Have You Heard These Obscure Late '60s/ Early 70's Albums? Vinyl Finds
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- čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
- I recently acquired a few nice albums from a collection that are on the obscure side. These are all from the late 60's or early 70's, most of the bands only have one album, some of the albums only had one pressing. Have you heard of any of these? They range from psyche to sunshine pop to hard rock.
- Hudba
Your videos are directly responsible for me exploring 60's psych rock.
Awesome! Glad I could spread the joy.
I started collecting Vinyl in '71... I won't even try to guess how many albums I own... One of my 'things' is obscure one album bands. I have all these albums, plus a few hundred more.
I bought the Yellow Balloon 45 when I was in 7th grade. Still have it.
I'm so happy that I was recommended to your channel, man! It's encouraging to see so many people talking about music!!! 👍🏾👍🏾
I found a copy of peace & quiet year's ago. A promo copy!
I was about to share Osmosis today, but I just spun that last night again. Charlie Mariano was a familiar sax player in the jazz scenes, leading the band. He would've been upset to hear that! Very much a prog-jazz-psych combo going on. Reminds of some zany Zappa jazz-rock theatrics. The Yellow Balloon; big fave for me! But I'm a vocal harmony guy haha. I hear some traces of Beach Boys-style writing?? Yeah, Schwartz is a mish-mash for sure. Features some members from the Eurphoria LP on Capitol. I used to have all of these, or still do one way or another except for Peace & Quiet.
If anyone would have known these, I would expect it to be you. Great descriptions I'm not a fan of Zappa jazz rock, so it makes sense that I'm annoyed by that saxophone. I think I appreciate Yellow Ballon more with each listen now that I know what to expect.
Dick Wagner (and Steve "Deacon" Hunter) did the majority of the guitar work on Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies.
The Yellow Balloon is a Gary Zekley project. He was working in a Curt Boettcher type vein in the late 60s somewhere in between sunshine pop, pop psych and bubblegum, all with a pretty airy touch and definitely influenced by west coast style Brian Wilsonesque songwriting, albeit somewhat more lightweight. Most of the records associated with either guy have at least a few nuggets on them.
The "Yellow Balloon" track was, I believe, recorded by session musicians and singers. Jan and Dean also recorded the song. After the chart success of YB, a real band was put together and the album was recorded. My favorite track is "Good Feeling Time" which was a Don Grady (who wore a wig on the album cover) project; and a follow-up single. Unfortunately, the band did not stay together.
Ha, I knew Dick Wagner sounded familiar. I've heard Yellow Balloon, though not the rest of your eclectic haul.
Great video! I have THE YELLOW BALLOON and you described it well. Never heard of any of the others and will have to try to check some of them out. Great category seldom discussed. You do great research!
Terry Melcher turned down Charlie Manson for a record deal at the house he was renting at the time which after he moved out was rented by Roman Polanski & Sharon Tate & many theorize that Terry was the target on that August night in 1969. His mom was Doris Day. Odd that almost 20 years later he wrote Kokomo for The Beach Boys. ✌️
Oh yeah, so many Terry Melcher stories. That guy had quite the life.
Terry visited the Spahn Ranch after the killings, so it's unlikely he was the target.
@@user-xv9yc4wb2x are you sure never heard that ..the family fled Spahn for Barker ranch after the killings so they weren’t there ? Why did Melcher visit Spahn
Terry moved back in the house six months after the murders.
@@bobski7032 Howdy, it's in a great book called 'Chaos' written by an investigative reporter, which debunks a few of the received ideas about the case. It doesn't say why he visited Spahn, just gives eyewitness accounts of him there. It would be drugs or sex I guess. Members of the super rich getting involved with an crazy ex-con in a drug deal gone bad-what larks.
Great video! I have been trying to grab a copy of Ursa Major for a while. I was a big fan of Dick Wagner’s work with Alice Cooper and had wanted to check out his own music. Another comment already said this, but the first album by The Frost, Frost Music, is top notch. Was hunting it for a while and finally snagged one at my fav shop. I’m definitely going to check out your other showcases.
Great video! And yes Dick Wagner is a great guitar player! Got into him through Alice! And i will never get rid of my tattered Bowie dynaflex copy of Hunky Dory!
Dick Wagner may be best known for playing with Lou Reed during the early mid 70's. I was at the show at the Academy of Music in NYC, when the "Rock and Roll Animal" show was recorded, and Dick, along with Steve Hunter played duel lead guitars, which was quite a treat.
I dismissed the Glad album as Sunshine Pop until I listened to side 2. That side is as good as any Buffalo Springfield record, great stuff
The Fithen delivers
The great Australian band the Master's Apprentices recorded a fantastic proggy album A Toast to Panama Red (1972), recorded at Abbey Road. Opeth have a tribute song Masters Apprentices. Early 70's Australian bands were an influence on European and grunge bands.
Thanks for the info. I need to check out A Toast to Panama Red.
@@RobertFithen Cool. The vinyl is very expensive - I've seen it up to AUD$750 in record shops here in Australia.
Fithen on fire.
Just discovered your channel. Great recommendations and an even better singing voice you have. Keep belting 'em out!
I knew the INSTANT you pulled out that Dynaflex you were gonna wobble it. I do it every time I encounter one. It’s one of my favorite sounds. God help us all. Great piece, super informative. Keep up the great work sir!
Thanks!!
The interlude to Sweet Jane, by Hunter and Wagner is incredible,they sat on bar stools and played for 6 or 7 minutes then Lou Reed stumbled out and did his junkie schtick
Originally, I'm from West Palm Beach and I had totally forgotten about Peace & Quiet down in Miami. South Fl. had a lot of artists from the '70's including Cornelious Bros & Sister Rose, Betty Wright, George & Gwyne McRae, Wayne Cochran & The CC Riders, Jimmy "Bo" Horne & Casey Finch
That's a great group of artists with Casey Finch giving many of them an outlet to record.
You just unstuck my algorithm. I love the Osmosis album. When I searched for that, I found a modern group from France with the same name Osmosis. Really great 70s sounding music. Also said i may like Aquila-Aquila and that album is fantastic. I need to find more 70s jazz rock. Theres another one i saved that i forget ehat it was. Thankfully i saved it to my likes. Gonna check out the other recommendations. You the best. 😊
Great! Thanks!
I had the "Peace and Quiet" album in high school. I enjoyed it. I only remember the first track on side one, "You Can Wait to Tomorrow." which I believe was released as a single. I bought it new at a church flea market in 1972. I do not think this record charted. I may need to be corrected. It has been a long time.
Hi Robert: I think Charlie Mariano on the Osmosis album, played with Miles at one time. Great sax player who recorded many jazz albums. Played a lot in Europe and Japan if I remember correctly. Enjoyed your video.
Great stuff. My wife requested any new Robert! Here are are. Been playing some old records as always. Cheers
Love the channel Brother … absolutely one of my favorite Vinyl channels for sure! Keep up the great content - Northern New Jersey loves you :)
Thanks!! I appreciate it.
Someone gave me a copy of Ursa Major but I purged it. I will check out Frost. My local store had a copy of The Yellow Ballon. It looked right up my alley. I had him put it on. It was a bit too wimpy for me so I passed. The Wheel is very good.
That collection you picked up is one of my sweat spots.
I should have been friends with whoever had this collection.
LOL! The saxophone player is the legendary Charlie Mariano. Perhaps it's not to your taste, but Charlie was the linchpin for this one. Charlie has had a long career. His discography goes back to the 60s.
You have such a lovely voice. 🫤
You make me take a closer look at my albums. I started doing more research on the personnel. Thanks for the videos. Every morning I pour my coffee and look to see if ol Robert Fithen has posted a new video. Then I hear you sing and realize I need more coffee for that. Just playin. 😅 Much appreciation, sir.
Thanks!! I appreciate it.
Loved my Three Sons. Being a girl, had crushes. Lol Gotta say, love the shirt. We love it when you sing. Brought back lots of memories. Thanks. A lot of work. Appreciate it.😊
Thanks!!
Nice video, Robert! I’ve not heard of any of those barr one. I was gonna blind buy on a promo copy of The Frost album that you said was average boogie woogie with screaming vocals… might give that a body swerve now! Cheers, Jack
Love the Frost album 👍 I recently came across it while listening to Fever Tree on Amazon. Was able to order the cd.
In regard to those early 70s vocals you mentioned at the beginning, my friend used to call those “fat man”vocals. He especially hated Bachman Turner Overdrive for that reason. 😂 Music fans are very opinionated lol
They definitely have that BTO vocal sound. I've seen a lot of thin guys sound like that, too.. Lol.
The 1st Frost LP "Frost Music" is my fave. Dick Wagner was a treasure. Nice finds. Now I'm off to check out Osmosis.
The Yellow Balloon, featuring My Three Sons star Don Grady.
Fun record.
I have a solo album he did in the early ‘70’s!
The guybin frost wrote Alice Cooper You and Me Ain't No Superstars, was the first song at my first wedding. Also just gor you Robert my buddy Steve is going on some Monsters of Rock cruise he sent me band last, Extreme and Winder hey you could get that boxset signed
I picked up that Frost record a few years ago! It’s fun for sure!🎉
I discovered Peace & Quiet and Osmosis in the dollar bins back in the mid 90's!
I have added the first four albums to my ever growing list of 'albums to listen to eventually'.
If I remember correctly, the 45 single had the Yellow Balloon song on one side and on the flipside was the same song played backwards.
Yes, there were a few Kasenetz-Katz singles that did that, too.
I own a few of those lps.. I just finally finished my OG Deviants LPs today scored a nice copy of the nun cover #3
Saxophones in rock songs can be annoying 🎷 😮😮😮😮😂😂😂😂
Wow some super cool records here Mr Fithen! Def gonna check out Peace & Quiet & Osmosis! Love Frost! Dick Wagner is an unappreciated gem of a guitar player! One of those unsung musical geniuses! Like you said he’s played on some amazing records! Man I need to check out that Ursa Major album! I love that I’m not the only cat in the VC that will just break out in song rather than do a needle drop! Haha! We’re like human needle drops! LoL!
Flexing the Dyna-Flex! I have a couple of Bowie albums on DF and they sound awesome! Man that Yellow Balloon album has been on my want list as long as I can remember! Man I need to lay hands on that record! I love stuff like that! Poppy, Bubblegummy! Right up my alley as a BG Rock fan! I don’t need my psych to be heavy and trippy all the time I love a good Sunshine Pop or Pop psych album! Some really awesome shares here Mr Fithen! This was fun! ✌️👽
I think you would like that Yellow Balloon album. If you appreciate Dick Wagner, you definitely need to get that particular Frost album. The Ursa Major is a bit more basic hard rock.
The Frost album before that, Frost Music, is even better, IMO. Dick Wagner became like Bob Ezrin's go-to guy in the studio (along with Steve Hunter). I agree completely, Frost needs more attention! Now I need to check out Ursa Major, whom I did not know. Is the Stagedoor Queen one of those "evil women lurking around doors"?
When I was really young and Hell Freezes Over was on PBS constantly, I honestly thought Timothy B Schmidt was a woman. I referred to "I Can't Tell You Why" as "The Lady Song." Not mockingly. With all the sincerity of a four-year-old. My dad still cracks up about it.
I need to check out "Frost Music". "Stage Door Queen' is more of the "Pathetic woman" trope, than the "evil woman" one. Up until a few years ago, I thought the person the chorus on The Castaways "Liar, Liar" was a woman.
Billy Joel was in the original lineup of Ursa Major.
Nice Woody look.
Thanks but no woody, that's just my natural state.
@@RobertFithen I was referring to your shirt and Woody in Toy Story.
Over the top sax is called “sax offenses”
Yeh, I know what you mean about saxophones. Whenever I’m listening to John Coltrane or Dexter Gordon or maybe Charlie Parker, I’m thinkin’….if it wasn’t for that damn saxophone.
It's true, though. The best jazz has no sax or trumpet.
@@RobertFithen Yeah, you can’t beat a swingin’ kazoo.
@@bigjuan4u or drums, or piano, or guitar. ..
@@RobertFithen
Don’t forget the washboard. Oscar Peterson couldn’t get the hang of it so stayed with piano.
That Frost album I love.Great vid.How many frickin albums were put out in the 70s?😂So much obscure,cool stuff which I love👍
I just keep finding more and more.
@@RobertFithen Well keep em coming,brother.I love the 70s.🙂
20:03 "Tony Curtis" was already taken. 😆
Have the Frost album. You didn't mention that Craig Frost joined Grand Funk when they expanded to a four piece.
How about private pressing Top Drawer- Solid Oak😮 .Give a listen, Song of a sinner , well received song. Love the channel
I will check it out.
I've got Osmosis. They sound, to me, like ANOTHER late `60's band that tried to sound like The Doors but a bit more jazzy. I have another psych record, I can't think of who or what it is but, when I run through my Psych Demos collection (over 3300 songs) I know it to hear it, well, I'm pretty sure that band is either this band under another name, or at least the singer was in that band. Even has the same New England accent. I would say that The Guess Who and Fever Tree were two more of those Doors wannaby acts.
I have 3 or 4 albums by Frost. In the early `70's, they had a few hits under the name, Crow. I also have, "Darkest Hour" but, it's by The Clique, who were produced by another Michiganer, Tommy James (of The Shondells).
Yeah, Yellow Balloon is about as sunshine pop/psych as you can get. They kinda sound like, Fun And Games who did a song called, "Elephant Candy". They sound like they should've been on Buddah or, at least Laurie. Almost like 1910 Fruitgum Co. but not quite as bubblegum. Mike R. U? As far as I know, he used the name, Yodar Critch on that album! They had two singles from the album. "Yellow Balloon" had a non-album flip side that was called, "Noollab Wolley". It's the A-side played backwards. Seems to me I have at least one other album that Don was involved with.
I have a few tracks from the Glad album but not the whole thing. The New Breed had a number of singles out, one of which, "Want Ad Reader" was on HBR at the same time Danny Hutton was on it.
Bernie Schwartz?? I didn't know Tony Curtis did an album!
Yellow Balloon had a b side that was just the song backwards? Now that's definitely like 1910 Fruitgum.
I haven't read through all the previous comments, someone else has probably already told you, but in case they haven't - Don Grady was Robbie on My Three Sons. Mike was the oldest son (Tim Considine) who disappeared from the show after the first 3 or 4 years and the Douglases adopted Ernie from across the street.) I have the Yellow Balloon song on a compilation album. And Frost on a different comp album. Other than that I haven't heard these records. Thanks for showing them.
I had the Yellow Balloon on a comp CD too.
Sorry to burst your yellow balloon, Robert. The Yellow Balloon band on record was a bunch of session players, including Mike Post on guitar. Tune was first recorded by Jan and Dean, but only manage to bubble under the Hot 100. Don Grady, already signed to Canterbury, recruited some of his friends to form a touring band called Yellow Balloon. Some radio stations banned the song, thinking it was reference to drugs. I bought the 45 single recently, but not the album.
I picked up a copy of Glad - feeling Glad from Riverbend Records during the last Monday night Facebook sale.
So that was you. lol
You have a pretty strong voice, yourself, there, Robert! Are YOU in a band?!
lol no
Maybe you should consider this....
Consider this.....
The hint of the century
What if all these fantasies come flailing around?
Randomly saw the Ursa Major in a crate dig livestream today
I love the movie Wild in the Streets,
It’s not so much the old people have to retire,
They are forced to be dosed with LSD and sent into happy camps.
I’ve got it on DVD.
Yellow Balloon=not obscure in my world. One of my favorite songs back then. Somehow I seem to have accumulated a mini-collection. The original 45; LP: 2 stereo and 1 mono from back then, plus the Sundazed 2023 reissue; CD: 1993 Japanese and 1998 Sundazed.
For some reason I associate The Yellow Balloon with The Parade and The-Merry-Go-Round. I just realized I have Japanese CDs from all three bands.
I didn't even realize they had a Sundazed re-release.
Nope. Never heard any of them.
Interesting cast of artists.
Hello, I shall try or buy Frost album. Not so much psych on this years RSD list. Dont people buy that sort anymore?
People are still wanting it. I'm not sure why there aren't many RSD titles.
Check out the tuneful trolley. “68
Bernie Schwartz on the back cover of that album looks more like Sonny Bono.
The Canadians know him as Kilometers Davis.
My god, I never knew RCA had so many different artists. Who was in charge of the PR at the time,Tom Parker?
I have the yellow balloon on 45 funny thing is the B side is the same song recorded in reverse. We're they all like that?
Yes, it was a small trend for awhile.
I dunno if you did something with your hair or not but it looks good. You look healthier
I started parting it after my barber suggested it. Could also be the lighting.
I know time is limited on your videos, but you forgot to tell everyone why Shelley Winters freaked out in WILD IN THE STREETS and how the youth did their take over. It was because they severely lowerred the voting age. That movie needs a restored re-release. Thanks for another great video!
Thanks! I haven't seen it in over 20 years. I need to get reacquainted.
@@RobertFithen Amazon/MGM owns, it, so maybe they'll do a new 4K scan and restoration release of it. A special edition would not hurt either.
@@nicholassheffo5723 It always wild to me to see that MGM lion roaring before those American International drive-in movies start.
@@RobertFithen Roger Corman said the same exact thing doing an audio commentary for one of his films. American International had their catalog bought by Orion Pictures years ago, then when they went bankrupt (long story) a German company bought them. Eventually, MGM/US bought the German company and have owned the films since. All the pre-1986 MGM films are actually owned by Warner Bros., so Amazon/MGM is those Orion and American International films some Atlantic Releasing films, some later Filmways Pictures, a few other mini-catalogs, MGM films from 1986 to date and almost all United Artists films from 1950 to date. We'll see how Amazing preserves and releases the old films, then uses the names on new ones.
Hunter and Wagner ghosted guitar parts on a lot of albums in the ‘70s, including Aerosmith.
I was blown away when I found out years ago that he did the guitar on "Train Kept Rollin'" I forgot to mention that in the video.
Dick Wagner is legend!!
"Mark Farner From Grand Funk Railroad" was the name of a dog the Butthole Surfers used to take on tour with them. That way, on their flyers, they could write "With Mark Farner from Grand Funk Railroad" and they weren't lying!
Sounds like the band "Free Beer".
It's the cheap obscure stuff that keeps me digging. Bugger walking into a record store and going straight to the bog-standard alphabetized sections. Unknown gold for me!
Your singing the urea major songs pictures it as they are -Kiss of r c a records
I have that Yellow Balloon on cd. Found it at a thrift store a few months ago. You said that band from Michigan was called The Boss Men? My dad’s band was called The Boss Men from 66 to 68 or so. They released a single in August 68 under the name Spring Fever and broke up soon after. Two guys got drafted. I wonder if they had to change names because of that other boss man band…
Was the song called "Stop!" on Captiol?
@@RobertFithen Ya - that's it! "You Made My Life" is on the flipside. My dad was constantly reminding us that he used to be in a band when I was growing up. He was in the house band at a SLC venue so he opened for the Doors, Beach Boys, Association, Paul Revere and the Raiders.... He says the Beach Boys offered to put them on the Brothers Records label. All I've ever heard is those two songs. Dave Orgill was the guitar player and songwriter and stuck with music into the seventies, maybe even the 80s. Anyway, when I was a kid I thought "The Boss Men" was the worst possible name for a band
Try frost music! Dick Wagner was a killer guitar player!
I will. Thanks!!
Have you ever heard anything from Family? 🙂
Yes, the "Entertainment" album, but it's been quite a while.
THE FIRST ALBUM KINDA LOOKS LIKE A "RIP OFF" OF In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson)? Wonder if The Artist Barry Godber saw it? Robbie.......There was the youngest Chip, then there was middle boy,
Don Louis Agrati, as Robby and oldest Mike, who BTW left the series, so than came Ernie! Who by the way was the real Brother to Chip!, The Livingston kids......... next..........I'll always look for obscure albums, I got the "Jones"........Thank you "hoot"
Just picked up The Human Beinz. I am assuming you picked this up in the 90s when your buddy was buying punk 45s. 😂
12:40 Like the Cyrkle?
Yes
Matt Damon look-a-like
So this -peace and quiet is proto Pearl Jam/creed😹
It's kind of similar, but not really the same. I think these early bands were trying to sound like the R&B of the 60's like Otis Redding. They sound full-throated and clear. These Eddie Vedder clones of the 90's sounded cartoonish and garbled with a somewhat strangled projection. I found out there's a term for that kind of "singing", it's referred to as "yarling". lol
how was "Where Can I Hide" not a hit ????
Have you ever heard of the album from the Rolling Stones called nasty songs
I've heard of it, but never actually heard it. A bootleg from a couple of concerts if I remember correctly.
Please don't sing anymore Robert. Play a clip from the album. Good stuff though. Back in the day we would search the dollar bins in the record section.