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SOMM 099CD
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$16.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 9/27/2024
Monster tripped-out Floydian psychedelia/krautrock by this band from Düsseldorf featuring visual artist Gabor Baksay. This is their sought-after album originally released in 1972. Dark, atmospheric, hypnotic sound with percussion, flute, organ, guitars and early electronics/proto-industrial sound collages. DOM (Gabor and Laszlo Baksay, Rainer Puzalowski and Hans-Georg Stopka) evolved from a beat/psychedelic band called the Early Birds, later Set Mind, who were in a sort of sporty competition with another group called Spirits of Sounds, featuring Michael Rother's Pre-NEU and Kraftwerk drummer Wolfgang Flür. DOM were regulars at underground clubs from Düsseldorf such as the Creamcheese, where they rubbed shoulders with early Krafwerk and Can. Edge Of Time was recorded at the legendary Neubauer Studios and subsequently released on the tiny Melocord label in 1972. Its enigmatic cover was designed by a friend of the band, Jutta Keime. Remastered sound with original artwork in cardboard sleeve and OBI. Includes insert with liner notes by Klemen Breznikar and rare photos. RIYL: Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, Mythos, Kluster, Popol Vuh, Yatha Sidhra.
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SOMM 099LP
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$31.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 9/27/2024
LP version. Monster tripped-out Floydian psychedelia/krautrock by this band from Düsseldorf featuring visual artist Gabor Baksay. This is their sought-after album originally released in 1972. Dark, atmospheric, hypnotic sound with percussion, flute, organ, guitars and early electronics/proto-industrial sound collages. DOM (Gabor and Laszlo Baksay, Rainer Puzalowski and Hans-Georg Stopka) evolved from a beat/psychedelic band called the Early Birds, later Set Mind, who were in a sort of sporty competition with another group called Spirits of Sounds, featuring Michael Rother's Pre-NEU and Kraftwerk drummer Wolfgang Flür. DOM were regulars at underground clubs from Düsseldorf such as the Creamcheese, where they rubbed shoulders with early Krafwerk and Can. Edge Of Time was recorded at the legendary Neubauer Studios and subsequently released on the tiny Melocord label in 1972. Its enigmatic cover was designed by a friend of the band, Jutta Keime. Remastered sound with original artwork in cardboard sleeve and OBI. Includes insert with liner notes by Klemen Breznikar and rare photos. RIYL: Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, Mythos, Kluster, Popol Vuh, Yatha Sidhra.
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SOMM 100LP
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$31.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 9/27/2024
Ultimate Kraut basement hard-rock garage monster, originally released as a small private pressing edition of 100 copies in 1975. Originally from Brinkum (near Bremen), Grave was formed in a basement in 1975. Using a primitive tape recorder and just two mics, six tracks were recorded live at a makeshift studio located at the Brinkum Jugendhaus (Youth Center) in summer 1975, resulting in the Grave Nr. 1 album. Grave's music is raw, sincere, melancholic and unadulterated. Original artwork with audio sourced from the original masters. Includes insert with liner notes/photos, plus download card including bonus tracks.
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SOMM 088CD
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$16.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 9/13/2024
Mega-rare UK private album by singer/songwriter Jeremy Harmer, featuring David Costa of psych-folk band Trees on guitar. Melancholic, introspective psych-folk with chamber/baroque feel. Guitar, flute, viola, bass, drums -- Jeremy Harmer started singing and playing at school and university, where his circle of friends included aspiring folk musicians like Nick Drake and pre-Trees David Costa. Jeremy has a long history as a singer/songwriter and performer, along with his work in the field of English language teaching. Idiosyncratics and Swallows' Wings was recorded one night in 1968 at the studios of Anglia Television, Norwich, while Jeremy was at the University of East Anglia. Along with Jeremy singing and playing guitar, the album features a mini-chamber ensemble of flute, viola, bass and drums with orchestral arrangements written by John Trevitt from the School of Fine Arts. Jeremy's friend David Costa played guitar on several tracks and co-wrote "Tuesday P.M." Only 99 copies were pressed at the time and all were sold to people at the University, making it impossible to find now. Includes booklet with liner notes and photos. RIYL: Nick Drake, John Cale, Bert Jansch, Incredible String Band, Will Malone.
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SOMM 081LP
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Heavy-progressive sounds with long tracks and stunning lead guitar by this British band (post-Red Dirt). This is the first ever vinyl release of their unissued at the time album recorded between 1971 and 1973 at some of London's best studios and sounding like a killer cross between King Crimson and Wishbone Ash. Snake Eye started life in 1970 as Red Dirt, the band famous for their collectable Fontana album. After playing several dates in London Red Dirt was picked up by Peter F. Amott and Ivan Mant who, at the time, worked with the John Sherry Agency and Miles Copeland. Miles Copeland chose the name "Snake Eye" for the new line up, featuring Ron Hales on lead guitar. Snake Eye played with many of the top artists at the time such as Free, Marc Bolan, The Kinks, or Status Quo and they were described by Manfred Mann as being "one of the best bands" he had seen. Originally conceived as concept album, The Journey was started in 1971 and finished in 1973 but never released at the time. Vintage styled artwork in hard cardboard sleeve. Remastered sound. Includes insert with liner notes and photos.
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SOMM 088LP
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Mega rare UK private album (99 copies originally pressed in 1969) by singer/songwriter Jeremy Harmer, featuring David Costa of psych-folk band TREES on guitar. Melancholic, introspective psych-folk with chamber/baroque feel. Jeremy Harmer started singing and playing at school and university, where his circle of friends included aspiring folk musicians like Nick Drake and pre-Trees David Costa. Jeremy has a long history as a singer/songwriter and performer, along with his work in the field of English language teaching. Idiosyncratics and Swallows' Wings was recorded one night in 1968 at the studios of Anglia Television, Norwich, while Jeremy was at the University of East Anglia. Along with Jeremy singing and playing guitar, the album features a mini-chamber ensemble of flute, viola, bass and drums with orchestral arrangements written by John Trevitt from the School of Fine Arts. Jeremy's friend David Costa (prior to forming the psych-folk band Trees) played guitar on several tracks and co-wrote "Tuesday P.M." Original artwork in hard cardboard sleeve. First ever vinyl reissue. Insert with liner notes and photos, plus download card.
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SOMM 085LP
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Psychedelic, funky hard-rock with plenty of distorted guitar and Hammond by this "supergroup" created by legendary producer Shel Talmy and featuring some of the best session musicians from the UK: Herbie Flowers (bass), Alan Parker (guitar), Clem Cattini (drums), Alan Hawkshaw (keyboards), plus Peter Lee Sterling (Daniel Boone!) on powerful vocals. This is their first album from 1970, originally released in the UK, Europe and the US, now officially reissued on vinyl for the first time, faithful to the original UK edition with the effects between songs and the lavish gatefold sleeve. RIYL: Led Zeppelin, Ugly Custard, Hungry Wolf, Black Cat Bones, Atomic Rooster. Original UK artwork in gatefold sleeve. Sourced from the original master tapes. Includes insert with liner notes by Alec Palao and rare photos / memorabilia.
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SOMM 087LP
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Restocked; Heavy prog-psych with tons of organ and fuzz guitar courtesy of The Shiver from Switzerland. This is their sole album from 1969, housed in a sinister cover designed by surrealist painter H.R. Giger (his first album cover work). Originally formed in the mid-'60s in St. Gallen (Switzerland) as a beat, R&B band in the vein of Spencer Davis Group or The Yardbirds (and featuring an English vocalist), The Shivers dropped soon the "s" from their name at the same time as they adopted the early progressive sounds of British bands like Procol Harum or Moody Blues. After winning the first prize at a couple of major music festivals and even sharing stage with Pink Floyd, they started recording their first album. Combining interesting cover versions (the LP opens with a monster heavy cover of Procol Harum's "Repent Walpurgis") and original songs, the album is a perfect example of the transition from beat and blues-rock to psychedelia and heavy prog.
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SOMM 084LP
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First ever vinyl release of the album recorded in 1969/70 by UK prog-psych band Misty. Including their terrific mod-psych Hot Cinnamon 45. A dazzling fusion of classically-inspired progressive rock and song-based psychedelic pop with an organ-based sound, in the vein of Procol Harum and The Nice. In October 1969, King Crimson released their debut In The Court Of The Crimson King, Pink Floyd unleashed Ummagumma, and Led Zeppelin put out their second LP. At the same time, Misty were in London's Regent Sound Studios recording what turned out to be the only album of their career with producer, Adrian Ibbetson, who had cut his teeth as an engineer working with everyone from the Beatles to the Equals. After only a handful of gigs, Misty signed a deal with Parlophone and began to gather momentum with the release of Hot Cinnamon. Although they received a lot of airplay, the single failed to chart and the band's hopes of releasing their debut album were dashed. Reluctantly, Misty went their separate ways and the Here Again master tapes sat gathering dust on a shelf until Gelardi came across the original acetate and decided it was time for the album to finally see the light of day. Bridging late psych and early prog, songs like "Life Has Just Begun," "Witness For The Resurrection," and the title track were played with a perfect mix of high-flying experimentation and virtuosic musicianship. Blurring the fine lines between rock, jazz, classical and chamber pop, Here Again is a transcendent kaleidoscope of color that is beyond definition. Featuring vintage styled artwork in hard cardboard sleeve. Remastered sound. Includes insert with liner notes by Dave Wells and photos.
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SOMM 086LP
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Originally released as a private press in 1978 (but sounding more akin to 1970), this is a terrific example of British hard-rock/heavy-prog in the same vein as Wishbone Ash or Thin Lizzy, dominated by killer twin guitar attacks. With roots in the West Yorkshire pub rock scene and led by ace guitar player Duncan McFarlane, Luigi Ana Da Boys recorded their first album, Feeling The Ceiling, at a local studio in Leeds. 1000 copies were self-released in a plain white sleeve with a single-sided credits insert, as the band didn't have the money for a picture sleeve. One of those copies ended up with John Peel, who raved about the band and played a couple of songs at his radio show. The band eventually folded, giving birth to the Duncan McFarlane Band but over the years, there have been some Luigi reunions locally. Featured in Hans Pokora's Record Collector Dreams book with four stars. With remastered sound, and including insert with liner notes, rare photos, and download card.
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SOMM 083LP
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First ever vinyl release. Monster rarity here! An incredible find for anyone into late '60s/early '70s underground hard-psych and blues-rock. A full unreleased album by British hard-blues band Sam Apple Pie, recorded in 1970 possibly as a follow up album to their Decca debut. Taken from the only surviving copy of a recently found acetate (without song titles or credits), all leads to believe this was recorded by the line-up of Sam Sampson, Bob Renny, Andy Johnson, Mick Smith, and Mick Stuart. A great mix of heavy blues, hard-rock, and psych, with some tracks sounding not unlike Elias Hulk or Fleetwood Mac. Restored and remastered sound; hard cardboard sleeve with liner notes; includes digital download. RIYL: Fleetwood Mac, Edgar Broughton Band, Free, Elias Hulk, Savoy Brown...
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SOMM 082CD
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Reissue, originally released in 1970. Cool library-styled French album. Psychedelic, proggy jazz-funk with Brazilian/bossa touches. Groovy flute by Bernard Wystraëte plus heavy bass, drums (by André Ceccarelli), violin, occasional fuzz-wah guitar and Urszula Dudziak-like scat vocals. In 1970, the AFA label asked flautist Bernard Wystraëte to register a "pop" album after the worldwide impact of progressive bands like Aphrodite's Child and Jethro Tull. Bernard recruited some of his friends who were professional musicians and Structure was born. He wrote a collection of songs influenced by progressive rock, jazz and Brazilian music. The Pop Music album was recorded live in the studio to give a "live show" feel. It was released later that year housed in a superb psychedelic sleeve. The band even toured across France and several countries at the same time that Bernard and other Structure members started backing famous French singer Marie Laforêt live. After the good reception given to the album, another label asked Bernard to record a Structure 45. Dilatation/Scale was released under a new line-up. RIYL: Jean Cohen-Solal, COS, Cortex, ZAO, Triode... Original artwork in hard cardboard sleeve; insert with liner notes and photos. CD version includes two bonus tracks: the tracks on the Dilatation/Scale 45.
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SOMM 082LP
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LP version. Includes digital download with two bonus tracks: the tracks on the Dilatation/Scale 45. Reissue, originally released in 1970. Cool library-styled French album. Psychedelic, proggy jazz-funk with Brazilian/bossa touches. Groovy flute by Bernard Wystraëte plus heavy bass, drums (by André Ceccarelli), violin, occasional fuzz-wah guitar and Urszula Dudziak-like scat vocals. In 1970, the AFA label asked flautist Bernard Wystraëte to register a "pop" album after the worldwide impact of progressive bands like Aphrodite's Child and Jethro Tull. Bernard recruited some of his friends who were professional musicians and Structure was born. He wrote a collection of songs influenced by progressive rock, jazz and Brazilian music. The Pop Music album was recorded live in the studio to give a "live show" feel. It was released later that year housed in a superb psychedelic sleeve. The band even toured across France and several countries at the same time that Bernard and other Structure members started backing famous French singer Marie Laforêt live. After the good reception given to the album, another label asked Bernard to record a Structure 45. Dilatation/Scale was released under a new line-up. RIYL: Jean Cohen-Solal, COS, Cortex, ZAO, Triode... Original artwork in hard cardboard sleeve; insert with liner notes and photos.
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SOMM 080LP
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2024 repress. Reissue, originally released in 1970. Heavy-rock/bluesy sound with West Coast overtones and some devastating fuzz-wah guitar. Originally named Strawberry Dust, Ancient Grease was a hard psychedelic band from Wales, connected to Eyes Of Blue and Racing Cars. They were supported by John Weathers (Eyes of Blue) who also acted as producer and songwriter for their sole album, recorded in London. When eventually released in 1970, Women and Children First was credited to Ancient Grease instead of Strawberry Dust (one of those "great" ideas by major labels). The album was first issued in the US and later in the UK, both on the Mercury label but with different sleeves (being the UK one the most desirable and collectable). RIYL: Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, Cactus, Captain Beefheart, Red Dirt... Remastered sound; original UK artwork; color insert with liner notes and photos. "An interesting proto-grunge album that wouldn't have been out of place in early '90s Seattle" --Giles Hamilton (Galactic Ramble). "The first thing that hits you in the very first seconds of the opener 'Freedom Train' is a booming, stomping fuzz guitar riff. Washed in wah-wah pedals, thinned in chorus or crunched with saturated tones, the guitar of Graham Williams is the main protagonist of the record." --Andrea Gelardini (It's Psychedelic Baby).
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SOMM 077LP
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First ever vinyl reissue of this UK prog-psych, originally release in 1971. Recorded at George Martin's AIR Studios and originally released on the collectable Vertigo label. A great mix of pastoral prog, hard-rock, blues, and west coast/Americana: long tracks, soft vocal harmonies, dual guitar. Hokus Poke formed in London in the late '60s, consisting of Clive Blenkhorn of lead guitar and vocals, Roger Clarke on guitar, Smith Campbell on bass, and Jonnie Miles on drums. Managed by Kenny Lynch, they secured a deal with the legendary Vertigo label. Earth Harmony, their sole album, was housed in a fabulous die-cut sleeve with photos taken by John Kelly, famous for his work on the Beatles' White Album. One of the rarest albums on the collectable Vertigo label. Original artwork in gatefold die-cut sleeve. Insert with liner notes by Richard Allen and rare photos. RIYL: Wishbone Ash, Traffic, Cream, Pink Floyd, Bronco, Fantasy, Fleetwood Mac... "For once, a Vertigo album that's better than its reputation would suggest" --Giles Hamilton (Galactic Ramble). "... pastoral bluesy prog from the early '70s UK, occupying that comfortable niche somewhere between Humble Pie and Wishbone Ash" --Alex Gitlin.
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SOMM 075CD
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First ever reissue of this impossible to find private acid-folk album from France, released in 1972, related to Long Orme and originally released as a tiny pressing on cult Kiosque d'Orphée label (the French Deroy). Recorded by French musician Dominique Droin (later a Gipsy Kings backing musician) and some friends/musicians at a basement studio, the album has a charming homemade vibe and melancholic atmosphere with a strong UK folk influence (think Donovan, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, or Nick Drake). Beautiful songs in English with acoustic guitars, flute, cello and even full electric backing on the monster eight-minute psychedelic title track. CD version includes bonus track: "The Capricorn and The Libra (2021 version)".
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SOMM 075LP
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LP version. Includes insert and download card with two bonus tracks. Edition of 300 (hand-numbered), First ever reissue of this impossible to find private acid-folk album from France, released in 1972, related to Long Orme and originally released as a tiny pressing on cult Kiosque d'Orphée label (the French Deroy). Recorded by French musician Dominique Droin (later a Gipsy Kings backing musician) and some friends/musicians at a basement studio, the album has a charming homemade vibe and melancholic atmosphere with a strong UK folk influence (think Donovan, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, or Nick Drake). Beautiful songs in English with acoustic guitars, flute, cello and even full electric backing on the monster eight-minute psychedelic title track.
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SOMM 079LP
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Bootlegged many times on vinyl, here's an official reissue of The Running Man's self-titled album. Top-notch hard progressive album with blues/jazz influences, originally released in 1972 on the collectable RCA-Neon label. Featuring the legendary Ray Russell (John Barry Seven, Graham Bond, Georgie Fame...) on devastating fuzz guitar plus Alan Greed (Harsh Reality) on bass, Alan Rushton (Mouse) on drums, and Gary Windo (Centipede) on sax. Fantastic remastered sound by Ray Russell. Original artwork in gatefold sleeve plus color insert with liner notes and rare photos/memorabilia. RIYL: Procol Harum, Thirsty Moon, Raw Material, Tonton Macoute, ELP, Patto. "... a genuinely experimental rock LP" --Galactic Ramble
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SOMM 076LP
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First ever vinyl reissue. After the demise of Los Shakers, brothers Hugo and Osvaldo Fattoruso released in 1969 La Bossa Nova de Hugo Y Osvaldo. Here, they paid homage to the music they grew-up with: jazz, bossa nova, and candombe but adding Beatlesque pop-psych and Brazilian/Latin sounds to the mix, following what they had already done with Los Shakers in songs like "Never Never" or "Adorable Lola". Cool covers of Burt Bacharach, George Harrison, and candombe pioneer Manolo Guardia blend together with lovely self-penned songs and even new, bossa-styled versions from Los Shakers catalog. Recorded in 1968 mostly by Hugo and Osvaldo playing all the instruments by themselves, it was originally released in 1969 in a tiny edition of 400 copies, making it one of the most desirable collectable albums related to Los Shakers. The missing link between Toto's Bar and Opa's Goldenwings (1976). Hard cardboard sleeve with OBI; includes insert with detailed liner notes and photos; also includes download card.
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SOMM 074LP
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Sommor Records present the first vinyl reissue of Curtis Knight Zeus's Sea of Time album, originally released in 1973. In the early '70s, Hendrix's old friend and collaborator Curtis Knight moved to London and formed Curtis Knight Zeus, recruiting a young guitarist named "Fast" Eddie Clarke (later of Motörhead fame). Sea of Time was recorded at Olympic Studios in 1973 but never actually released in the UK, only in a few European countries. Psychedelic hard-rock with soul/funk influences and even some raw proto-punk moves. All songs were written by Curtis, showcasing his versatile songwriting talent, and he's also on lead vocals/guitar. Includes the underground heavy-funk-rock hit "The Devil Made Me Do It", and more. Recommended if you like Jimi Hendrix, Arthur Lee's Vindicator (1972), Chubby Checker's Chequered! (1971). Original gatefold sleeve artwork; includes insert with liner notes by Kingsley Abbott with a foreword by Kathy Knight-McConnell (Curtis's widow) and photos. "It's hard to imagine any rock fan not finding something to enjoy on this Sea of Time album with the quality of the playing and the instantly memorable songs." --Kingsley Abbott
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SOMM 073CD
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Orang-Utan were in fact a London based band called Hunter, featuring vocalist Terry "Nobby" Clarke (of psych-pop legends Jason Crest), guitar player Mick Clarke, drummer and songwriter Jeff Seopardi and bass player Paul Roberts. They recorded their sole album in 1971 and DeLane Lea studios. In a bizarre twist of events, their producers/managers ran with the tapes to the US, where they placed the album on Bell Records under a new band name: Orang-Utan, without telling any of the band members. A lost classic of blazing, early hard rock with minor psychedelic hangover vibes, a twin-guitar attack, and waves of fuzz/wah, along with powerful vocals. Think Leaf Hound, Budgie, Bang, Sir Lord Baltimore, Hard Stuff... Legit reissue done in co-operation with the original band members. Insert with liner notes telling the bizarre story of the band, and rare photos. "Quintessentially British hard-rock, transforming the blues in a way American bands rarely did, and with a kind of vocal intensity that compares to Free, Humble Pie, et al." --Aaron Milenski (Galactic Ramble)
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SOMM 073LP
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LP version. New repress in hard cardboard sleeve with obi; includes download card. White vinyl. Orang-Utan were in fact a London based band called Hunter, featuring vocalist Terry "Nobby" Clarke (of psych-pop legends Jason Crest), guitar player Mick Clarke, drummer and songwriter Jeff Seopardi and bass player Paul Roberts. They recorded their sole album in 1971 and DeLane Lea studios. In a bizarre twist of events, their producers/managers ran with the tapes to the US, where they placed the album on Bell Records under a new band name: Orang-Utan, without telling any of the band members. A lost classic of blazing, early hard rock with minor psychedelic hangover vibes, a twin-guitar attack, and waves of fuzz/wah, along with powerful vocals. Think Leaf Hound, Budgie, Bang, Sir Lord Baltimore, Hard Stuff... Legit reissue done in co-operation with the original band members. Insert with liner notes telling the bizarre story of the band, and rare photos. "Quintessentially British hard-rock, transforming the blues in a way American bands rarely did, and with a kind of vocal intensity that compares to Free, Humble Pie, et al." --Aaron Milenski (Galactic Ramble)
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SOMM 072LP
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Sommor Records present the first vinyl reissue of Barcelona Traction's self-titled release, originally released in 1975. Top notch jazz-rock-fusion with funk and Latin touches from Catalonia. Original artwork in gatefold sleeve and insert with liner notes by Àlex Gómez-Font and photos.
"After recording in 1972 the cult album We Are Digging The Beatles with ex-Màquina! sax player Peter Rohr, innovative pianist Lucky Guri decided to form his own band, having jazz as a starting point but taking it to a more electric, eclectic sound with multiple influences. And thus, in 1973, he created the New Jazz Trio, which would become the embryo for Barcelona Traction. Lucky was accompanied by top double bass player Jordi Clua (ex-Dos + Un) and drummer Francis Rabassa (a veteran of the Barcelona '60s beat scene). The New Jazz Trio was the house band at the legendary La Cova del Drac jazz club, where they played every day, even acting as the backing band for international artists that came mainly through the USA-Paris jazz connection. Performing live on a daily basis gave the trio great skills and the confidence to create a more personal sound through improvisation. But the turning point came when they decided to go electric. Lucky Guri moved to electric piano and even introduced the mini-Moog to their sound. Jordi Clua never left the double bass, but started to use an electric bass as well. Add the modern, daring beat of Francis Rabassa and they started delivering a totally electric jazz-rock sound . . .After changing their name to Barcelona Traction, they caught the attention of popular Catalan singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat, who arranged for them to sign for his label, Òliba-Edigsa. The resulting LP contains five instrumental tracks. Three are written by Lucky Guri, the other two are fabulous covers of Rubens Serrano's 'Sudamérica' and James Taylor's 'Fire and Rain', here translated to Catalan as 'Foc i pluja'. On Francesc Bellmunt's film about the famous Canet Rock festival, the band appears playing 'Sudamérica'. Thanks to this footage we can see how powerful the trio was on stage. Barcelona Traction marked an era, and their eponymous debut LP is here to prove it. Modern, fresh music that gets the attention of the listener. Unlike other bands like Música Urbana, more based in sophistication and more technical developments, Barcelona Traction is a combo that stands out due to the apparent simplicity and high energy of their sound, with the quality of being able to appeal and be listened in any situation, taking it beyond strict, pigeonholed mind sets." --Álex Gómez-Font
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SOMM 071LP
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¡Soltad a Barrabás! (Release Barrabás!) was the third album by the famous Spanish funk-rock band. Recorded in the US and originally released in 1974, housed in a shocking gatefold cover, this time the sound was 100% funk oriented and included big hits like "Hi-Jack", covered by Herbie Mann. First ever vinyl reissue in original gatefold cover artwork design. After reaching worldwide success with their previous two albums and a lengthy South America tour, Fernando Arbex went even further with Barrabás: he wanted to register their third album in the US. So, he managed to book MGM studios in Hollywood and the band spent a month in L.A. Fernando encouraged all the other Barrabás members to write songs for the planned album. The result was a fantastic pro-sounding recording (thanks to the work of sound engineer Humberto Gatica), where the band nearly dropped their previous Latin influences to concentrate on funk and Black music. "Hi-Jack" rocketed to number one in the Billboard and Black music charts in the US and soon after Herbie Mann released his famous jazzy cover. The album also included other ace tracks like "Tell Me The Thing" -- much in the vein of Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears, "Suzie Wong", "Lady Love". Remastered sound. Four-panel color insert with detailed liner notes in English/Spanish and photos.
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SOMM 069LP
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Also known as Música Caliente (Hot Music) and Wild Safari, this is the first album, released in 1972, by Barrabás, the acclaimed Spanish band created by Fernando Arbex after the demise of Brincos and Alacrán. A funk-rock/Latin/Afro bomb, loaded with worldwide hits like "Wild Safari" or "Woman". First ever reissue with original artwork. Barrabás was created by Spanish genius drummer, songwriter and producer Fernando Arbex after the split of his post-Brincos power-trio Alacrán. Busy with his productions and as songwriter for many artists, Fernando still had in mind the desire of international success. Highly influenced by the beginnings of funk music and the Latin-rock of groups such as Santana (influences that were also already present on Alacrán), Arbex formed Barrabás along with his Brincos bandmates Miguel & Ricky Morales on guitars, ace keyboard player Joao Antonio Vidal (from Madrid based psych band Los Grimm), Afro-Cuban percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Ernesto "Tito" Duarte and Iñaki Egaña (Los Buenos, Alacrán) on vocals/bass. The name of Barrabás came after Fernando watched the movie of the same name by Richard Fleischer. In 1971, the band entered RCA Studios in Madrid for the recording of their first album, sung completely in English. The result was a fabulous mix of funk, Latin music, rock and afro sounds, housed in a striking cover designed by famous Spanish singer-songwriter Luis Eduardo Aute. Songs like "Wild Safari" or "Woman" took the international dancefloors by storm, even reaching the first positions in the US black music charts, being championed by legendary DJs like David Mancuso (The Loft). The album also contained surprises like the mid-tempo "Cheer Up" or the Canned Heat sounding boogie rock of "Rock and Roll Everybody". A groundbreaking debut album, essential to understand the roots of Spanish funk-rock, reissued for the first time on vinyl faithful to the original one. Heavy cardboard cover with obi and four-panel color insert with detailed liner notes in English/Spanish and photos. Remastered sound. RIYL: Santana, Osibisa, Malo, Mandrill.
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