mp3 reruns
prague's plastic people of the universe emerged shortly after the soviets invaded czechoslovakia in 1968. the satellite czech government deemed the music subversive and the plastics had to go underground. it's a story of survival and tremendous commitment. they even had a defense fund at amnesty international back in the day. the lp I have, egon bondy's lonely heart's club banned, sounds a bit like a slowed-down, gothic version of frank zappa. weird and great. check out "podivuhodny mandarin". 1978. invisible records.
listen to plastic people of the universe "podivuhodny mandarin"
i was looking for good records on the cheap a while ago and got lucky. despite having a really, really unappealing cover, the white lady lp by badger has some great songs on it. it looks a disco record from 1980, but it's really a funky rock record from 1974. "don't pull the trigger" is a fresh selection from the lp. turns out badger and prog supergroup yes share some members.
listen to badger "don't pull the trigger"
i grabbed this record because i saw that it was produced by johnny and shuggie otis. it's got a pretty unique soul sound and several of the songs have a country influence. harris plays fiddle. good stuff for sure. peep "I'm uncounscious". this record is just called sugarcane. 1970. harris also did a bunch of records for mps which look really great.
listen to sugarcane harris "i'm unconscious"
"history" is a jam off the only LP ever recorded by charles lamont. kinda reminds me of van morrison in places. maybe a bit of captain beefhart too, but more R&Bish. the LP is titled a legend in his own mind. when I grabbed this record in santa barbara, the record store clerk said, "oh that guy gave up music and only made one record." the lack of info on the internet seems to support that statement. no date, but probably between 1968 and 1970. UNI records.
listen to charles lamont "history"
on the wimpier side of late-sixties crooning-for-girls, is a highly obscure band called toy factory. the singer has this overwrought routine where he needs his girl so bad that he's just gonna die. in "when i'm with you" he breaks down into fake crying during the song! they just happened to catch it on tape! reminiscent of val kilmer in top secret. the cover a has a pic of the band posing with an orangutan and a various stuffed animals. still, there are some pretty good songs. s/t. no date on the record. avco-embassy.
listen to toy factory "when i'm with you"
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