The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Girls Go Wild 1979

Their debut album, with the original lineup of Wilson, Vaughn, Buck, and Ferguson stompin' through a roadhouse set of covers and genre-worthy originals. One of the few white blues albums that works. AMG.

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Atlanta Rhythm Section - Third Annual Pipe Dream 1974

For their third album, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, newly signed to Polydor after a couple of releases for Decca, put their best foot forward with some good-time Southern-flavored rock & roll for the album's opener, "Doraville," a catchy tribute to their hometown. They also weave a subtler spell with "Jesus Hearted People," which presents their love of Southern culture in more general terms. From there it's off to the suitably bluesy moments on "Close the Door" and the moody instrumental "Blues in Maude's Flat," and into swamp rock territory on "Join the Race (To Inner Space)," which also slips in a few hints of progressive rock jamming, especially on the keyboards and the guitar break. And that's all just the first side -- the second side of the original LP shows the band in a more introspective and experimental mode (especially on "The War Is Over"), but doesn't skimp on the musicianship, basic and otherwise, and "Angel (What in the World's Come Over Us)" even adds harmonies almost worthy of Crosby, Stills & Nash. The resulting record ended up breaking a few rules at the time -- most Southern bands (apart from the Allman Brothers) weren't supposed to get too experimental -- but it touches all the right buttons to make good listening three decades later and counting. Sad to say, at the time it only peaked at number 74 (which would be their highest LP chart placement for the next couple of years), and yielded a pair of regional hits, "Doraville" and "Angel"; but it's worth tracking down for more than a couple of listens for a sharper take on the permutations of "Southern rock." AMG.

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49th Parallel - 49th Parallel 1969

49th Parallel was one of an unusual breed of garage punk bands to come out of Canada in the mid-'60s. Originally known as the Shades of Blond when they were formed in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the band featured Dennis Abbott on vocals, Dan Lowe and Bob Carlson on guitars, Dave Petch at the organ, Mick Woodhouse on bass, and Terry Bare on drums.

The band was signed to Gaiety Records and made their debut in mid-1967 with "Labourer," a piece of hard-edged garage punk, laden with fuzz-tone guitar and a defiant sneer, that sold moderately well in Canada. Their second single, "Blue Bonnie Blue" (co-written by a then-unknown Delaney Bramlett about the equally unknown Bonnie Bramlett, no less) had more of a lyrical folk-rock feel, though it kept its sharp edge in the singing and lyrics. Around this time, Woodhouse exited the lineup and was succeeded by Dave Downey on bass; he was later replaced by Alf Cook, and Dennis Mundy (and later Jack Velker) succeeded Petch on organ. In the spring of 1969, they finally had a national hit in Canada with "Twilight Woman," which charted in parts of the United States as well, and sounded like a poppier, slightly folkier version of the sound that bands like Tomorrow were generating in England. The group was never able to capitalize on the success of "Twilight Woman" and its follow-up, "Now That I'm a Man," however, in part because they were unable to hold their lineup together. Lead singer Dennis Abbott quit after their release, and in the course of changing personnel -- with Doran Beattie replacing him -- their sound changed. By 1970, the group had changed its name to Painter. The latter group scored a modest hit with "West Coast Woman" and its follow-up, "Crazy Feeling," before the band was renamed Hammersmith in the early to mid-'70s. They, in turn, issued a pair of singles, "Feelin' Better" and "Late Night Lovin' Man."

At their best, 49th Parallel had a hard, cutting sound that could have put them in the front ranks of garage punk bands, their slashing guitars and swirling organ around Abbott's lead vocals making a compelling and memorable sound, which was easily adaptable to psychedelic punk. Their slow ballads were suitably spacey in a pop/rock vein, but it was their harder numbers that hold up best. Like a lot of '60s bands, they outlived their era and metamorphosed into new shapes and directions. Guitarist Dan Lowe later made a fortune in the field of multimedia sound design, as the inventor of Q-Sound. AMG.

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Orpheus - Joyful 1969

Orpheus' final MGM album is softer and poppier than the other LPs the group had done for the label, but not that much softer and poppier, as Orpheus were already pretty piffling at the outset. Like their other albums, it's full of lushly orchestrated original material that strives to be grand and important, but is much closer to mushy, sunshine pop than art. The feel-good bounciness of the harmonies and lyrics is incessant. It's one thing to be airy, another to be airheaded, and the group often treads perilously close to the latter trait. In order for pop/rock this light and romantic to work, the melodies have to be damn good; on this album, however, they're not close to being good enough, though the disc might find favor with sunshine pop cultists after something with a little more pretension than is common in the style. All of the songs are included on the Big Beat double-CD compilation The Best of Orpheus. AMG.

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Sérgio Godinho - Os Sobreviventes 1971

Sérgio Godinho is widely reputed to be one of the most significant creative forces driving popular Portuguese music in the latter half of the 20th Century. Sometimes called ‘the man of 7 instruments' for his musical versatility, Godinho has earned the widespread respect both as a songwriter and instrumentalist. Though primarily known as a musician, Godinho enjoyed a thriving career as a well-published poet and graced stage and screen as an actor. Born in Porto, Portugal in 1945, Sérgio spent many of his early years traveling internationally before channeling his attentions towards his career as a solo artist. Having spent time in Brazil, Canada and the Netherlands, Godinho initiated his recording career on French soil in 1971. His debut disc Os Sobreviventes, followed a year later by Pre-Histórias won him "Author of the Year" and "Album of the Year" respectively. Upon word of the revolution in his homeland, Godinho returned to Portugal shortly thereafter. His third original release was recorded in Portugal and whole heartedly embraced by it's people. Á Queima-Roupa (1974) introduced Godinho to the Portuguese public, and made him a star overnight. With a record released nearly every other year, Godinho became a fixture in his nation's pop culture landscape, cementing a place in Portuguese musical history. Even as the years pressed on, his popularity did not dwindle. Godinho's records consistently enjoyed significant sales, including his 2008 release Nove e Neia no Maria Matos. Recorded better than three decades after his debut, the album debuted inside the Top 40 on Portuguese Pop charts. AMG.

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Mink DeVille - Cabretta 1977

Although a product of the New York punk scene, at heart Mink DeVille were a soul band with roots in R&B, the blues, and even Cajun music. The group was a showcase for frontman Willy DeVille (born William Boray in 1953), a native New Yorker who in 1971 traveled to London to form a band; unable to find compatible musicians, he worked as a solo performer before returning to the U.S. and settling in San Francisco, where he founded the first incarnation of Mink DeVille in 1974 with bassist Ruben Siguenza and drummer Tom "Manfred" Allen. After playing in Bay Area leather bars and lounges under a variety of names including Billy DeSade & the Marquis and the Lazy Eights, the trio read a music magazine feature spotlighting the Ramones; duly inspired, Mink DeVille relocated to New York, where they recruited guitarist Louie X. Erlanger. After debuting with three tracks on the Live at CBGB's compilation, the band entered the studio with legendary producer Jack Nitzsche and surfaced in 1977 with Cabretta, an energetic, soulful outing highlighted by "Spanish Stroll," a Top 20 hit in the U.K. After recording 1978's Return to Magenta, Willy DeVille dismissed his bandmates (save for Erlanger) and moved to Paris to record Le Chat Bleu, a record steeped in traditional French-Cajun romantic ballads -- complete with accordion backing -- and recorded with session luminaries including bassist Jerry Scheff, saxophonist Teenage Steve Douglas, and drummer Ron Tutt. Dismayed with the results, the group's label, Capitol, delayed its American release for over a year, prompting Mink DeVille to jump to Atlantic for 1981's Coup de Grace. By 1983's Where Angels Fear to Tread, Willy DeVille was the sole remaining founding member; after the release of 1985's Sportin' Life, he finally jettisoned the Mink DeVille name to continue working as a solo performer. Among his later recordings, the most successful was 1986's Mark Knopfler-produced Miracle; the single "Storybook Love" was later nominated for an Academy Award after it appeared in the film The Princess Bride. Willy DeVille died of pancreatic cancer in August 2009 at 58 years of age.AMG.

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The Chambers Brothers - Now 1966

This nine-song, 41-minute album, originally released on the Vault label, was recorded live at performances at the Unicorn in Boston and the Ash Grove in Los Angeles. The shows, from 1965, pre-dated the Chambers Brothers' signing to Columbia by more than a year, and capture the group just coming up as a major discotheque attraction, still retaining elements of their gospel roots on songs such as "Baby Don't Cry" and even "High Heel Sneakers." The set includes a some basic rock & roll, "Long Tall Sally" and "Bonie Maronie," both highly animated in the playing as well as the singing, and stirring despite some moments of sloppiness, such as wrong notes, etc., but there's also some slow blues ("It's Groovin' Time," "C.C. Rider") present, which gives the group a chance to stretch out. The closing number, "So Fine," is about as perfect a song as the group generated during the early part of their history, showcasing their fine harmony singing, bluesy guitar work, and a rock steady beat in a performance that soars and surges for six solid minutes. This is one of the better-sounding live rock or soul documents of its period, captured in decent fidelity right down to the twisting guitar part in "Long Tall Sally" and about half of the vocals up fairly close as well. The band's sound is divided between the two channels, drums one on side, bass on the other, and the voices split between the two. The One Way Records reissue has no extra notes or bonus tracks, but does feature excellent sound which, coupled with a low price, makes it almost irresistible. AMG.

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Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You 1965

One of her most pop-oriented albums, but also one of her best and most consistent. Most of the songs feature dramatic, swinging large-band orchestration, with the accent on the brass and strings. Simone didn't write any of the material, turning to popular European songsmiths Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, and Anthony Newley, as well as her husband, Andy Stroud, and her guitarist, Rudy Stevenson, for bluesier fare. There are really fine tunes and interpretations, on which Simone gives an edge to the potentially fey pop songs, taking a sudden (but not uncharacteristic) break for a straight jazz instrumental with "Blues on Purpose." The title track, a jazzy string ballad version of the Screamin' Jay Hawkins classic, gave the Beatles the inspiration for the phrasing on the bridge of "Michelle." AMG.
 

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Jefferson Starship - Spitfire 1976

Spitfire was Jefferson Starship's 1976 follow-up to the chart-topping Red Octopus (1975), and it found the band in a cooperative mood. All seven bandmembers earned writing credits on at least one of the nine songs, along with eight outsiders, and even drummer John Barbata got a lead vocal on the simple rock & roll song "Big City." But the three main power centers in the group remained in place. Singer/guitarist Paul Kantner continued to turn out his lengthy, complex songs with their exhortatory, vaguely political lyrics (the five-minute "Dance with the Dragon" and the seven-minute "Song to the Sun: Ozymandias/Don't Let It Rain"). Singer Grace Slick contributed her own idiosyncratic compositions, simultaneously elliptical and passionately stated ("Hot Water" and "Switchblade"). And singer Marty Balin, whose romantic ballad "Miracles" had fueled the success of Red Octopus, wrote (or located) and sang more songs of love and pleasure ("Cruisin'," "St. Charles," "With Your Love," and "Love Lovely Love"). Weaving the three styles together were the fluid lead guitar work of Craig Chaquico and the alternating bass and keyboard playing of David Freiberg and Pete Sears. The result was an album that quickly scaled the charts, spending six consecutive weeks at number three in Billboard and going platinum. That it didn't do better on the band's considerable career momentum can be put down to the relatively disappointing nature of the material. There was no "Miracles" on the album, to begin with. Grunt Records released the more modest "With Your Love" as a single and got it into the Top 20, but the closest thing to "Miracles" was really "St. Charles," a song that certainly had some of the same elements but lacked the kind of direct emotional statement that made "Miracles" a classic. Similarly, "Dance with the Dragon" was no "Ride the Tiger" (from Dragon Fly [1974]), and while "Switchblade" was an unusually clear statement of romantic intent from Slick (whose "lyrical wordplay is...not easily accessible yet compelling and thought-provoking," as 2004 reissue annotator Jeff Tamarkin generously says of "Hot Water"), its provocative title made it an unlikely choice for an adult contemporary hit. Spitfire was more than the sum of its parts, boasting the sort of vocal interplay and instrumental virtuosity that had always been the hallmarks of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. If the band had taken more time to write and find better songs, it might have matched the sales and quality of its predecessor. AMG.
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The Moving Sidewalks - Flash 1968

The sole album by the Moving Sidewalks is as fascinating as it is unremarkable. As the birthing ground for legendary blues-rock guitarist Billy Gibbons, one would expect at least a taste of what would later make ZZ Top one of the best touring and recording bands on the planet; sadly, the album offers little in the way of revelation in its 15 tracks. Admittedly, at the time of ZZ Top's 1970 debut, Gibbons' transformation from a journeyman bandleader into a boogie-blues demigod was still not fully realized, but his chops were miles away from what is heard here. Part of that lies in the fact that ZZ Top was less about psychedelia than straight blues; whatever psychedelic touches made their way onto the studio albums were largely an accessory. (They would eventually fully integrate on 1979's Deguello.) The Moving Sidewalks, on the other hand, were psychedelic rockers whose songs hinted at the blues without fully diving in. The songs show little of Gibbons' future promise, and in fact are so thoroughly mediocre (both in writing and playing) that it's amazing to think he was only a few years away from international success. "Pluto-Sept. 31st" shows a clear Hendrix influence (the two guitarists openly admired each other), and as a bonus, Akarma's reissue includes five bonus singles that are some of the strongest material on the album, especially "Need Me," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and the legendary single "99th Floor." AMG.

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The Third Power - Believe 1970

The Third Power were part of the same Detroit high-energy rock scene as the MC5, the Stooges, SRC, and the Frost, but they never achieved the same recognition as many of their peers that were regularly gigging at the Grande Ballroom in the late 1960s, especially outside of their home stage. Believe, the group's only album, reveals more than a few stylistic debts to Cream, especially in the tight, thoughtful interplay of the three musicians and the clear, strong vocals of singer and guitarist Drew Abbott, which bear a certain resemblance to Jack Bruce's style. But the Third Power's songs were less firmly rooted in the blues and lean further into psychedelia and hard rock, while Jim Craig's muscular drumming is less obsessively busy than Ginger Baker's percussive barrage. On songs like "Persecution," "Getting' Together," and "Love Me, Love Me," the Third Power hit hard and strong enough to sound like a potent Detroit rock outfit of the day, but there are enough numbers like "Lost in a Daydream" and "Crystalline Chandelier" to document the group's more languid side, and while legend has it the Third Power were dropped by Vanguard Records shortly after Believe was released because the label thought they were too heavy for them, listening to this back to back with the first two albums by the Frost (fellow Michiganians who also recorded for Vanguard) makes that story pretty hard to swallow. The Third Power had a way with a melody that's impressive for an amped-up power trio of the day, and Abbott's guitar heroics are solid throughout (he later put his talents to more profitable use as a longtime member of Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band), as is Craig's drumming and Jem Targal's bass work. But the production doesn't always work to the music's advantage (especially the fascination with panning, not uncommon for the era), and Believe could stand to rock harder. Despite it all, this album and the band that made it certainly deserved better than the fate they received, and with a bit more experience in the studio, the Third Power could have made a follow-up that better captured the fabled strength they were said to have on-stage. AMG.

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Joe Tex - The Love You Save 1966

Joe Tex was at the top of his game as the down-home philosopher of Southern soul when he cut The Love You Save, one of three (!) albums Tex would release in 1966. Tex's warm and passionate tenor is in superb form on these tunes, and his songs, which offer plenty of advice on keeping your relationship in good shape (" "Build Your Love (On a Solid Foundation)"), keeping up with the Joneses ("Funny Bone"), understanding what you want out of life (" "I'm a Man"), and various other topics of importance, are solid, funny, and bear the sing of truth. Buddy Killen's production is the perfect marriage of deep South vibe and East coast polish, and all 12 songs hit the bullseye (including an idiosyncratic but beautifully executed cover of "Heartbreak Hotel." Great stuff that any fan of Southern soul should have on their want list. AMG.

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The Novells - That Did It! 1968

"Discovered by recording artist, producer and arranger H.B. Barnum and signed to his Mothers Records label in 1968, The Novells, an LA-based outfit, managed to release That Did It! and a couple of singles before calling it a day a year later. Barnum, whose arrangement credits included work for Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Etta James, The Supremes, The Temptations and Aretha Franklin, had clearly taken on more than he could chew with The Novells whose album, That Did It! was a nice blend of pop melodies and heavier rock -- not Barnum's thing at all, although he did manage to convince the band to do a cover of Otis Redding's 'Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay. There's also some tasty fuzz guitar on tracks such as 'Love' (a Lee Michaels cover) but the band seemed unable to decide on exactly what their musical identity was, as they were a passable pop group as well as a serious rock band and evidence of their ability to be both is found here in ample supply. This is a surprisingly good, with varied styles, thought worthy of investigation." therockasteria.
 

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Frankie Miller - Frankie Miller's High Life 1974

This is the second album by Scottish R&B vocalist Frankie Miller, this time recorded in Atlanta. The album is a nice mix of songs, half of which were self-penned. A note of interest: Miller's version of "Play Something Sweet" was released a year before Three Dog Night had their hit with the same song. AMG.

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Arlo Guthrie - Running Down The Road 1969

Although this album's "Coming in to Los Angeles" crossed Guthrie over and into the rock underground, especially via its performance at Woodstock, most of his third record is actually far more laid-back country-rock. Very much a production of its time, in a slightly negative sense, Running Down the Road features Guthrie employing the cream of L.A.'s top country-rock players as session men: Ry Cooder, James Burton, Clarence White, Jim Gordon, Gene Parsons, Jerry Scheff, and Chris Etheridge. The tone is good-natured and easygoing -- too good-natured and easygoing sometimes, in fact, as on the unexciting cover of "Stealin'." Guthrie acknowledges his folk roots with covers of tunes by his father Woody Guthrie ("Oklahoma Hills"), Pete Seeger ("Living in the Country"), and Mississippi John Hurt. These are surrounded by originals that follow the Dylan "back to basics" mold of the late '60s, both in musical and lyrical concerns ("My Front Pages" might even be taken as a gentle Dylan satire). As such, much of the record is inoffensive but inconsequential, although the drug smuggling ode "Coming into Los Angeles" adds a touch of much-needed urgency. The title track is entirely uncharacteristic of the album, with its harsh blasts of distorted psychedelic guitar and tough, walking-blues stance -- for these reasons, it's a standout. AMG.

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