Browse by Label: TOP SOUNDS (UK)

Artist:	VA
Title:	Alphabeat: Pop, Psych & Prog Rock 1967-1970
Label:	TOP SOUNDS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$25.00
Catalog #:	TSCD 001CD

2005 release. "Compiled and realized by Nigel Lees (author of much of Record Collector magazine's long running series 'The British Psychedelic Trip'), Alphabeat marks the debut release on his own label Top Sounds, a collection which brings together 13 rare slices of pop, psychedelia and progressive rock recorded during 1967-1970. Only 2 have appeared previously on compilations, the remainder bar the obscure 1970 45 by Mississippi have never been released and make their vinyl and CD debut on Alphabeat. All tracks have been professionally restored and the release includes an informative and profusely illustrated 24-page booklet which features histories of all the artists, together with many photos which have never been published before. The release has the blessing of at least one member of each group and in some cases several. Many of the selections on Alphabeat were not even known to exist before the release of the compilation, and few connoisseurs of obscure late '60s pop, psych and prog will be disappointed with its contents. Dubbed from a master supplied by a Belgian television company, 'Foxy Lady' and 'Toad' were recorded live at a pop festival in 1968 and prove The Barrier to be as exciting on stage as on their best singles from the same year, while Mississippi impress with their heavy bluesy rock which is lifted from their lone and very rare 45 from 1970. The pigeonholing of Breakthru as a lightweight pop act through their only single 'Ice Cream Tree' is devastatingly dismissed by the unveiling of 2 incendiary slices of psychedelically-inclined rock recorded at a Birmingham studio in late 1967, and an unknown group who recorded at R.G Jones' OAK studios sound uncannily like The Game 3 years on with the slow burning 'First Back From Heaven.' The Pathfinders' 'Pumpkin Lantern' has appeared before on compilations on a number of occasions, but thanks to the discovery of another acetate copy, it's presented here in premium quality together for the first time with its previously ignored but very special rendering of the Bee Gees' 'To Love Somebody.' Graded Grains have presented psych collectors with a mystery and an enigma since their acetate of 'Animal Magic' and ' Lucifer Sam' was unearthed for Chocolate Soup For Diabetics Volume 3 way back in the early '80s, and such was their dogged obscurity that some came to believe there was no such band called Graded Grains at all. Top Sounds however, are able to present 4 tracks recorded on the continent in Paris in 1969 which beautifully exhibit authentic pop psych with a marked Barrett-era Pink Floyd influence, one of which is a later (and much cleaner!) take of the famed 'Animal Magic.' And last but by no means least, the legendary blues band Black Cat Bones prove their versatility and deliver an uptempo psych-flavored rocker called 'Warmth Of The Day,' which aside from inclusion on a fairly recent bootleg has only previously been available on the rare 1969 promotional for the QE2 ocean liner."

Artist:	VA
Title:	Shapes & Sounds: Orange & Red Beams from the BBC Archives
Label:	TOP SOUNDS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$25.00
Catalog #:	TSCD 002CD

...1967-1969. 2006 release. "Following on from Alphabeat, Top Sounds is proud to announce the release of a second compilation, a delightful selection of choice '60s rarities from the otherwise largely inaccessible BBC archives. Spanning a period of almost two years, Shapes & Sounds offers 17 performances taped in BBC studios for broadcast not only on the more familiar radio shows such as Top Gear and Saturday Club, but also some of the daytime weekly programs such as The Dave Cash Programme. This release features six bands, all of whom will be familiar to collectors of psychedelia and pop of the period, some of which are lauded as being amongst the most rated groups of their time. For many, pride of place will go to Kaleidoscope, as Shapes & Sounds features two tracks that are missing from the BBC's Transcription Service archive and consequently were not included on the Please Listen To The Pictures BBC set. Thanks to the recent discovery of a transcription disc, Top Sounds are privileged to complete the jigsaw and offer a choice version of the band's most contagious single 'Jenny Artichoke,' as well as a stupendous rendition of the Faintly Blowing cut 'Music' which is guaranteed to have Kaleidoscope's legion of followers in ecstasy! Also thought lost and making their debut on are three splendid tracks by Tomorrow featuring Keith West, sourced from two editions of Top Gear in October 1967 and February 1968. Included are excellent renditions of 'Blow Up' and 'Colonel Brown,' but the pick of the bunch is almost certainly 'Real Life Permanent Dream,' with its overdrive of twisting wah-wah guitar throughout from the nimble fingers of Steve Howe. It's been a while since any fresh music from Timebox was released and Shapes & Sounds offers their four remaining session tracks from the Beeb archives, which include a beautiful version of their famed 'Beggin,' a rendition of 'Yellow Van' which most definitely puts the single cut to shame, a superb take of 'Stay There' and perhaps most importantly, an admirable slice of blue-eyed soul in their cover of the Young Rascals' 'A Girl Like You,' which the band never recorded outside of the BBC. The Montanas' discography is noted by many as being rather hit or miss, but that is most definitely not the case with their inclusion on Shapes & Sounds, and most will no doubt be surprised and animated by the BBC take of their most prized pop/psych 45, A Step In The Right Direction. That excellent single was enhanced by a wash of phasing, but in this live performance the song is literally drowned in a veritable tidal wave of that glorious wind tunnel effect, while 'You're Never Going to Get My Lovin' would have made a better choice for a single than some of those that were actually released. The other Montanas performances form something of a Moby Grape tribute, with a cracking rendering of 'Hey Grandma' and a blistering attack on 'Omaha.' Of all these numbers from their repertoire, only 'A Step In The Right Direction' ever appeared on a single. Oxfordshire's Gentle Influence have come to more prominence recently with the inclusion of their popular 'Easy To Know' on the 'Le Beat Bespoke' compilation and Top Sounds have uncovered a similarly styled nugget with their BBC only cover of Curtis Mayfield's 'You've Been Cheatin',' as well as a superior version of their final 1969 A-side 'Always Be A Part Of My Living.' And last but my no means least, The Spectrum -- hitherto not the most rated of '60s bands by some -- impress with a fuzz guitar-spiked performance of 'Headin' For A Heatwave' which is more virile and much more atmospheric than the 45 version, and they enthusiastically rip through a Beeb only take of The Artwoods favorite 'I Take What I Want.' The sound quality is absolutely superb throughout, with nearly every track sourced from original BBC Transcription records. The Tomorrow performances have been taken from excellent off-air recordings and similarly shine and few of the tracks on the collection needed much enhancement at all, all have nevertheless been professionally restored and mastered. The presentation is immaculate and as with the Alphabeat release, Artholeghraphics have designed a memorable period-flavored package. Includes a 24-page booklet packed with illustrations, band histories and listings of all their known BBC sessions written and supplied by Nigel Lees, author of much of Record Collector magazine's 'The British Psychedelic Trip' series. Except for one of the Montanas recordings being bootlegged many years ago, none of the tracks have ever been commercially available and most have not been heard in public since the '60s. All copies are hand numbered and Shapes & Sounds is a legitimate limited edition release, licensed from the BBC with the blessing/co-operation of no less than 19 band members."

Artist:	VA
Title:	Shapes and Sounds Volume Two
Label:	TOP SOUNDS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$25.00
Catalog #:	TSCD 003CD

...Shades of Deepest Purple from the BBC Archives 1967-1971. "With this second excavation of previously unreleased live BBC session performances spanning the period 1967-1971, Shapes And Sounds becomes a series and Volume Two features a completely different line-up of bands from the previous set. Pride of place on this second edition arguably goes to the Gun, with three astonishing performances that were recorded nearly a year before 'Race With The Devil' which illustrate their late '67 menu of mod and psych-pop, with cracking versions of Rupert's Peoples 'Hold On,' Paul Simon's 'A Most Peculiar Man' and a quite splendid airing of their legendary 'Light On The Wall.' The Casuals surprise with the beat of 'Midnight Confessions' and 'Take Me For A Little While' as well as a fine rendering of 'Jesamine,' while the Mirage perform a live version of their May 1967 single, 'The Wedding Of Ramona Blair.' The Alan Bown play an excellent take of 'Magic Handkerchief' and even more interestingly offer two numbers that never appeared on any Bown release, with the self-penned progressive popper, 'Movie Star Baby' and a brilliant interpretation of the Association's 'Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies.' Also with three tracks on Shapes And Sounds are Wales' Bystanders, who turn in a lovely version of 'Royal Blue Summer Sunshine Day' as well as a glorious homage to the Byrds with 'Renaissance Fair.' Even better and long talked about in collectors' circles but never previously released, is their absolutely stunning rendition of 'I Am The Walrus,' which Top Sounds are sure will disappoint no one! Sourced from an off-air recording of their only British television appearance on DDisco 2, Killing Floor perform 'Milkman' from their Out Of Uranus LP in superb quality (the TV show was wiped decades ago) and of similarly heinous rarity are live tracks from Portrait and Katch 22, who turn in forceful renderings of 'Born To Be Wild' and 'The Price Of Love' respectively (the latter of which is better than the Status Quo cover). The sound quality is absolutely superb throughout, with 12 of the 16 tracks sourced from original BBC Transcription records. The other performances have been taken from excellent off-air recordings and similarly shine and though few of the tracks on the collection needed much enhancement at all, all have nevertheless been professionally restored and mastered. The presentation is immaculate and as with the previous Shapes And Sounds release, Artholeghraphics have designed a memorable period flavored package, including a 23-page booklet packed with photos and information. Except for the Mirage recording being bootlegged many years ago (in lesser quality), none of the tracks have ever been commercially available and most have not been heard in public since the '60s. Shapes And Sounds is a legitimate limited edition release, licensed from the BBC with the blessing/co-operation of many band members."

Artist:	VA
Title:	Shapes and Sounds Volume Two
Label:	TOP SOUNDS (UK)
Format:	LP
Price:	$29.00
Catalog #:	TSLP 003LP

...Shades of Deepest Purple from the BBC Archives 1967-1971.. "With this second excavation of previously unreleased live BBC session performances spanning the period 1967-1971, Shapes And Sounds becomes a series and Volume Two features a completely different line up of bands from last year's set. Pride of place on this second edition arguably goes to The Gun, with three astonishing performances that were recorded nearly a year before 'Race With The Devil' which illustrate their late '67 menu of mod and psych pop, with cracking versions of Rupert's Peoples 'Hold On,' Paul Simons 'A Most Peculiar Man' and a quite splendid airing of their legendary 'Light On The Wall!' The Casuals surprise with the beat of 'Midnight Confessions' and 'Take Me For A Little While' as well as a fine rendering of 'Jesamine,' while The Mirage perform a live version of their May 1967 single 'The Wedding Of Ramona Blair.' The Alan Bown! play an excellent take of 'Magic Handkerchief' and even more interestingly offer two numbers that never appeared on any Bown release, with the self-penned progressive popper 'Movie Star Baby' and a brilliant interpretation of The Association's 'Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies.' Also with three tracks on Shapes And Sounds are Wales' The Bystanders, who turn in a lovely version of 'Royal Blue Summer Sunshine Day' as well as a glorious homage to The Byrds with 'Renaissance Fair.' Even better and long talked about in collectors' circles but never previously released is their absolutely stunning rendition of 'I Am The Walrus,' which Top Sounds are sure will disappoint no one! Sourced from an off-air recording of their only British television appearance on Disco 2, Killing Floor perform 'Milkman' from their Out Of Uranus LP in superb quality (the TV show was wiped decades ago) and of similarly heinous rarity are live tracks from Portrait and Katch 22, who turn in forceful renderings of 'Born To Be Wild' and 'The Price Of Love,' respectively (the latter of which is better than the Status Quo cover!) The sound quality is absolutely superb throughout, with 12 of the 16 tracks sourced from original BBC Transcription records. The other performances have been taken from excellent off-air recordings and similarly shine and though few of the tracks on the collection needed much enhancement at all, all have nevertheless been professionally restored and mastered. The presentation is immaculate and as with the previous Shapes And Sounds release, Artholeghraphics have designed a memorable period flavored package. The LP has a 16 page color booklet based on a vintage Radio Times packed with illustrations, band histories and listings of all their known BBC sessions written and supplied by Nigel Lees, author of much of Record Collector magazine's 'The British Psychedelic Trip' series. Except for the Mirage recording being bootlegged many years ago (in lesser quality!), none of the tracks have ever been commercially available and most have not been heard in public since the '60s. Shapes And Sounds is a legitimate limited edition release, licensed from the BBC with the blessing and co-operation of many band members."

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