Rockin' Horse - Yes It Is (1971, You Are The Cosmos - Reissue 2022)(LP)

 Finally! Decades after hearing about this legendary album, the Spanish label, You Are The Cosmos, has re-issued one of the greatest Beatles-influenced pop albums of all time. Back in 1971, the Liverpool-based Rockin' Horse released this album of guitar pop music that has taken on legendary status due to how hard it is to find. Well, now we can all get it and you should. The hype is real. This is a very good album. Listening to this album now is given me similar feeling as the time when I first heard Big Star in the early 80s. In other words, where have you been all my life?! You will play this often!  

Orange Peels - Trespassing (Minty Fresh) (LP, 2018)

 

It is hard to describe Orange Peels. There is a "lushness" to their sound that is unlike other bands. They never disappoint. If you like your melodic pop with sophistication and warmth then this band is probably for you. Trespassing is their seventh album (according to Discogs). They are masters at what they do. It is worth getting everything by them. To get a sense of their sound try the opening track, Camera 2

Creole - Fishers of Man/ Walls of Jericho - 12" 45 rpm (China-Frica - DKR-217) (2021)

 Bond Export has released a solid 12" by Creole. Creole's earlier 45 rpm from 1978,  "Beware", has floated around for years and was readily available a while back. That single was fairly popular as a repress. This single, however, is new to me. The B side, Walls of Jericho, is a quality cut and the better of the two sides. Walls of Jericho starts off fast and uptempo but then shifts downs a gear to a solid roots skank with a piercing horn chart that sounds a wee bit off key. In other words, it is perfect! The A side, Fishers of Man,  is solid but does not capture me as much as the B-side. Overall, a good release and worthy of a place in your roots reggae box. 

Small Faces - Live 1966 (Nice Records) (CD, 2021)

What a treat! I just read about this release in Shindig (the magazine). This CD contains two live shows that were recorded on January 9, 1966 at the Twenty Club in Mouscron, Belgium. It is the earliest recordings of the band in existence.

The band is tight and confident. The groove these guys had when they played live was something else. The RnB influence is front and center and Steve Marriott's vocals are bluesy and passionate. No teenybopper music here!  The lucky few that attended these shows must have been a sweaty mess at the end. This is a must have for any fan of the Small Faces or any fan of 60s British RnB.

Only one bit of warning. The tape is old and has some "lo-fi" moments. In other words, don't expect to hear something as clear as what you would hear from a more recent release. 

 

Various Artists – Across The Great Divide: Getting It Together In The Country 1968-74 (Grapefruit Records, 2019) (3CD box set)

 

The three albums of "country-rock" music that were released in the late 60s serve as the main inspiration for this collection of country-flavored music from British bands during the 1968-74 period. Taking their cue from the albums, The Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo, The Band - Music From The Big Pink, and the Crosby, Stills, and Nash album, many British bands traded in their psychedelic-leanings towards a more rootsy, acoustic guitar-based rock. However, in their transition, they kept their sense of 60's pop melodies.       

Some of the bands in this collection will be familiar to all. For example, there are songs by bands like Fairport Convention, Traffic, the Faces, the Hollies, and Procol Harum. Yet, as is true of all Grapefruit Records' box sets, it is the relatively "unknown" bands that make this box set worth buying. Among the highlights (for me) are songs by Cochise (Velvet Mountain), Unicorn (Sleep Song) , and Matthews Southern Comfort (Touch Her If You Can)

Various Artists - NME C86 (Deluxe 3-CD Edition) (2021 reissue) (Cherry Red Records)

 

History lesson! The original C86 was a cassette that was released May 3, 1986 by the British music magazine, New Musical Express (NME). The cassette was released as part of a long running cassette program put out by the magazine. It was the 23rd cassette of the series. The goal of the cassette was to capture a snapshot of the state of indie music in the U.K. Disc 1 of this 3 CD release reproduces the cassette release and features of some indie pop royalty such as Primal Scream, the Soup Dragons, and the Pastels (just to name a few). This Deluxe edition has augmented the original release with 2 additional CDs of music from the era and includes songs from bands like, The Primitives, The Dentists, Biff Bang Pow!, and the Jesus and Mary Chain. 

I missed this cassette when it came out. While I read the NME (usually a week behind since I was in the U.S.), it was hard to find the NME cassette releases in San Diego, CA. Now, because of the good graces of the folks at Cherry Red Records, I am finally able to sit back and enjoy this release and relive the great music of the time. For example, I had never heard this song Therese by the Bodines and it is fantastic! Listen here. A long essay is included as part of this release in a booklet. The booklet provides important context and the history of the bands, people, and record labels from that era. Highly recommended.

Holy Hive - Float Back To You (Big Crown Records) (CD, 2020)

 

Wow, what a find! I picked up Holy Hive's 7 inch single from Big Crown Records not too long ago. I was not really sure what I was buying but I am trying to buy what I can from that label so I just grabbed it. The single was "Broom" (which is the first song on this CD as well). What a great song! The mellow vibe, the falsetto voice, and that little burst of horns is just gorgeous. Take a listen to that song here. If this song feels right to you, then get this album.