This is the third solo effort from rock & roll wunderkind Al Kooper. Originally issued as a two-LP set, Easy Does It (1970) is a diverse album that reveals the layer upon layer of musicality that has become synonymous with the artist. He draws deeply upon his skills as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and equally engaging arranger.
The extended run-time of the double album format likewise allows Kooper to thoroughly exhibit his wide-ranging and virtually mythical adaptability as an artist whose sheer talent defies the boundaries of genre or style. The set kicks off with the youthfully optimistic rocker "Brand New Day." This is the first of two tracks Kooper used in his score for Hal Ashby's directorial cinematic debut, The Landlord, a highly affable counterculture classic starring Beau Bridges.
The haunting "The Landlord Love Theme" is also included, and is poignantly dovetailed with one of the disc's profoundly affective epics. "Buckskin Boy" is an uptempo rocker that lyrically offers a brutally honest assessment of the Native American situation, which was quickly becoming a national plague upon the social conscience of the country in the early '70s. The song is replete with Kooper's dynamic chord changes and trademark phrasing. The "morning after" fallout from a particularly potent experience with LSD is credited as the inspiration behind "Sad, Sad Sunshine."
The cut features some heavily Eastern-influenced lead sitar work reminiscent of the sounds of Donovan circa Hurdy Gurdy Man (1968) and the burgeoning Canterbury-based progressive folk movement of the late '60s and early '70s. There is a decidedly Yankee contrast on the country-rocker "I Bought You the Shoes (You're Walking Away In)" as well as the cover of John Loudermilk's "A Rose and a Baby Ruth." Other well-placed cover tunes include a classy, soulfully subdued reading of Ray Charles "I Got a Woman'" as well as the spacy and well-jammed-out version of "Baby Please Don't Go."
Throughout the 12-plus minute side there are definite recollections of the extended instrumental interaction that defined Kooper's former band, the Blues Project, as well as some of the inspirational improvisation heard on the original Super Session (1968). This performance alone is more than worth the time and effort of seeking out Easy Does It. by Lindsay Planer
Tracks1. Brand New Day (Al Kooper) - 5:102. Piano Solo Introduction to I Got a Woman - 2:003. I Got a Woman (Ray Charles, Renald Richard) - 4:304. Country Road (James Taylor) - 4:225. I Bought You The Shoes (You're Walking Away In) (Bob Brass, Irwin Levine, Kooper) - 1:576. Introduction - 0:507. Easy Does It (Kooper) - 5:258. Buckskin Boy (Kooper, Charlie Calello) - 3:109. Love Theme from The Landlord (Kooper) - 3:1210.Sad, Sad Sunshine (Kooper) - 5:0411.Let the Duchess No (John Gregory, Jim Roberts) - 3:1712.She Gets Me Where I Live (Kooper, Calello) - 3:3413.A Rose and a Baby Ruth (J.D. Loudermilk) - 3:2914.Baby, Please Don't Go (Big Joe Williams) - 12:2615.God Sheds His Grace on Thee (Kooper, Calello) - 3:27Musicians*Rick Marotta - Drums, Vocals (Background)*Wayne Moss - Guitar*Joe Osborne - Bass*Earl Palmer - Drums, Guitar (Steel)*Alexis Rodgers - Guitar, Drums*Al Rogers - Drums *Stuart Scharf - Guitar *Tommy Tedesco - Guitar*Stu Woods - Bass, Vocals (Background)*Charlie McCoy - Bass, Harmonica*John Miller - Bass*Joe Jr. Corero - Drums *Stu Scharff - Guitar*Lyle Ritz - Bass*Keith Allison - Guitar*Pete Drake - Pedal Steel, Guitar (Steel) *John Miller - Bass*Freddy Weller - Guitar*The Blossoms - Vocals, Background Music*Louie Shelton - Guitar*Peter Ivers - Harp*Kenneth A. Buttrey - Drums*Charlie Daniels - Bass, Guitar*Bobby Colomby - Conga, Drums, Vocals*Tom Cosgrove - Guitar, Guitar (Electric)*George Devens - Percussion*Milt Holland - Percussion, Tabla*Larry Knechtel - Piano, Keyboards*David Bromberg - Guitar, Guitar (Steel), Pedal Steel*Al Kooper - Organ, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Electronic Effects, Ondioline, Vibraphone, Vocals (Background), Sitar, Guitar (Electric), Piano*Joe Beck - Guitar*Fred Lipsius - Saxophone, SoloistOther releases by Al Kooper, posted on PHROCKBlog1968/1969 - I Stand Alone/You Never Know Who Your Friends Are...Plus1968 - Child Is Father to the Man with Blood, Sweat & Tears1968 - Super Sessions with Mike Bloomfield and Steve Stills1968 - Fillmore East The Lost Concert Tapes 12/12/1968 with Mike Bloomfiled [ Rip and Scans by MARIOS ]originally published in PHROCK at Saturday, May 23, 2009CODE: 51420
"Powder, led by guitarist/vocalist Rich Martin and bassist/vocalist brother Tom Martin, were a fiery Who/Small Faces influenced mod band hailing from CA. Unlike many of their contemporaries, Powder didn't play the typical jangly guitar pop psych of the day, 1967-69, but rather a power chord style rock.
The first 16 tracks on this 77 minute disc are the complete recordings of Powder proper. Obviously influenced by the fiery style of the Who, Powder rock hard. Even the song titles, especially "Magical Jack" are reminiscent of the Who (Happy Jack). These tracks are followed by a single released by vocalist Ray Columbus & The Art Collection (Powder) with "Kick Me" paired with "Snap Crackle & Pop).
Can we say Biff, Bang, Pow! Then come five tracks recorded by Powder under the moniker The Art Collection sans Mr. Columbus. Among these tracks is a great cover of The Who's "So Sad About Us." The disc ends with four tracks recorded by the Brothers Martin under the pseudonym Thomas & Richard Frost. In total, 27 tracks, 77 minutes, of mod style power pop. If you enjoy British mod rock, you'll love the music on this disc. Released on the wonderful Distortions Records label which recently announced it was discontinuing cd production, this cd may soon become extinct.
Don't miss out on a real treat. This is heavy mod rock American style. At its best. Act now, don't delay lest you miss the boat. This disc was compiled by none other than 60s rock expert Alec Palao, compiler of many fine Ace Records' Big Beat releases. In other words, big time 60s hard-edged mod rock compiled by the master himself.
It is essential for fans of mod rock, and an absolute necessity for fans of The Who and The Small Faces. Limited to 1000 pieces.by Kevin D. Rathert, Carbondale, IL 
Tracks1. Turn Another Page (Martin, Martin) - 2:41 2. Gladly (Martin, Martin) - 2:23 3. Do I Love You (Martin, Martin) - 3:34 4. Magical Jack (Martin, Martin) - 2:55 5. I Try (Martin, Martin) - 2:24 6. Ruby Red Lips (Martin, Martin) - 2:11 7. Rodeo (Martin, Martin) - 3:00 8. Grimbley Leitch (Martin, Martin) - 2:18 9. Hate to See Her Go (Martin, Martin) - 3:31 10.What the People Said (Martin, Martin) - 3:17 11.Flowers (Martin, Martin) - 2:19 12.Let's Look at the Mood (Martin, Martin) - 3:16 13.Too Many Miles (Martin, Martin) - 2:30 14.Turn Another Page [Gold Star Version] (Martin, Martin) - 2:45 15.Grimbley Leitch [Alternate Vocal] (Martin, Martin) - 2:10 16.Magical Jack [Backing Track] (Martin, Martin) - 2:54 17.Kick Me (Columbus) - 2:42 18.Snap Crackle & Pop (Columbus) - 2:17 19.I Go to School (Martin, Martin) - 3:12 20.So Sad About Us (Townshend) - 3:14 21.Morning (Martin-Arbulich) - 2:11 22.She's My Girl (Martin, Martin) - 2:43 23.Millicent (Martin, Martin) - 2:29 24.Bluey Blues Blue (Martin, Martin) - 2:37 25.It's So Simple (Martin, Martin) - 4:40 26.Would You Laugh (Martin, Martin) - 2:47 27.Gypsy Girl (Martin, Martin) - 4:29Musicians*Richard Martin (Frost) - Guitar, Vocals*Tom Martin (Frost) - Vocals, Guitar, Bass*Bill Schoppe - Drums (1-16)*Ray Columbus - Lead Vocals (17-18)*Scott Arbulich - Bass, Vocals (17-23)*Steve Chriest - Drums (17)*Steve Murdoch - Drums (18-23)[ Rip and Scans by MARIOS ]originally published in PHROCK at Saturday, June 06, 2009CODE: 51177
Formed from the ashes of beat band The Hellions in 1966, the short-lived Deep Feeling were one of most adventurous bands of their time. Featuring Jim Capaldi (Traffic), Luther Grosvenor (Spooky Tooth, Mott the Hoople) Poli Palmer (Blossom Toes, Family), Gordon Jackson (later to make a classic solo LP) and Dave Meredith they wowed London audiences with their audacious brand of exotic proto-psychedelia, even backing Jimi Hendrix at his first UK gig. Tragically however, Capaldi departed to form Traffic during the sessions for their debut album (produced by former Yardbirds and Rolling Stones manager Giorgio Gomelsky) and the tapes were shelved.....until now. The remarkable tracks make their first-ever appearance here together with demos made by Poli palmer and Gordon Jackson in 1967 and a song featuring the duo backed by The Blossom Toes. Gordon Jackson said:“Hi, it is so nice to eventually put this album out, though it seems so long ago. I had kept copies on two track tapes of these songs in a cardboard box for 40 years. They survived a flood, storage in a shed and some had been over recorded on a quarter track machine when tape was needed for other songs. Poli Palmer did miracles getting the quality we have, which is not brilliant, but the atmosphere is preserved.The original masters were dumped when Marmalade folded and I had taken home rough mix copies of the unfinished recordings. The originals were of course recorded by Giorgio Gomelsky. On the Sunbeam re-release Poli and I selected what was in any way useable and Poli worked on the quality. He had to deal with stretched tape, had to edit and chop to fill gaps which were faded or missing. ‘Spell on you’ was from two different recordings, one from the Hellions with Dave Mason on guitar, and the other with Deep Feeling and Luther.The five studio tracks were all recorded in a couple of sessions at Rymuse in London with Giorgio Gomelsky producing. Listening afresh again we are pleased with them. I think the band was hot at that time, we had been in France for five weeks playing every night. The songs are good and were ground breaking then, very Gothic and progressive. Jim's vocals were great and Luther has some shining moments. Poli's love for Dubussy and jazz, together with his skill on vibes and flute is obvious. My part was in the writing. I wrote the lyrics, and Poli, Jim and I put the songs together. We all sang harmonies. We were all devastated when Jim announced he was leaving and we decided not to go on with Deep Feeling. Luther joined the VIP's then Spooky Tooth and later Stealers Wheel, Widowmaker, and Mott the Hoople. Poli and me did some song writing for a year before going our separate ways, he to Ecclection and Family, while I did my solo album 'Thinking Back'. We have included some demo's of a few songs on this album. Also a couple of live tracks - one recorded on my dads old reel to reel off an old radio when we did a session on Radio Free Europe, the other by someone at the Elbow Room in Birmingham.UK. Goodness knows on what, probably a reel to reel domestic tape recorder. I kept close contact with Jim right up to his death. I miss him greatly.”
Tracks1. Pretty Colours (Jim Capaldi, Gordon Jackson, John "Poli" Palmer) - 3:032. The Ruin (Jim Capaldi, Gordon Jackson, John "Poli" Palmer) - 3:313. Chicken George (Jim Capaldi, Gordon Jackson, John "Poli" Palmer) - 2:36 4. The Necessitarian (Jim Capaldi, Gordon Jackson, John "Poli" Palmer) - 3:145. Or Something (Jim Capaldi, Gordon Jackson, John "Poli" Palmer) - 3:366. I Put A Spell On You (Screamin' Jay Hawkins) - 2:307. Coming Home Baby (Ben Tucker, Bob Dorough) - 3:138. I Don't Know Her Too Well (Gordon Jackson, John "Poli" Palmer) - 3:229. On The Circle Of Life (Gordon Jackson, John "Poli" Palmer) - 4:0510.To A Lady In Black (Gordon Jackson, John "Poli" Palmer) - 3:4111.Imaginations Of Alice (Gordon Jackson, John "Poli" Palmer) - 3:2212.Blues For Witley (John "Poli" Palmer) - 3:48Deep Feeling*Jim Capaldi - Vocals, Drums*Luther Grosvenor - Guitar, Vocals*Gordon Jackson - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals,*Dave Meredith - Bass*John "Poli" Palmer - Drums, Flute, Vibes[ Rip and Scans by MARIOS ]originally published in PHROCK at Tuesday, July 21, 2009CODE: 50448
