an Lloyd's O-de-Po

Written by Joe Viglione

Sunday, 03 May 2009 18:15

Thirty-seven years after the first release from the band Stories the voice that powered that band to the top of the charts unleashes, perhaps, his most innovative and enticing collection of melodies and tales to date. The cardboard gatefold has psychedelic photos of Ian Lloyd, although his website calls this ProgPop it definitely leans more towards the pop side that Lloyd is known for. When a/b'd with The Famous, a cd from Lloyd's son's band, Social Hero, one can hear how Ian Lloyd has kept contemporary, moving through the album rock that was his stint with Foreignor to this magical land of O-de-PO which is an explosion of sound crafted by the singer and his co-producer Tony Sankitts. Track 2, the first full song on the disc, "Wonderful World", was co-written by the producers and guitarist Dan Natelli. Oh you can hear the influence of the band YES but it's the best elements of their commercial radio side and the production certainly reflects Trevor Horns work on "Owner of A Lonely Heart", certainly a good thing. Great hook on the next track, the title "in the city of dreams" transcends everything with dramatic keys, drums and guitar - and space-age effects - if Space Age Bachelor Pad wasn't so retro this could fit in that niche nicely. Maybe Ian Lloyd has created an entirely new genre, Modern Space Age Bachelor Pop. The album takes the listener down a dark road on the title track, these songs clocking in between three and five minutes, concise and thought provoking. SOCIAL HERO The Famous Machine Dream Records Social Hero seamlessly unites throbbing hard rock, complex progressive elements, and edgy pop hooks on the 10-track debut titled The Famous. Perhaps those musical twists come naturally because of the personal bonds linking members of this New York City-based quintet. Lead guitarist Griffin Lotti is the brother of bassist Brandon Lotti, and vocalist/guitarist David Lloyd is the son of singer-songwriter Ian Lloyd. Of course, David's dad has earned some gold-plated credentials in the rock 'n' roll world: Ian sang Stories' soulful 1973 smash "Brother Louie" and he harmonized on Foreigner's chart-topping albums. Listening to father and son singing together on The Famous, it's easy to appreciate these trans-generational voices blending perfectly across time and musical landscapes. Propelled by Ray Odabashian's percussion attack, "Evening Gown" and "Gone" explode with power chords flowing into Anglo-pop melodies that are pierced by searing guitar leads. Showing the influence of Yes at their prog-rock peak, "Keep Telling Yourself" bursts with eight minutes of soaring choirboy harmonies and virtuoso instrumental passages. Equally mesmerizing is "Runaway," a six-minute stream of textured folk-rock and progressive rock, capped by a torrid electric guitar break. "Recognized" and "Better Day" represent the quintet's heaviest side, as Griffin Lotti unleashes more fiery guitar licks For fans of hard-chiseled pop, Social Hero delivers "On My Own," which features stellar vocal harmonies and a catchy chorus. And the band reconnects glitter rock to sci-fi lyrics on "Radioactive Man," an irresistible brew of guitar chords, lead riffs, bass lines and power drumming. David Lloyd would be continuing his family's tradition of singing on chart-topping discs with "Radioactive Man," if today's radio stations possessed a flicker of the pop record sensibility that rocketed Ian Lloyd and Stories to the No. 1 spot in the 1970s. by Joseph Tortelli

Last Updated on Monday, 04 May 2009 14:27

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Monica Ott - Only Human

Written by Joe Viglione

Saturday, 11 July 2009 13:11

1) The Brave One 4:11 2) World According To You 4:20 3) The Way We Used To Be 4:38 4) What Is Love Now 4:09 5) Only Human 4:37 6) Perfect Circle 4:06 7) State Of Confusion 3:50 8) Life's Not Fair 3:49 9) If We Only Knew 3:28 10) It's No Wonder 4:32 Gemmzine: Why did you decide to record 10 songs for this disc. Monica Ott: It wasn't that I chose the number as much is it just ended up that way. The band and I had been rehearsing and performing 9 solid great songs for at least a year. My drummer/producer Joe Bonadio called me up one day and said that I should really think about recording the songs because they were so polished. He basically put together a budget for me and from that point on I was making my debut album! By the time we got all the songs recorded, I had written a new song called "The Brave One." It's a very special song because I wrote it about my grandfather who passed away last year at 90 years old. I told the band that we had to record this final song before the album was done and it ended up being the first song on the album. Plus, once I had 10 songs, it felt like a complete album. Gemmzine: Were all these songs recorded and mixed at the same studio? Monica Ott: There were 3 studios that we used to record the album. The first is Acme Recording studio in Mamaroneck, NY. Most of the band has recorded there and that seemed to be the most reasonable option at the time. They let us take over the studio for a whole day and we tracked 8 songs in 12 hours. The only one we didn't record the first day was "The Way We Used to Be." I had a previous recording of that song that just needed some overdubbing which we recorded in the second studio called Defy Recordings in NYC. This is where Joe introduced me to Robert L. Smith. We recorded all of Marc Shulman's guitar parts there, my vocals, acoustic guitar, background vocals, keyboards, and extra percussion. This is where we (Me, Robert, and Joe) spent most of our time because we also did most of the mixing there as well. A lot of late nights and protein bars! The third studio was Robert's home studio and that is where the final mixes and mastering was done. Months later, we did go back to Acme to record "The Brave One" so we'd acheive the same sound as the other songs. Gemmzine: Did the inspiration for this work come all at once, during a fixed period in time, or was it spread out over many years...or longer? Monica Ott:It was definitely spread out over a period of time! Almost half of these songs were written in college (the early half of the decade) when I was really figuring out who I was and getting my heart broken by boys and friends. For instance "What is Love Now" is obviously a break up song that I wrote after freshman year of college when I was really sad and confused. How do I know what love feels like if I'm not with this specific person? A clear example of a girl just learning the ropes of her sexuality. As the years go on, the song keeps the same meaning but loses who the song is about. I love to ask questions in all of my songs because not only do I want the song to capture how I feel at the time, but I want to inspire the listener to ask the same questions in his/her life. Writing songs, for me, is almost like a psychological study of human emotions which is why I love the title "Only Human" so much. All the songs on the album are songs that I just couldn't let go of. They really are an autobiography of me growing up and moving on. Gemmzine: Are all the tracks by the same musicians and, if so, how long has this particular group been together? Monica Ott: Yes, the same musicians are on every song. Joe Bonadio (drums), Marc Shulman (electric guitar), and Jeff Allen (bass) There were a couple of songs where we felt like we needed a piano part so we called in Josh Dodes to play keys on a few songs including "It's No Wonder." Me, Joe, Jeff, and Marc have been playing together for 2 years so they really understand what my sound is and how to showcase each song. Gemmzine: Are you the sole songwriter or did anyone collaborate with you? Monica Ott: I am the only songwriter on the album. I do have to give credit to my amazing voice teacher, singer/songwriter Tina Shafer, because I always play new songs for her and she tells me what works and what I can do better to improve the song. I definitely had a very different chorus for "World According to You" before she helped me understand what I was really trying to say. She has definitely helped me highlight what my strengths are. Gemmzine: Any anecdotes about live performances of this song? Monica Ott:There was one time when I was singing "Only Human" and my voice cracked at the end of the bridge. I was embarrassed but I realized that if I'm gonna mess up a song, it's better that it's this song because the title will always forgive my mistakes. Gemmzine: Was there anything out of the ordinary while recording a video of one or more songs from this album? And if not, how did the director of the video work with the original storyline? To your satisfaction? Monica Ott: I have not recorded a video yet but would love to in the future when I have a bigger budget! Gemmzine: Was this song effectively captured in the studio or would you change something in the future or on stage? Monica Ott: "Life's Not Fair" is song that could go either way. It could be produced with a lot of bells and whistles to bring out the sad story of the song or it could be simply done like the way it was recorded on the album. I am personally a fan of "less is more" and I'm not saying I don't love the way it came out but I think it could have been taken a step further. Maybe just have me in the beginning and the band fully coming in at the chorus. It just needs a little bit more of an arc to satisfy the story. I do love the bridge but I definitely would have re-done my vocals on the whole song because I think I could have done a better job if I had more time and money. Gemmzine: How difficult was it getting this composition from your mind to the recording session and onto the disc? Monica Ott: It wasn't really that difficult because the band and I had been rehearsing most of the songs for over a year and we knew that we just wanted to go in and record the way we normally play them. The fun part was the overdubbing sessions where we could all experiment especially my guitar player Marc Shulman who would come into the recording sessions and play these parts that just came to him on the spot. It was certainly magical and gave us so many ideas to play with because how each song was represented could change in an instant. For example, the song "State of Confusion" is another song I wrote after a breakup in college and I've always known the song as just being what it was: a little poppy and straight forward. Then Marc came in and started adding this gritty, dark, rock 'n roll sounding part to it and it just took the song to a whole other level. Marc can literally make the most romantic love songs sound like something out of a horror movie or the dentist chair...in a good way! Gemmzine:Did you attend the mastering session and how important was the mastering to the overall sound of the album? Monica Ott:I attended all of the mixing sessions so I had an idea of what the overall sound of the album would be like. The mastering happened pretty quickly. Robert would do a version of the mastering and then he had me listen to it. I gave him feedback and he tweaked some things until I felt that it was right. The main thing was making sure the order of the songs fit, that the length of each song flowed into the next, and that the sound levels of each song matched especially when you're transitioning from a big song like "Only Human" to a sweet, but softer "Perfect Circle." It only took a couple of days before it was the way I wanted it. Gemmzine:Pick any two or three songs to essay about, giving the reader more perspective on what you wanted to say... lyrically, musically or both. Monica Ott:"If We Only Knew" is a song about how we affect other people with our words and actions and if we understood that then we could change things in our lives to make them better. It specifically deals with being a waitress and the crazy customers and people I work with. I have worked at the same restaurant for about four years and it gets hard sometimes (because I feel like I am a caring, passionate person) to understand why people act they way they do. If everyone could just relax and be "normal" (I say that very lightly), then we'd all be better people and grow from each other rather than feel stifled. The song is very general but I used a couple of specific experiences to further my message. The first is a woman who has to have her drink made perfectly or else she gets upset at everyone. She is unhappy and has no control over her life and wants to be in control of the waitstaff. She is also waiting for something good to happen to her but doesn't want to change herself in order to resolve her problems. I didn't write about a specific person but rather combined a few women I've dealt with into the character in the song. The second character is a man who has worked in the restaurant business for far too long and doesn't know who he is outside of the restaurant. He feels trapped yet turns to the restaurant for support. He is also waiting for good things to come to him instead of changing things for himself. The song is very dark but is also hopeful because I definitely believe that people can change. Having good energy and being gracious is a start. "Only Human" is a song that has its own meaning but it also sums up the entire album. Specifically it is a song about when you're in a relationship, you have thoughts about being with someone else. You never act on these feelings because your heart always leads you back to the right place. The chorus is the realization that it's okay to have thoughts because it is human instinct and if we never have these thoughts, then we are lying to ourselves. Thinking about stuff we may never have thought about is a scary place and can sometimes make you feel not like yourself. This is why the line "I'm a stranger in my own skin" is so important to the song. We all lose ourselves from time to time and as long as we recognize it and move forward, we can learn from it. No one is perfect and we should never try to be that way. Perfect is boring. 2007 release 1) Life's Not Fair 4:03 2) State of Confusion 4:13 3) What Is Love Now 4:13 4) Find My Way 4:49

Last Updated on Monday, 02 November 2009 17:15

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R. Stevie Moore does The Beatles

Written by Joe Viglione

Friday, 20 November 2009 08:47

Friday, 20 November 2009 08:47 Gemmzine's continuing coverage of all things Beatles for the upcoming BEATexpo2009 (see below) Direct link to this article here: http://tinyurl.com/rsteviemooredoesbeatles Remember to click on the photos and album covers to find tons and tons of Beatles products and rarities in Gemm.com itself. R. Stevie Moore reforms the Beatles As in reformation... (and for fun there's some Wikipedia song descriptions of each tune to read while you are listening...) 1.I'm Happy Just To Dance With You - (2:11) Interesting guitar instrumental that is quasi-punk and a neat neo-Harrison guitar and falls into a bit of "Get Back" that could be The Dickies fighting with the Ramones to slow up their music just a tad. Read more here: 2) Eleanor Rigby (2:34) Eleanor Rigby has an intriguing underwater guitar that could be Vinnie Bell playing behind the living room drapes...the highly identifiable melody is thick in keyboard/guitar drenchings that make it not only respectful but more than respectable...wah wah and artificial orchestration make this instrumental a standout. The album just gets better and better the deeper you go into it, "I'm Only Sleeping" full of cascading instrumentation with a vibe/feel and sounds that do the Beatles justice and add something to their legacy..and that's the cool thing here, R. Stevie ADDS to the magic of the songs, expanding the cosmic wanderings of "I'm Only Sleeping" in a way that the song dictates but that couldn't be done within the confines of "Revolver" (but maybe on Yesterday and Today...well, maybe not...) at 4:52 it is the longest track (next to the bonus, the 10:20 Abbey Road Medley, not-so-secret Track 19) with psychedelic Strawberry Fields-styled fuzziness at its conclusion External Link: 3)You're Gonna Lose That Girl (2:12) External Link: 4)Martha My Dear (2:35) External Link: 5)If I Needed Someone (2:15) External Link: 6)She Said She Said (2:38) External Link: 7)Your Mother Should Know (2:04) This works well,brings you back to the days of Magical Mystery Tour External Link: 8)I'm Only Sleeping (4:52) External Link: 9)Help (2:04) is fantastic...a lead guitar with other guitars chirping, as is most of these productions on R. Stevie's reinvention...makes you wish he'd take on The Rolling Stones, The Who and other classics as well...I'm so tired of The Who's music which is overplayed on Classic Rock Radio...they are in desperate need of R. Stevie Moore! This stuff is great. Original takes on music that has become an everpresent part of the soundtrack of our lives...giving such a dramatic perspective, a departure that doesn't stray too far, is an art unto itself 10)I'll Be Back (2:38) One of those great Beatles ideas, a short quick burst that lends itself perfectly to the R. Stevie treatment. A great sentiment from the Beatles, a song that says it all. 11)And Your Bird Can Sing (2:08) As Spanky McFarlane and her gang - Spanky & Our Gang - did a superb job with this, so too the psychedelic elements are all intact and expounded upon...fascinating and fabulous reading of such an important title. Peter Calo does more traditional takes on instrumental Beatles http://tinyurl.com/calobeatles but both these virtuosos add something to the catalog with their own point of view giving the mix a new splash of colour and something for Beatles fans to ponder as they keep searching for new brushstrokes of their favorite music. 12)If I Fell (2:45)- just tremendous...nothing more needs to be said...give it a listen. External Link: 13)It's Only Love (1:57) - another terrific take...this guy could make a career of giving his fuzztone readings of Beatles classics on a variety of discs...the guitar and cymbal sounds at the beginning, the creative guitar that follows, superb External Link: 14)And I Love Her (1:46) Flamenco guitar noodlings are a shocker as the presentation is so different from everything else here...Richie Havens could do this in his set and it would be a marvel... External Link: 15)I Wanna Be Your Man (4:37) Following up the flamenco with conga drums and guitar blasts is very clever and amusing - this could be the first track on R. Stevie Moore does The Rolling Stones, could it not? The guitar has a nice elastic bounce in the riff...very cool...and exploratory as it is one of the longest tracks, very nice rhythm/percussion and reverb things at the end. External Link: 16)The Long And Winding Road (2:27) Take some of the tone that Hendrix used in The Star Spangled Banner and subdue it, restrain it with some drama...that's what R. Stevie Moore does here...Classic Rock radio would be wise to pick up on this. External Link: 17)Strawberry Fields Forever (4:04) It's hard to improve upon a masterpiece, and this doesn't, but it is still fun! As was Peter Gabriel's orchestrated rendition in the film soundtrack to ALL THIS AND WORLD WAR II http://tinyurl.com/allthisandworldwarbeatles External Link: 18)Here There And Everywhere (3:26) External Link: Bonus Track 19)Abbey Road Medley (10:20) Excellent take on it ! Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac didn't show up to perform ...but R. Stevie does him justice! Remember to click on the photos and album covers to find tons and tons of Beatles products and rarities in Gemm.com itself. Gemmzine's continuing coverage of all things Beatles for the upcoming BEATexpo2009 (see below) Direct link to this article here: http://tinyurl.com/rsteviemooredoesbeatles Other Beatles articles in Gemmzine: Joseph Tortelli on how the Remasters should've been http://tinyurl.com/theyshouldhaveknownbetter Peter Calo does more traditional takes on instrumental Beatles http://tinyurl.com/calobeatles More Gemmzine Beatles articles: http://beatlesdirectory.blogspot.com/ All This and World War II Beatles Tribute film soundtrack http://tinyurl.com/allthisandworldwarbeatles GEMM on Twitter: http://twitter.com/GemmMarket Celebrate the Music & Magicof The Beatles @ LiverpoolProductions BeatExpo 2009 Last Updated on Friday, 20 November 2009 09:47 Copyright © 2009 GEMM Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Last Updated on Saturday, 21 November 2009 18:40

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Tall Tall Trees

Written by Joe Viglione

Monday, 24 August 2009 12:27

"Now you've got me under your spell/I've got to take a moment to collect myself" are the kind of compelling words you'll find on Tall Tall Trees, words tucked inside a cute 3 minute song entitled "Heart Says Go", a definitive slice of what can only be called Adult Contemporary Bluegrass. It's a delightful collection of laid back pop songs that have traditional instruments supporting the melodies with vocals that are sincere about your mind saying "no" and your heart saying "go" colored by production that gets the point across and leaves it dangling in space. Mike Savino produced the CD, plays the banjo and does the singing on a disc their website says is "The first collection of songs from NYC based Tall Tall Trees for fans of banjos, Muppets, and off-beat storytelling." Released on Good Neighbor Records a five minute and nineteen second song like "Grey" has a dreamy appeal, though at times the instrumentation gets so lively it can get in the way of the reverie, which I guess is the point. The "surf harmonies" the group espouses show up on "Instructions for De-Materialization", which could be a to-the-contrary sequel to Zager & Evans bizarre classic ""In the Year 2525" while "The Opposite Song" could be the same (a devolution contrary sequel) for Ringo Starr's "The No No Song". "A Considerable Speck" is true culture clash with lots of sounds to offer proving the band is not averse to taking risks. And the risks continue with "Hats", short bursts of musical exploration which fuse 1960s sensibilities with soft rock and quirky instrumentation. The album will hold your attention and has a quaint sincerity not heard since The Country Bumpkins brought a similar perspective to the nightclubs of Boston a good fifteen to twenty years ago. Bubble Gum 2:22 Spaceman 3:15 The Ballad of Sallie Mae 4:16 Heart Says Go 3:13 I Got You 4:09 Grey 5:19 Instructions for De-Materialization 4:18 Shit 4:44 The Opposite Song 2:47 A Considerable Speck 3:55 Hats 2:36 The Girl from the Chinese Food Restaurant 5:31 ALBUM LINER NOTES from the band's website TALL TALL TREES 12 songs heavily steeped in old-time and bluegrass music, yet riddled with fuzz pedals, clanking toy box percussion and surf harmonies make the debut album from Tall Tall Trees a unique listening experience for fans of banjos, honest songs, and off-beat storytelling. Produced by Mike Savino, the self-titled debut album from Tall Tall Trees features 12 tracks packed with banjos, surf harmonies, fuzz pedals, Brazilian rhythms, and muppetesque choruses. Recorded between January and December 2008, the album captures the adventurous spirit of Savino's songwriting and the fruits of his longtime collaboration with guitarist Kyle Sanna and drummer / percussionist, Mathias Kunzli. On several tracks, TTT's banjo/guitar/bass/drums line-up is augmented by guest appearances from Patrick Farrell on accordian, Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin on famiola (hybrid viola), Micah Killion on trumpet, and Rich Stein on percussion creating a sound caught somewhere between bluegrass, afro-beat and indie rock. The cover and lyric poster were beautifully illustrated by Spanish artist Mortimer and packaged in an environmentally friendly manner.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 August 2009 02:01

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Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Written by Joe Viglione

Sunday, 12 July 2009 20:25

1 In the Palm of Our Hands Cy Curnin 4:45 2 It Finds You Cy Curnin 4:43 3 Better Luck Next Time Cy Curnin 3:50 4 Solar Minimum Cy Curnin 0:20 5 The Other Side of the Story Cy Curnin 3:47 6 Silent Chains Cy Curnin 4:18 7 The Weight Cy Curnin 3:04 8 Bleed Cy Curnin 3:24 9 Sail Cy Curnin 3:43 10 Hold On Cy Curnin 3:41 11 Simply Complicated Cy Curnin 4:36 12 My Sweet Life Cy Curnin 4:35

Last Updated on Sunday, 30 August 2009 12:47

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BAND OF GYPSYS MCD11607 3 Bonus Tracks, Blind Faith 2 Bonus Tracks

Written by Joe Viglione

Thursday, 26 March 2009 12:49

Remember to click on album or cd covers to go deep within GEMM to find these rarities Direct Link to this site:http://tinyurl.com/blindfaithbandofgypsys Please fly it around to your friends who love this music! Pairing the original Band Of Gypsys Capitol lp with three tracks from the ultra rare Band Of Gypsys 2, the significance of this German import is that it combines the audio from an audience camera with the original Hendrix project. Now that there are extended versions from the master tapes this weird collectible still has a place in Hendrix fans' hearts. BAND OF GYPSYS (Bonus Tracks) Polydor 847 237-2 Like the Blind Faith Polydor release with two bonus tracks, "Spending All My Days" and "Exchange And Mart", this European version of the Band Of Gypsys disc has an additional 3 tracks which are actually culled from a vinyl release entitled "Band Of Gypsys 2". What's significant about these tracks, and why the hardcore fan will want to have this, is that two of these takes, "Foxey Lady" and Buddy Miles singing the Jerry Ragovoy/Mort Shuman number, "Stop", were taken, not from the master tapes used for the rest of the album, but, according to John McDermott and Eddie Kramer's book, HENDRIX: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT "lifted from the mono soundtrack of an amateur videographer, there to document a Fillmore East concert". It sounds it too, there's snap, crackle and pop on the soundtrack and it's not vinyl, but it does provide a different "mix", if you will. These 3 tracks add another 20 minutes to the disc, the other 3 songs from Band Of Gypsys2 are taken from the Berkley Community Center ("Stone Free" and "Ezy Rider" live performances) while "Voodoo Child" is from the Atlanta Pop Festival. A side note is that Ragovoy/Shuman co-wrote the Janis Joplin classic, "Get It While You Can", Ragovoy also co-writing Joplin's signature tune, "Piece Of My Heart", thus the inclusion of "Stop" brings Hendrix and Joplin into a unique situation of sharing the same songwriter. Ragovoy's work was essential to Joplin's catalog. At one point in time all the Band Of Gypsys master tapes were lost, but Steven Roby explains the story well in his Billboard Book "Black Gold: The Lost Archives Of Jimi Hendrix". Paul Allen of Microsoft now owns the multi-tracks, he also has a Hendrix Museum in Seattle. This is not the definitive version, nor is the MCA release "Live At The Fillmore East". When Paul Allen issues the material he has in his possession the world might get to hear the full four concerts from New Year's Eve 1969/1970 and January 1, 1970. Worth seeking out on Gemm.com is Band Of Gypsys 2 on Capitol Records as well as First Great Rock Festivals of The 70s on Columbia Records. First Great Rock Festivals of the 70s contains Jimi Hendrix at The Isle Of Wight performing "Power To Love", "Midnight Lightning" and "Foxy Lady". The Hendrix catalog is vast and needs a bit of reigning in. We at GEMM have the inside track on Hendrix material. The very rare "I Don't Know What You Got But It's Got Me" is the first single of Little Richard with Jimi Hendrix http://www1.gemm.com/item/LITTLE--RICHARD/I--DON%27T--KNOW--WHAT--YOU--GOT--BUT--IT%27S--GOT--ME/GML1429386882/ Gemm has it for a mere 22.00 It and "Dancing All Around The World" are also on Little Richard's 20 Greatest Hits (Deluxe). To get the Jayne Mansfield/Jimi Hendrix sessions you can pick up the new CD "Too Hot Too Handle", it has both "Suey" and "As The Clouds Drift By" http://www1.gemm.com/search/artist/JAYNE-MANSFIELD/MANSFIELD-c-JAYNE/TOO--HOT--TO--HANDLE/CD/ Direct link here: http://tinyurl.com/festivalexpresswoodstock Please fly the above link around. To find great Woodstock, Joplin and Festival Express product in GEMM.com just click on the photos or highlighted names RARE JANIS JOPLIN Direct link here: http://tinyurl.com/rarejanisjoplin Remember to click on album or cd covers to go deep within GEMM to find these rarities Direct link to this page is here: http://tinyurl.com/blindfaithbandofgypsys BLIND FAITH RARE TRACKS This version of the Blind Faith CD, most likely the initial issue from Polydor/RSO in the digital format, has two bonus tracks that are worth seeking out. Recorded at Morgan Studios, October 7, 1969. Both the 8 song CD with the bonus tracks and 6 song traditional version have the same catalog #825-094-2. There are additional vinyl album covers as well to seek out (a la the Jimi Hendrix Band Of Gypsies "Puppet" cover) It is extremely rare now, a budget version was issued rather quickly, replacing the bonus disc. Perhaps because the two extra tracks, "Exchange & Mart" and "Spending All My Days", just don't sound like the polished Blind Faith that we know and love, that producer Jimmy Miller labored over. Clapton's guitar is unique, sounding more like he's joining The Seeds, and the band drops the beat about thirty-eight seconds in. But, come on, it's rare Blind Faith and it is fun! The entire song is just over three minutes while the instrumental, "Exchange & Mart", comes in at 4:18 and has the essence of BF, though it still is dramatically different...different enough. As for other Blind Faith rarities "Sleeping In The Ground" (not on this single disc) appeared on Eric Clapton's Crossroads box, and then showed up on Blind Faith "Deluxe Edition" with a previously unreleased mix as well as a slow blues version. This stuff is fun and, no, I haven't listened closely to Disc 2 of the Deluxe to see if the powers that be pulled "Exchange And Mart" out of the long jams. These 2 tracks have charm and make this pretty special. Jimmy Miller left Island Records for The Rolling Stones. But when Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood spent months jamming without a finished project Chris Blackwell invited Jimmy Miller to dinner and asked him to produce Blind Faith. According to Jimmy it took 3 days and 3 nights of non-stop work, but the masterpiece that emerged is rock and roll legend. Expert Review by Joe Viglione

Last Updated on Sunday, 18 October 2009 18:51