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2CD
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MIG 3512CD
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$19.00
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 2/6/2026
"It all began in 1966 with the band Just Us in tranquil Nordenham on the west bank of the Weser River, opposite Bremerhaven. Five young musicians performed in the region as The Macbeats, playing -- as the name suggests -- beat music and soon gaining a reputation as the 'Nordenham Rolling Stones.' But the Macbeats wanted to move away from beat and devote themselves more to blues, soul, and progressive rock. As 'Just Us' -- with guitarist Kralle Kravinkel now joined by Stefan Remmler as singer -- the band toured throughout northern Germany. They performed at Radio Bremen's studio and played for several days at the famous Star-Club in Hamburg. But then the member carousel began to turn: the band shrunk to a trio, moved to Hamburg, renamed themselves Cravinkel, signed a record deal with Phonogram, and released their eponymous first album Cravinkel in the winter of 1970. Although the band went on an extensive European tour with Frumpy and Spooky Tooth, the German press almost completely ignored the band and the album. Nevertheless, Cravinkel released the LP Garden of Loneliness two years after their debut album. Musically, they took a different direction: instead of short, catchy songs, the band now presented three expansive long tracks with a significantly more progressive and psychedelic touch. Unfortunately, even this album did not open up any promising prospects for Cravinkel. In the spring of 1972, their house in Volkmarst (in Northern Germany) burned down completely, destroying all of the band's possessions. Disillusioned, the musicians gave up and went their separate ways, some of which were very successful. Today, more than 50 years later, both Cravinkel albums enjoy cult status -- and not only in northern Germany. As a bonus, there is the single 'Keep On Running' and 'Mr. Cooley' from 1971 and a live recording of the previously unreleased Cravinkel track 'Scottish Pipe' from the All-Music-Fest 1971 at the Waldbühne (Forest Stage) in Berlin."
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