70 DB 10/70 T

"I'm Going To Send My Pigeons To The Sky" - Golden Earring / "Golden Earring " (1970)

TRACKS:

A1 "This Is The Time Of The Year" 3:36

A2 "Big Tree, Blue Sea" 6:09

A3 "The Wall Of Dolls" 3:34

A4 "See See" 3:10

A5 "Yellow And Blue" 3:48

B1 "Back Home" 3:49

B2 "The Loner" 3:29

B3 "I'm Going To Send My Pigeons To The Sky" 5:57

B4 "As Long As The Wind Blows" 5:21

PERSONNEL:

Barry Hay - lead vocals (A2, A4, B3), rhythm guitar, flute, b-vocals

George Kooymans - lead vocals (A1, A3, B4), lead guitar, b-vocals

Rinus Gerritsen - bass, piano, organ, Mellotron

Cesar Zuiderwijk - drums, percussion

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Dig & Flip: Tripwire - Lee Child (1999)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 01:25:26 +0000

Tripwire

by Lee Child

(1999)

Paperback, 581 pages

NO SPOILERS:

Tripwire is the third novel in the Jack Reacher series, though you don't have to read them in order. I certainly haven't. I just grab one off a shelf and kick it. And I have become seasoned to our all-powerful coffee-drinking hero, Jack Reacher. Knowing that Reacher is always going to out-think and out-fight the bad guys in the end allows me to curl up with my own cup of "Chock Full…" and enjoy all the ass-kickery. Lee Child's page-turning concoctions are so much fun and just perfect to cleanse the palate between the more challenging novels I have on my reading list.

And that's not a knock on Lee Child, the brainstormer of all these page-turners. I luv'em. I mean, if it was easy, everyone would be mega-successful. Here, Jack Reacher has been keeping it on the down-low, digging swimming pools in Florida, when he learns a stranger's been asking around about him. And then the stranger ends up dead. So Reacher decides to track down what the guy's business was all about. The trail leads him back to New York City and a curious list of MIAs from Vietnam. And so the game is afoot.

Lee Child delivers all the good stuff you've come to expect. Action, danger, thrills, and suspense, all in clever, unexpected ways. Fun, but not cheap. I suppose there's a little more romance-romance going on than is truly necessary, and that slows down the pacing, but it is what it is. Whaddygonnado? Heroes and villains. Place your bets. Outta five, I think Reacher would probably give Tripwire three and three-quarter coffee beans, but that's just pickin' nits.

"Helicopters" - Barenaked Ladies / "Maroon" (2000)

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "SAHB Stories" - The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (1976)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:50:23 +0000

"SAHB Stories" - The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (1976)

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band has always enjoyed adding a little slice of avant-garde to their sound. A little twist to their lemons. On "SAHB Stories" (pronounced "Sob Stories"), however, the theatrics are toned down just a smidge, and yet the album still delivers more often than the midwives at the Nonnatus House. Everybody came to the party, especially guitarist Zal Cleminson and bassist Chris Glen, who always seem to play off each other with such ease and chapeau. "SAHB Stories," the band's sixth album, has it all and with no drop-off. The riffage bangs right alongside Alex Harvey's tongue-in-cheek swag without any problems. Add a little atmosphere and attitude, and you have yourself a surprisingly strong hoss for being this deep in their discog rodeo.

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band were a fearless band who totally committed with in-your-face panache. And on this album, the songs appear to have a sharper bite with a sneaky undertone that seems to put our defenses on notice. The way late-night gas fill-ups are wont to do. As for the "Glasgow Kid," Alex Harvey sounds wonderfully unnerving, making us hang on every word. Even better is how the track order seems to flow in perfectly chosen order. To my ears, anyway. And it sounds better with every spin. I suppose Alex Harvey is an acquired taste. Much like Captain Beefheart or Tom Waits, one either gets it or doesn't. Whaddyagonnado? As for me, I pick up any SAHB I can find.

"SAHB Stories" - The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (back)

"SAHB Stories" - The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (inside gatefold)

Favorites include:

"Sultan's Choice"

"Amos Moses"

"Boston Tea Party"

"Dogs Of War"

I'm a big fan of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band as well as a big fan of guitarist Zal Cleminson. Very underrated. But their albums are not an easy find here in the States. Leastwise, not in Kansas. So when I do come across one in the wild, I'm flummoxed. I mean, they're leprechauns. However, summertime is garage sale time, and a few weeks ago, I found two Alex Harvey albums from the same seller. "SAHB Stories" being one of them. I bundled and got them both for $12 each. By the way, here is an interview I did with Zal Cleminson a few years ago.

My copy is an original UK pressing on the green-and-pink Mountain label. The vinyl is held in a gatefold cover. Later pressings were marketed by Phonogram and literally had Phonogram stickered to the cover. The runouts are all stamped except for the "HTM", which is etched. The label has "Made in GT Britain" around the edges. The catalog #TOPS 112 can be found on the spine and also on the back cover in very small text.

Mountain label

Cat #

TOPS 112

SIDE A DEADWAX

TOPS 112 A-1 OM HTM 3

SIDE B DEADWAX

TOPS 112 B-1 GO HTM 1

"Amos Moses" - The Sensational Alex Harvey Band / "SAHB Stories" (1976)

TRACKS:

A1 "Dance To Your Daddy" 5:43

A2 "Amos Moses" 5:22

A3 "Jungle Rub Out" 4:26

A4 "Sirocco" 6:52

B1 "Boston Tea Party" 4:37

B2 "Sultan's Choice" 4:09

B3 "$25 For A Massage" 3:16

B4 "Dogs Of War" 6:10

PERSONNEL:

Alex Harvey - vocals, guitar

Zal Cleminson - guitar

Chris Glen - bass

Hugh McKenna - keyboards, synthesizer

Ted McKenna - drums

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM In The Mailbox..."71Spiders" - Spider Fingers (2017)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 01:31:59 +0000

"71Spiders" - Spider Fingers (2017)

(CD front and back)

"71Spiders" is a pretty tasty piece of guitar-driven crankage that bangs out in various directions with a mid-70s hard rock flair. The influences are numerous on this 11-song collection and ring out from coolly familiar yet oddly different places. And it's this curious chasm that draws you in and creates unexpected flashes of awareness, making for a fun spin. One you'll want to crank up.

Spider Fingers is a founding member of both The Flying Sixty Nine and Electric Monster. Spider is responsible for all the music and lyrics on this, his solo debut album, and is a chameleon of sorts, being whatever is necessary. There are a couple of traffic cones on this square, but most of the songs work, maintaining a cool tone that often carries an enjoyable and unexpected edginess. If you like your 70s guitar churn-and-burn cut with a slice of the strange, "71Spiders" will satisfy that itch.

"71Spiders" - Spider Fingers

(inside digipak)

"71Spiders" - Spider Fingers

(14-pg booklet w/lyrics, liner notes)

Favorites include:

"The Holy Man"

"Snooze U Loose"

"Love Is Now"

"71Spiders" comes in a digipak with fantastic cover artwork provided by Gerry Andrea that brings to mind hints of "Stranger Things." Andrea also provided the drawings for the 14-page booklet also included, which contains lyrics, liner notes, and shout-outs. Just an overall nice package. The CD is about 31 minutes with eleven songs, the longest being 5 minutes, "Snooze u Loose", and it's killer. Again, "71Spiders" is a mix of hard rock and mid-tempo tracks, with some good riffs and haunting ripples.

"Snooze u Loose" - Spider Fingers / "71Spiders" (2017)

TRACKS:

1 "Spider Web Blues" 3:22

2 "The Holy Man" 3:42

3 "Story Of My Life" 2:33

4 "Got 2 Have It" 3:23

5 "Tokyo Rose" 4:06

6 "Broken Dreams" 3:22

7 "Love Is Now" 3:12

8 "Been Down n Turned Around" 2:07

9 "All Alone" 4:17

10 "Snooze U Loose" 5:16

11 "Goodnight" 2:50

PERSONNEL:

Spider Fingers - vocals, guitar, all other instruments

71Spiders Official Website

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Anthem Of The Sun" - Grateful Dead (1968)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:49:15 +0000

"Anthem Of The Sun" - Grateful Dead (1968)

"Anthem of the Sun," the band's second studio album, is the one I've wanted to own for the longest time. And I intentionally avoided listening to this album until I could actually spin it for myself. Probably the Grateful Dead's most psych-ified album, where the colorful 'pass-it-around' circle rug begins to spread wider and wider for everyone to enjoy. An essential album, especially for psych enthusiasts. Soon, the band would drift into a more cosmic country-folk-rock direction while still maintaining their community aura of headiness.

The trip-fest square is a multiple-net-free tightrope walk across hundreds of wires strung from every direction… and crossing streams like you wouldn't believe. An almost blindfolded adventure of sorts. The band is fearless in their 1968 lysergic leap of faith. This square is the purple microdot that defined the Grateful Dead as foragers on their own path. Jamming and noodling to their hearts' content. It's their bag, and people can either grab a groovy spot on the Grateful Dead flying carpet or not. So, roll it, pat it, and mark it with GD. Put on your headphones and set yourself free.

"Anthem Of The Sun" - Grateful Dead (back)

Favorites include:

"That's It For The Other One"

"Alligator"

"New Potato Caboose"

My copy has the green label with a Warner Bros shield, but the vinyl has "-1A and -1B" stamped in the deadwax, which indicates the record was pressed using the very first lacquer cut made from the original 1968 master tapes. It does not get any earlier or closer to the source than this. It was pressed at the Columbia Terre Haute plant. The label has no times listed for the tracks on either side. This album also includes the original mix, with the vocals panned left and right; the 1971 remix has a more centered sound. There are fans of both.

The album's back cover has a little flaking on the top, but no splitting, and the spine is free from the crumblies, which is a must. The vinyl still has a nice shiny luster and sounds great. I don't want to own everything by The Grateful Dead, an impossibility to be sure, but I have been listening to a lot more. And my perception of the Dead albums is slowly coming around to a much better place.

Warner Bros. Records label

Cat #

WS 1749

SIDE A DEADWAX

T Lc 39369 WS 1749 A -1A I L

SIDE B DEADWAX

T .39370 WS 1749 B -1B I ꓥ 24

"That's It For The Other One" - Grateful Dead / "Anthem Of The Sun" (1968)

TRACKS:

A1 "That's It For The Other One"

I. "Cryptical Envelopment"

II. "Quadlibet For Tender Feet"

III. "The Faster We Go, The Rounder We Get"

IV. "We Leave the Castle"

A2 "New Potato Caboose"

A3 "Born Cross-Eyed"

B1 "Alligator"

B2 "Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)"

PERSONNEL:

Jerry Garcia - vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, kazoo, vibraslap, co-lead vocals (A1, A3),

Bob Weir - vocals, rhythm, 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, kazoo, lead vocals (A2), co-lead vocals (A1, A3)

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan - vocals, organs, celesta, claves, lead vocals (B1, B2)

Phil Lesh - vocals, bass, trumpet, harpsichord, kazoo, piano, timpani,

Mickey Hart - drums, orchestra bells, gong, chimes, crotales, prepared piano, finger cymbals

Bill Kreutzmann - drums, glockenspiel, gong, chimes, crotales, prepared piano, finger cymbals

ADDITIONAL:

Tom Constanten - prepared piano, piano, electronic tape

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out..."A Summer's Night" - Montreal (1970)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:31:09 +0000

"A Summer's Night" - Montreal (1970)

"A Summer's Night" is a unique and pleasant ride on a very lightly acid-ized jazz-folk train car that gives the mind a wee-curious sensation. This was Montreal's only album, but it did make its way into the Acid Archives. It's pretty unusual to find a copy out here in Kansas, and it was cheap, so I had to grab it. "A Summer's Night" is sort of loungy and gentle, but more than ordinary. Something's going on. Fran Losier's vocals have a nice timbre that recalls elements of both Françoise Hardy (without the French accent) and a softer Connie Devanney (Ill Wind).

Richie Havens signed Montreal to his own label and contributes some sitar and koto (a zither-like instrument) with a light touch. Nothing that would suggest a Woodstock flashback. There is also some occasional flute that I'm a sucker for. "A Summer's Night" isn't a great album, but it's very good for what it is. Everything seems to work. The square is a groovy, chill, spin, perfect for those stay-inside days or nights with a cup of your favorite whatever. I'll have a cup of "Chock full..." on this front. And for all those with a psych jones, the final track brings some legit lysergic waves to the fore and is a nice payoff to the album's end. An album with plenty of replay value is a good thing. A very good thing.

"A Summer's Night" - Montreal (back)

Favorites include:

"Infinity"

"What About The Wind"

"Summertime"

"Every Passing Moment"

Stormy Forest was the record label created by Richie Havens. My album is an original copy. I would grade the cover VG, with a small BB hole in the bottom-left corner and some mild ringwear. The vinyl is a strong VG+. Track A5 is listed as "Third Floor Walk-Up" on the label and "Third Floor WalkUp" on the cover. It was never corrected. The median price for Montreal's "A Summer Night" is about $35, and I paid half that mark. High-end goes for $90. It would be easy to pass over this square, as the cover gives off strong yacht rock vibes. Don't be fooled. It's much cooler than that.

Stormy Forest label

Cat #

SFS 6002

SIDE A DEADWAX

SFS 6002 side1 MGS 2070

SIDE B DEADWAX

SFS 6002 side2 MGS 2071

"Infinity" - Montreal / "A Summer's Night" (1970)

TRACKS:

A1 "What About The Wind" 2:24

A2 "A Summer's Night" 3:33

A3 "Circles And Lines" 2:43

A4 "Sometimes In Stillness" 2:56

A5 "Third Floor Walkup" 5:25

B1 "Every Passing Moment" 2:57

B2 "Summertime" 4:11

B3 "Round And Round" 3:05

B4 "Infinity" 7:50

PERSONNEL:

Fran Losier - vocals

Jean Cousineau - guitar

Gilles Losier - piano, bass

Buzzy Linhart - vibraphone

Jeremy Steig - flute

Skeeter Camera - drums

Richie Havens - producer, sitar, koto

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Dig and Flip: A Man On The Moon - Andrew Chaikin (1994)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:52:24 +0000

A Man On The Moon

by Andrew Chaikin

(1994)

Paperback, 685 pages

Space: The final frontier, as the mantra goes. And going to the moon has been the greatest, boldest adventure we small humans have undertaken in our lifetime. In A Man on the Moon, Andrew Chaikin takes us along as we follow the Apollo Program from its inception in 1967. From Apollo 1 to Apollo 17, the last mission, we are reminded of the tragedies and near-tragedies, as well as the amazing triumphs and accomplishments. This almost reads like a novel.

We learn so much about the astronauts. In many ways, the astronauts are a lot like us and yet nothing like us at all. There's a fearlessness and bravery gene hidden inside each one of the astronauts that somehow allows them to rub shoulders with the shadows of death. Savoring the risks and begging for the triple-dog dares. We also learn how important mission control, the programmers, the mathematical jugglers, the communicators, and the outside-the-box thinkers make it all happen. The stress their wives and families must accept and endure. And finally, we learn just how competitive it is to be the next one on the Apollo mission list.

New things are learned on every voyage. And even the smallest of details can be as fascinating as the payoff. During the 17 Apollo missions, NASA successfully landed six crewed ships on the moon. Twelve different astronauts walked, bounced, and tumbled on that piece of cheese. It's easy for us layfolks to take it for granted. Become immune or jaded to the accomplishments. But we all know it's a mindblow. We all know. A Man On The Moon is well worth your time. The book reads easily, and dang if you don't learn something while enjoying each page. I give this book four outta five Moon rocks. By the way...Tom Hanks contributed a nice foreword.

"Major Tom (Coming Home)" - Peter Schilling / "Error In The System" (1983)

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Rainbow Ride" - Andy Kim (1969)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 21:18:40 +0000

"Rainbow Ride" - Andy Kim (1969)

I had a few dollars left on my gift card, and in a bit of a hurry, I spotted Andy Kim's "Rainbow Ride" sporting a $5 sticker. Being a fan of psychedelia, I thought this might hold a little of that stuff, so I grabbed it. The album cover was throwing off some pop-psych vibes to me, and when I got it home, cleaned it, and dropped the needle on the square, that's exactly what it was. The psych elements are fairly light, with side one being the strongest. But overall, it's pretty good.

I'm sure Andy Kim was just trying to rub shoulders a bit with the lysergic vibes that were in the air at the time. No foul for that. There is some fuzz guitar. Some phasing. Some studio trickery and noise-dropping shenanigans. All of these kinds of things, but in small doses. Nothing to scare Mom and Dad. I dug the innocence of the lite-psych dabbling on the "Rainbow Ride" album. Andy Kim and co-writing partner Jeff Barry have a good ear for the catchy, so any psych dusting added is a bonus. As I mentioned, side one is the stronger pop-psych side, while side two, with a small exception, is straight pop. If you like the lighter stuff, which I occasionally do, this album will do you no harm.

"Rainbow Ride" - Andy Kim (back)

"Rainbow Ride" - Andy Kim (inside gatefold)

Favorites include:

"Rainbow Ride"

"Baby While You're Young"

"Please Be True"

The album comes in a nice, thick gatefold cover. The vinyl is on the Steed label, pressed and distributed by Dot Records. You probably remember this Canadian singer-songwriter for his 1974 hit song "Rock Me Gently" and his earlier 1969 single "Sugar, Sugar," which he co-wrote with Jeff Barry and contributed vocals under the guise of the fictional Saturday-morning cartoon band The Archies. Both songs reached #1 on the Billboard charts. "Rainbow Ride" is a five-dollar holler all day long. Often less. Don't leave it behind.

Steed Records label

Cat #

ST-37002

SIDE A DEADWAX

ST-37002 ST-7172-A-1 ΓL T I ꓥ1

SIDE B DEADWAX

ST-37002 ST-7172-B-1 ΓL I1 ꓥ2

"Baby While You're Young" - Andy Kim / "Rainbow Ride" (1969)

TRACKS:

A1 "Rainbow Ride" 2:47

A2 "Please Be True" 3:08

A3 "Nobody's Ever Going Anywhere" 3:59

A4 "Baby While You're Young" 3:36

A5 "I Found Her" 2:25

A6 "I Want You" 3:20

B1 "Mr. Music Man" 3:34

B2 "Foundation Of My Soul" 2:26

B3 "I Wonder If I Care As Much" 3:07

B4 "Wonderful You" 2:30

B5 "Gee Girl" 2:54

B6 "To Be Continued" 3:17

PERSONNEL:

Andy Kim - vocals

Jeff Barry - producer

ADDITIONAL:

Various Session Musicians

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Hard Attack" - Dust (1972)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:05:31 +0000

"Hard Attack" - Dust (1972)

Not as heavy as one might think, but there are definitely a few bangers. Two of them dive into the darker end of the bottomless pool. Dust brings some heavy hard rock with some dustings of protometal. The New York trio brings the riffage, and with better-than-average lyrics and vocals. It's all good, but it's the bass that's the star of the bar to my ears.

Surprisingly, there are a few melodic chillouts on the album as well, but they play nice without sounding wimpy. I mean, when it's time to bang, they bang. And when it's time to chill, they chill. Maybe Dust should have stayed in one lane, who knows? But they pull off each equally well, and I've been spinning this one a lot. Sometimes you don't get what you want, but you do get what you need. If you are a lover of that early 70's rock discourse, Dust is another underground hider to check out.

"Hard Attack" - Dust (back)

"Hard Attack" - Dust (inside gatefold)

Favorites include:

"Walk In The Soft Rain"

"Suicide"

"Learning To Die"

The record comes in a nice gatefold cover with the inside showing band member photos and song lyrics. (Later issues have non-gatefold covers.) The vinyl is on the cool Kama Sutra label with the blue Adam-Eve variation. It is a Sonic Recording Products pressing denoted by "SON" etched in deadwax. And mastered by Joe Brescio. Track B2 is listed as "I Been Thinkin" on the back cover. On the label/inner gatefold, "I Been Thinkin'". The awesome front cover artwork is by legend Frank Frazetta, famous for his fantasy and science fiction drawings. The sound quality of this pressing is excellent. This was a bit of a pony-up, but still a little below the median price on Discogs.

After Dust broke up, each went on to do great things. Guitarist Richie Wise, among other accomplishments, was the producer for the first two KISS albums. Marc Bell, better known as Marky Ramone, went on to drum for The Ramones. Bassist Kenny Aaronson later recorded and performed with Sammy Hagar, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Bob Dylan, and many others. Another pretty cool "a-ha"... Kenny provided the cool bass action on The Stories' "Brother Louie." And in 1988, he was named Bassist of the Year by Rolling Stone.

Kama Sutra label

Cat #

KSBS 2059

SIDE A DEADWAX

KSBS.2059A-2 𝐵𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒮𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 Joe (looks like Bre) SON

SIDE B DEADWAX

KSBS.2059B-2 𝐵𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒮𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 SON Joe (looks like Bre)

"Suicide" - Dust / "Hard Attack" (1972)

TRACKS:

A1 "Pull Away - So Many Times" 4:59

A2 "Walk In The Soft Rain" 4:18

A3 "Thusly Spoken" 4:18

A4 "Learning To Die" 6:20

B1 "All In All" 4:03

B2 "I Been Thinkin'" 2:14

B3 "Ivory" 2:38

B4 "How Many Horses" 4:18

B5 "Suicide" 4:53

B6 "Entrance" 0:19

PERSONNEL:

Richie Wise - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars

Marc Bell - drums

Kenny Aaronson - bass, steel, dobro, bottleneck guitars

ADDITIONAL:

Fred Singer (of Thog) - piano, organ

Larry Wilcox - arranger, conductor of strings

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Here Comes The Night" - Them (1965)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:28:41 +0000

"Here Comes The Night" - Them (1965)

This is where it all started for Van the Man. Van Morrison. The band Them's first album, in the US, anyway, was "Here Comes the Night," released in 1965, with the title track being the promoted single. But it was the song, "Gloria," that would cement Van's fate in the annals of rock 'n' roll asskickery. Their debut album definitely holds its own against their better-known peers, but I'm guessing distribution here in the US might've been lacking because I seldom see any Them albums in the bins. And that's a shame, shame, shame, because there is more to enjoy than what radio would have you believe.

"Here Comes the Night" is a square that bangs R&B with cool garagey vibes that are raucous, soulful, and a bit menacing. Morrison wrote 7 of the 12 songs, including "Gloria," but each song is delivered as if it could be his last. After Them's second album, Van would begin to knock us out solo. But my gosh, his vocals were just killin' from the get-go. Anyway, side one tells you all you need to know, and by the end of side two, you're ready to do it all over again. My appreciation of early Van Morrison just keeps growing.

"Here Comes The Night" - Them (back)

Favorites include:

"Gloria"

"One Two Brown Eyes"

"Mystic Eyes"

"Don't Look Back"

This copy is a Mono first US pressing with the cover boasting the song "Here Comes the Night." Subsequent pressings would also tout the song "Gloria" on the cover. There are scuffs and light scratches in the deadwax, but fortunately, the vinyl itself looks VG and plays stronger. It's the Mono magic happening. The album cover has a 1" seam split on the bottom and ringwear on the front and back.

On the plus side, the killer Batman font used on the front, or..."BatVAN" font if you like... helps pull the eyes away from the worst of the ring-burn. Also, the band photo of the Belfast lads makes Them look not to be trifled with. It's a nice player copy, and I'm cool for now. Pick this one up at any decent chance you get.

Parrot label

Cat #

PA 61005

SIDE A DEADWAX

ARL 6801 [-1 w/three dots below it] 𝐵𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒮𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 sf

SIDE B DEADWAX

ARL 6802 [-1 w/three dots below it] 𝐵𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒮𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 sf

"Gloria" - Them / "Here Comes The Night" (1965)

TRACKS:

A1 "Here Comes The Night" 2:45

A2 "Mystic Eyes" 2:41

A3 "Don't Look Back" 3:23

A4 "Little Girl" 2:21

A5 "One Two Brown Eyes" 2:39

A6 "Gloria" 2:38

B1 "One More Time" 2:47

B2 "If You and I Could Be As Two" 2:53

B3 "I Like It Like That" 3:35

B4 "I'm Gonna Dress In Black" 3:34

B5 "Route 66" 2:22

B6 "Go On Home Baby" 2:39

PERSONNEL:

Van Morrison - vocals, sax

Billy Harrison - lead guitar

Alan Henderson - bass

Peter Bardens - organist

John McAuley - drums, piano, harmonica

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Dig and Flip: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Serial #1 - Collins, Rodriguez, Wood (2003)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 16:52:49 +0000

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Serial #1

Max Allan Collins, Gabriel Rodriguez, Ashley Wood

Published January 1, 2003

Graphic Novel, 144 pages

NO SPOILERS:

If you are familiar with the CSI TV show, the parlay within these pages will ring familiar, but it can sometimes be annoying. Thankfully, the story keeps a good pace, and everything clicks and plays nicely with the mystery. But Ripper stories, as you well know, have been done to death in all their various shades of blood splatter and knife slicings. If you're cool with this overworked premise, you'll find this one is no worse for wear.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Serial #1

(inside graphic novel)

Here we have a modern-day Jack the Ripper imitator reinacting the historic murders committed in the 1800s during a "Ripperologist" Convention. It's kind of corny, and yet the pages hold court pretty well. The artwork is fine, but it would have behooved the artists to make a few more panels darker and creepier, given the subject matter. The restraint to tone it down a smidge felt like higher-up thumbscrews were making their presence known. 3 outta 5 flips and one to grow on if you're a fan of the series. I'll read another one. Now give me some candy!

"The Ripper" - Judas Priest / "Sad Wings Of Destiny" (1976)

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Fantasy" - Fantasy (1970)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:59:05 +0000

"Fantasy" - Fantasy (1970)

Fantasy's self-titled album is a mix of psych and prog, a little heavier on the prog side yet somehow stays mostly grounded. There are a couple more jammier rockers, one of which is an instrumental track..."Stoned Cowboy"...that received a lot of heavy radio play for a fairly long minute. If Jefferson Airplane Grace Slick vocals are your thing, or perhaps if the occasional Frumpy legend Inga Rumpf snags your swag, you'll definitely enjoy this. And singer Lydia Janene Miller's vocals belie her age. She was just 16 when she hooked up with the band to record this album. Miller sounds like a girl who could sell seashells down by the seashore, and customers would still hit the tip jar. Good stuff.

As for this band that called Miami home, Fantasy's songs often slip into some kind of art-rock wigout, and at times, sound pretty dang ambitious. Don't overpay, but if you see this square in the wild for under $20, you should grab it. The album cover is designed in a strange, if impractical, manner: the vinyl comes from a different direction than expected, and when opening the inner gatefold, the band photo appears upside down. I don't know what they were thinking. A mistake at the pressing plant, or just playing mind games. This was their only album.

"Fantasy" - Fantasy (back)

"Fantasy" - Fantasy (inside gatefold)

Favorites include:

"Understand"

"Stoned Cowboy"

"Circus Of Invisible Men"

This album has a cut corner, the vinyl is VG+, and it came with its original lyric record sleeve. "Fantasy" has been in my new arrivals box at home for nearly three months. I'm still catching up. It's not work, I just spin when I'm in the mood and have time. It's a good problem to have, right? Anyway, I picked this copy up from a dealer who bore a strong resemblance to George Jones. Very pleasant seller. I think I paid $15 for the album. Maybe a bit less, if I bundled. But certainly a fair price. I don't love it, but I like a lot of it. I think this could be a grower.

"Fantasy" - Fantasy (lyrics sleeve front-back)

Liberty Records label

Cat #

LST-7643

SIDE A DEADWAX

LST-7643-1 K L̶P̶-̶1̶2̶4̶5̶8̶-̶1̶ 114

SIDE B DEADWAX

LST-7643-2 K L̶P̶-̶1̶2̶4̶5̶8̶-̶2̶ 114

"Understand" - Fantasy / "Fantasy" (1970)

TRACKS:

A1 "Happy" 5:24

A2 "Come" 6:11

A3 "Wages Of Sin" 3:37

A4 "Circus Of Invisible Men" 5:32

B1 "Stoned Cowboy" 5:55

B2 "Understand" 4:42

B3 "What's Next" 9:24

PERSONNEL:

Lydia Janene Miller - vocals

Vincent James DeMeo, Jr. - guitar, vocals

Mario Anthony Russo - piano, organ

David Robert Robbins - bass

Gregory Scott Kimple - drums

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Pretties For You" - Alice Cooper (1969 - Rei 1970)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:37:55 +0000

"Pretties For You" - Alice Cooper (1969 - Rei 1970)

"Pretties For You" is an unexpected Alice Cooper psych album. The square is a widowmaker of surprises and louies from needle drop to label. At times, the band rubs shoulders with The Beatles and shakes hands with the early Syd Barrett Floyd the next. It gets heavy over here and goes jazz-trippin' over there. Everything in good measure. The harmonies are great. The musicianship is solid. And conviction is the rule of the school. Not quite the dangerous, creepy, hard-rock sound the band would later create, but there is still a delightful strangeness here that hits the sweet spot.

And lest we forget, this was the band's debut! And what they couldn't sell in the open market, I expect, would quickly change hands in the murkier alleys. The album may be underrated or underappreciated; I can never make up my mind about which word to choose, but what I will say is that "Pretties For You" is an album in need of rediscovery. Or maybe just discovery in general. For 30-plus minutes, the album carries you in unmapped directions. Knowing what the band was later to become makes this psych spin all the more fun and fascinating. A lot of things, but never boring.

"Pretties For You" - Alice Cooper (back)

"Pretties For You" - Alice Cooper (inside gatefold)

Favorites include:

"Sing Low Sweet Cheerio"

"Living"

"Apple Bush"

"Fields Of Regret"

This is not a first pressing, but it is an early 1970 first green WB label reissue, "WS 1840 1A1B," with the vinyl in near-excellent condition. My camera shots make it look like there is water damage...there is not. A little ringwear, but no splits or crumbling. The album cover is a VG for sure. I'd love to have a copy on the Straight label, but it just hasn't found me yet. For your curiosity, this copy was $20.

The band was first signed by Frank Zappa to his Straight Records label, and Frank pretty much just tossed them the keys to the studio for the day and told them to lock up when they were done. There are production credits listed, but apparently no actual producer was on set to provide direction. Factual or not, that's how I choose to believe it, and it does have the ring of Frank Zappa panache to it. In my 2019 interview, bassist Dennis Dunaway talks a bit about the Frank Zappa hookup.

Warner Bros. Records label

Cat #

WS 1840

SIDE A DEADWAX

WS 1840 39631-A S̶T̶S̶-̶1̶0̶5̶1̶-A 1A .S 1

SIDE B DEADWAX

WS-1840- 39632-B S̶T̶S̶-̶1̶0̶5̶1̶--B 1B 0 A4 1

"Sing Low Sweet Cheerio" - Alice Cooper / "Pretties For You" (1969)

TRACKS:

A1 "Titanic Overture"

A2 "10 Minutes Before The Worm"

A3 "Sing Low Sweet Cheerio"

A4 "Today Mueller"

A5 "Living"

A6 "Fields Of Regret"

B1 "No Longer Umpire"

B2 "Levity Ball" (Recorded in live performance)

B3 "B. B. On Mars"

B4 "Reflected"

B5 "Apple Bush"

B6 "Earwigs To Eternity"

B7 "Changing Arranging"

PERSONNEL:

Vincent Furnier - lead vocals, harmonica

Glen Buxton - lead guitar

Michael Bruce - guitar, b-vocals, keyboards, lead vocals (A3)

Dennis Dunaway - bass, b-vocals

Neal Smith - drums, b-vocals

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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TCCDM Pulls One Out..."After The Gold Rush" (w/Pink Text) - Neil Young (1970 - Rei 1976)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey Chambers) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 01:06:23 +0000

"After The Gold Rush" (w/Pink Text) - Neil Young (1970 - Rei 1976)

I'm showing this Neil Young album because it's the rare-ish 1976 reissue with pink text instead of the usual yellow-gold. I wasn't a fly on the wall when Neil found out, but apparently, he was plenty pissed and demanded that the albums be yanked from stores PDQ. And that's what they did. The pink text copies were pulled from record shelves faster than you can say 'hey-hi-you!' How many actually got out is unknown, but it's safe to say not all that many. I mean, they're out there, but... So I guess in the whole Rock and Roll records scheme of things, these pink-text albums are like leprechauns. I mean, they're around, but you don't see'em very often.

Some copies are known to fetch relatively high dollars. Over $100 from time to time. You're probably not gonna get rich, but there's still something cool about an album, "rare or different," that's hard to resist.

If you're lucky, you'll only pay about what you would expect to pay for a used 1976 copy. About $10 or $15 dollars. Maybe even less. The pink-text leprechaun isn't all that well-known. And if you do spot one, consider it your lucky charm and a story you can tell. Anyway, summer's almost here, and the time is right for dancing in the street. Or maybe just at houses with yard sale signs out front and boxes of records to go through. Good hunting...and keep an eye out for the pink.

(The album should come with a large-sized lyrics insert)

By the way, here is a link to an earlier posting at The College Crowd...TCCDM "...Gold Rush"...with pics of the regular yellow/gold front cover, back cover, the inside gatefold, the track listings, and a song video. Also, I left a link to a cool video from my friend Ron over at The Hog's Ear Report, which features other cool album finds. A longtime member of The Vinyl Community. If you like his channel...Subscribe. You'll be glad you did.

Reprise Records label

Cat #

RS 6383

SIDE A DEADWAX

RS-6383 31009 RE2 W1. 1 1 ✲

SIDE B DEADWAX

RS-6383 31009 RE2 W1. 1 1 ✲

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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