Ten Years After - Ssssh. (1967)

Ten Years After - Ssssh. 
"Ssssh was released at the same time as they appeared at the Woodstock Festival in August, 1969.   This album showcased Alvin Lee's guitar work and surrounded this with some pretty psychy vibes.   

      Sssssh was their first hit album in the U.S. and peaked at number 20 that year.  Fans of TYA regard this album as one of the pinnacle albums.  Alvin Lee was one of the true guitar mavericks of the 60's and no question this album gets to showcase his talents.  

The gatefold album is one of the psychy'est of them all with a cover and centerfold that you will never forget which was photographed by Graham Nash.   This album contains two of my fav TYA tunes with good mirning little schoolgirl" and "I woke up this morning".

  

Flaming Ember - Westbound #9 (1970)

Flaming Ember - Westbound #9 

  The Flaming Ember were originally from Detroit Michigan and had a number of big hits in 1969 and 1970 before disbanding.  Westbound #9 was the first full length album released under the name the Flaming Ember (they had two) which contains a number of hits including the title track and a song that they would change their name to "Mind, Body and Soul".

  Musically this is beautiful sunshine pop psych with a heavy Motown soul vibe thoughout.  Lead singer (and drummer) Jerry Plunk had a great soulful voice and on "Shades of Green" you can hear his wide emotion lead over the speakers.

The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (1971)

The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers 

   Along with "Some Girls" and "Let It Bleed" I would say that "Sticky Fingers" is in my top Stones albums.   On Sticky Fingers the Stones laid down a personal album of weary- blues rock infused heavily with drug culture references.   Songs like "Sister Morphine" and "Brownsuger" make obvious references to those nasty addicts and seems to fit the overall mood of the album.  

  This album is famous for having been recorded and written in multiple locations over a long period yet seems to be very consistent and well suited.  Brian Jones dies in 1969 and was replaced by Mick Taylor who does a fantastic job on these recordings.

  The laid back mood of the album is perfect for both Mick Taylor's guitar work and the heavy emotive voice of Mick Jagger.   The last three songs on side two of "Sister Morphine," "Dead Flowers" and "Moon Light  Mile," is an incredible sequence featuring Mick, Keith, Mick Talyor and Ry Cooder.

 No "rock" is unturned on this album!

Marillion - Brave

Marillion - Brave (2x180g vinyl)

   I will never forget the excitement i had waiting for my copy of Brave to arrive in the mail.   I loved it then and I still adore this album and personally consider it one of Hogarth eras best! 

  A crazy story line concept album involving a girl lost in her mind as the band unveil her story musically.  Brave contains some of. Marillion's best songs like "the great escape" and "living the big lie".....in fact the whole album is fantastic.

Babe Ruth - First Base (1973)

Babe Ruth - First Base 

  First Base is one of my favourite 70's rock albums of all time.....and it is only now that I am getting around to reviewing this gem!   I remember hearing "The Mexican" on the radio a long long time ago and had to go and find this band and album.  

   Jennie Haan has a great powerful female rock voice that fits this music to perfection with the great guitar work of Alan Shacklock (who sadly only did the one album).  The songs are very memorable and have some pretty catchy stuff going on....lots of great riffs for you to air guitar to!

  I think this album has everything....classic rock....prog...folk and superb songs!  The art work was done by Roger Dean who also did many of the classic Yes albums.   

Jean-Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean (1977)

Jean-Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean 

  It was at University when I discovered the music of Jean-Luc Ponty!    It all started later for me with his awesome album "individual choice" and then I was hooked.  Over the years I have been picking up Ponty albums as I find them to fill in my collection.  Not one bad album in the lot !

  INHO 1977's Enigmatic Ocean is one of JLP's finest albums with jazz , fusion, rock and prog tendencies.  Ponty also assembled a star studded line up with Genesis' Daryl Stuermmer on guitar, Allan Holdsworth on guitars and Steve Smith (Vital Information) on the drums and percussion.

  Musically this album ebbs and flows with some fantatstic keyboard space fusion over which Stuermer and Holdsworth add great guitar bits and Ponty paints with his arsenal of violins.  At times this album sounds like Genesis aka Lamb Lies Down without any vocals and with violin...however crazy that sounds!

Carla Bley - Night-glo (1985)

Carla Bley - Night-glo 

The creative musical mind of Carla Bley has been of interest to me and on "Night- glo" she teams up with ECM fellow mate Steve Swallow and trumpet wizard Randy Brecker.  Bley's organ and synths are ever present but never at center stage and instead are used to help shape the overall sound.

  "Night-glo" is a short but fantastic album with softly challenging ECM-like jazz fusion songs that stretch out to new creative ends.  There is some fantastic oboe, horns and trombone work too on this album.   The song "Wildlife" is a scrumptious number with again a very relaxed fusion feel yet huge wall of sound.