BUFFALO (AUSTRALIA) hard rock

This heavy rock band were more popular in France than their native Australia. Based in Sydney, they played between 1972 - 77. They released one 45 as Head (Hobo/Sad Song, Then) before changing name to Buffalo. The Suzie Sunshine 45 typified their no-nonsense heavy riffing style, which was coupled with a non-album cover of Chuck Berry's No Particular Place To Go. They enjoyed considerable chart success with their first five albums all making the Top 100 album charts.
Their debut album Dead Forever sported a sinister cover with a bloodsoaked face peering through the socket of a skull. The inner gatefold features the band playing amidst the tombstones of Sydney's Rookwood Cemetery. The heavy riffing title track is very much in the style of Black Sabbath. Other stronger numbers on an inconsistent album are covers of Blues Image's Pay My Dues, and Free's I'm A Mover and, of course, Suzie Sunshine.
If Dead Forever earned them a reputation as no-nonsense heavy riffers Volcanic Rock certainly cemented it with tracks like Sunshine (Come My Way) (also released as a 45), 'Til My Death and Skylock, which were just about as loud and aggressive as a band can get. Looser tracks like Freedom and The Prophet were less structured, more a vehicle for improvisation. Initial copies of the album came with a foldout lyric sheet and featured a cover illustration depicting a woman as a menstruating volcano! 1973 also saw the release of another 45 Just A Little Rock 'n' Roll, which was very much in the 12-bar blues format.
Their third album, Only Want You For Your Body, released in 1974, sported a tasteless front cover which showed a hideously overweight woman screaming and chained to a torture rack. The musical format is high energy riff-laden heavy metal as they storm insensitively through Tice/Baxter compositions like I'm A Skirt Lifter, Not A Shirt Raiser, What's Going On, Stay With Me, King's Cross Ladies and a spirited version of Alvin Lee's I'm Coming On.
What's Going On and I'm Coming On were also selected for 45 release and proved to be their finest 45. The year also saw the release of an ultra-rare EP, which is now very collectable. It comprised Suzie Sunshine, Dead Forever, Barbershop Rock and Sunrise (Come My Way). It came out on the Vertigo swirl label.
Towards the end of the year guitarist John Baxter was sacked and the band were never quite as popular again. He was replaced by Karl Taylor and ex-Band Of Light slide guitar ace Norm Roue but the latter suffered a breakdown at the end of the year and walked out on the band. He did contribute to their fourth album, Mother's Choice which came out in 1976 and two 45s were put out as a taster, Little Queenie/Girl Can't Help It and Lucky/On My Way. The two flip sides were not included on the subsequent album release and remained non-album releases until Raven Records' Skirt Lifters (Highlights And Oversights 1972-76) appeared in 1990. Little Queenie featured some cool slide guitar from Roue and Lucky had a good rock 'n' roll beat, but the old Buffalo magic was missing. In 1976 they finally fell apart when founding bassist Peter Wells left at the end of the year to link up with Angry Anderson and Ian Rilen in Rose Tattoo. They did manage a couple more 45s in 1976, plus a further one the following year and the Average Rock 'n' Roller album.

BUFFALO - DEAD FOREVER - 1972 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/232788/

BUFFALO - VOLCANIC ROCK + 5 bonus -1973 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://lix.in/c38a67

BUFFALO - ONLY WANT YOU FOR YOUR BODY + 2 bonus - 1974 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/232790/


BUFFALO - MOTHER'S CHOICE + 6 bonus - 1976 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)


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http://link-protector.com/232793/

BUFFALO - AVERAGE ROCK'N'ROLLER - 1977 Rip from CD 256@

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http://link-protector.com/232794/


BUFFALO - UNRELEASED TRACKS - 1972-1977 Rip from tape 192@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/232786/

TOE FAT (UK) hard rock

TOE FAT - TOE FAT & TOE FAT 2 - 1970/1971 2CD Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)


Formed in June 1969 out of The Cliff Bennett Band, this outfit played progressive hard rock. Vocalist Cliff Bennett came from Yiewsley, Middlesex and had previously achieved fame with Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers. John Glasscock, Lee Kerslake and Ken Hensley had earlier been in Gods and Hensley had also previously played in The Cliff Bennett Band.
The band were signed by Tamla Motown subsidiary Rare Earth in the US, but Hensley departed in November 1969 to join Uriah Heep. Lee Kerslake also left at the same time to join The National Head Band. They were replaced by Alan Kendall (ex-Glass Menagerie) and Brian Glassock (ex-Gods).
John Peel produced their two albums and the band toured the US a couple of times but it never quite happened for them. The band split, shortly before or shortly after the release of their second album, with members of Killing Floor backing Cliff Bennett for a short lived third incarnation. His next port of call was Rebellion. Alan Kendall was later in The Bee Gees' backing band and John Glassock went on to Chicken Shack and was eventually in a Jethro Tull line-up. His brother, Brian joined Trouble and then a US act Motels.
Their albums now attract some interest from collectors. Two tracks on their debut, You Tried to Take it All and I Can't Believe were later versions of titles originally featured on the Head Machine album.

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http://link-protector.com/231650/
http://link-protector.com/231651/

MOSES (DENMARK) hard rock

MOSES - CHANGES 1971 Rip from vinyl 256@ (full artwork included)

Denmark heavy power trio
Søren Højbjerg (guitar)Jørgen Villadsen (vocals, bass)Henrik Laurvig (drums)
A1 Changes 6:25
A2 I'm Coming Home 7:03
A3 Everything Is Changed 5:50
B1 Beginning 3:42
B2 Skæv 4:45
B3 Warning 7:15

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http://link-protector.com/231653/

LONE STAR - LONE STAR - 1976 & FIRING ON ALL SIX - 1977 (UK) hard rock

LONE STAR - LONE STAR - 1976 & FIRING ON ALL SIX - 1977 2CD, Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

Lone Star was a rock band formed in Cardiff, Wales, in 1975 by Paul 'Tonka' Chapman. They signed to CBS Records, and released their self-titled debut album. It charted at #47 in 1976. The second album, Firing On All Six, saw original vocalist Kenny Driscoll replaced by John Sloman. That album reached #36 in the UK charts.
Management problems beset the band during during rehearsals for a third album. The label finally pulled the plug and the band split in 1978. The rehearsals were bootlegged by Chapman and released under the title Riding High. Although promoted as the third Lone Star album, the bootleg was never endorsed by any of the other band members and destroyed any possibility of a reunion.
Driscoll and Hurley reformed the band in 1979 and tried unsuccessfully to obtain a new recording contract. They played some gigs in 1980, including shows at Bournemouth Winter Gardens, Keele University and Nottingham Boat Club.

Kenny Driscoll -- vocals on Lone Star

Paul 'Tonka' Chapman -- lead guitar (member of UFO)

Pete Hurley -- bass

Dixie Lee -- drums

John Sloman -- vocals on Firing on All Six (vocals of URIAH HEEP "Conquest")

Tony Smith -- guitar on Lone Star and Firing on All Six

Rick Worsnop -- keyboards, bass on Riding High

Highly Recommended

2CD, Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

Download link (two parts)

http://link-protector.com/268300/
http://link-protector.com/268301/

CAIN (US) hard rock

CAIN - A POUND OF FLESH - 1975 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

"A Pound Of Flesh" was originally recorded and released in 1975. Today, over thirty years later this debut album by Minnesota rock outfit Cain gets another - well deserved - shot. The rest of the band; Dave Elmeer (bass, acoustic, keyboards), Lloyd Forsberg (electric guitar) and drummer Kevin DeRemer complement Jiggs and oneanother perfectly. This band sounds like they could've taken on early Led Zeppelin any given time.

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http://link-protector.com/231655/

GRANICUS (US) hard rock

GRANICUS - GRANICUS - 1973 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

An obscure hard rock group from Ohio which may interest some collectors.Granicus was a short-lived band from the early 1970s who played a style of hard rock similar to Led Zeppelin.
Granicus hailed from Cleveland, Ohio, and were signed to RCA in 1973. They released a single, self-titled album before calling it quits. There are rumors that the band recorded a second album that was never released.
The line-up of the band was:
Woody Leffel - vocals, guitars Wayne Anderson - lead guitar Al Pinelli - rhythm guitar Dale Bedford - bass Joe Battaglia - drums Tracklisting:
1 - You're In America
2 - Bad Talk
3 - Twilight
4 - Prayer
5 - Cleveland Ohio
6 - Nightmare
7 - When You're Movin8 - Paradise

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http://link-protector.com/231656/

HARD STUFF (UK) hard rock

A heavy but melodic power trio with a good reputation. Paul Hammond had previously played in Atomic Rooster, John Gustafson had been in Quatermass and John Cann's previous band was Atomic Rooster and prior to that Andromeda.

HARD STUFF - BULLETPROFF - 1972 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/268303/

HARD STUFF - BOLEX DEMENTIA - 1973 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/268304/

HEAVY METAL KIDS (UK) hard rock

HEAVY METAL KIDS - S/T - 1974 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

Download link

http://link-protector.com/236264/

HEAVY METAL KIDS - ANVIL CHORUS - 1975 Rip from CD 256@

DownloadLink:
http://link-protector.com/236266/

HEAVY METAL KIDS - KITSCH - 1977 Rip from CD 256@

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http://link-protector.com/236268/

THE FROST (US) heavy psych/hard rock

THE FROST - FROST MUSIC - 1969 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/236038/


THE FROST - ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC - 1969 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)


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http://link-protector.com/236043/

SWAMPGAS - SWAMPGAS - 1971 (US) hard rock

A superb and little known album, produced by the group members and Artie Kornfeld (Wind In The Willows, Artie Kornfeld Tree...) and engineered by Shelly Yakus at A&R Studios, NYC. A psychic chiropractor, Charlie Tuna, is also credited on the album! Consisting of eight long tracks, all but one are composed by Baird Hersey. A mixture of some fast numbers (Patato Strut, Don't), some melancholic ballads, two complex tracks (Eulogy, Trapped In The City) and a raga with sitar (Egg Shell). Baird Hersey was obviously influenced by Hendrix, but goes further than his influences and the guitars (electric and acoustic) are especially interesting. Kim Ornitz's voice sounds a bit like Henry Tree's vocalist. Baird Hersey released at least two solo albums: Lookin' For That Groove in 1978, consisting of jazz rock (Novus/Arista) and ODO OP8 FX in 1980 (Bent), which was very experimental, with tape loops. Artie Kornfeld had previously played with The Changin' Times.

Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)
Download link
http://link-protector.com/231662/

THE MASTER'S APPRENTICES (AUSTRALIA) hard rock

THE MASTER'S APPRENTICES - MASTERPIECE - 1970 Rip from vinyl 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/238158/

THE MASTER'S APPRENTICES - CHOICE CUTS + 2 bonus - 1971 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)
Download link
http://link-protector.com/238159/

THE MASTER'S APPRENTICES - NICKELODEON LIVE - 1971 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/238179/

THE MASTER'S APPRENTICES - A TOAST TO PANAMA RED + 2 bonus - 1972 Rip from CD 256@

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http://link-protector.com/231658/

A highly-rated band who formed in Adelaide in 1965. Their diverse musical styles ranged from R'n'B to psychedelic rock to heavy rock. They were one of Australia's most popular bands of the sixties and their talent has continued to be recognised to this day.
They formed out of the instrumental outfit The Mustangs who started playing raucous R'n'B material penned by their guitarist Mick Bower and took on vocalist Jim Keays at the same time.
In early 1967 they moved to Melbourne and put out their eponymous debut album, which contained both sides of their first two singles to name some of its fine original material. It also contained a splattering of cover versions like I Feel Fine, Johnny B. Goode and My Girl.
They started out as one of Australia's top R'n'B bands in the sixties and had moved into psych-pop territory towards the end of the decade. They had veered towards progressivism by the start of the seventies and Turn Up Your Radio in 1970 gave them their first and only Top 10 hit. This was pure pop, but on the flip side was Jam It Up, a Led Zeppelin-style heavy metal raver that didn't appear on album, until Raven included it on their 1987 Jam It Up! rarities album.
By 1971 The Masters' had established themselves as one of Australia's finest progressive music acts. They were living in England in this era and that clearly helped keep them fully abreast of the latest trends. Their Choice Cuts album and Because I Love You 45 were both recorded at Abbey Road's No. 2 studio. The 45 gave them a No. 12 National hit. It was a strong song, superbly arranged and has stood the test of time well. The album could be termed hard progressive rock. Doug Ford's inventive guitar skills are in evidence on tracks like I'm Your Satisfier, Death Of A King and Song For A Lost Gypsy. Other songs which catch the ear are the haunting Michael, the latin-flavoured Rio De Camero, the pop classic Because I Love You and Our Friend Owsley Stanley III, which at times recalls the style of Jethro Tull (and is about the legendary U.S. underground manufacturer of L.S.D.).
The same year The Masters' also released a live album, Nickelodeon. It was recorded just after they arrived back from England for an Australian tour in December 1970. It's notable for being one of the first live albums recorded in Australia, but in truth is disappointing. The better moments include a spirited version of Because I Love You and Doug Ford's Future Of Our Nation which features a series of his lead solo's. This track was issued as a 45 with a non-album cut, the folksy New Day on the flip. Much of the album was self-indulgent with the nineteen-minute version of Spooky Tooth's Evil Woman typical of the malaise. Now, ironically, the album is a sought-after rarity and has even been pirated, but if it's quality music you're seeking beware!
However, their A Toast To Panama Red album, also recorded at Abbey Road studios the following year, was superb by contrast. Much of the material, as one would expect, was riffy hard rock with some great freaky guitar moments exemplified on cuts like The Lesson So Listen, Southern Cross, Melodies Of St. Kilda and The Answer Lies Beyond. However, there's plenty of variety too. Games We Play Parts 1 and 2 is heavily orchestrated and classical influenced á la The Moody Blues. The final cut Thyme To Rhyme was a lovely more reflective folksy number. Two cuts from the album, Southern Cross and Melodies Of St. Kilda, later resurfaced on Raven's Golden Miles CD. When the album was first released it sank without trace, now it's regarded in retrospect as a milestone in Aussie progressive rock.
After releasing the album the band split up. Jim Keays went solo, Doug Ford and Colin Burgess were two thirds of a new trio in the U.K.. Glenn Wheatley pursued a future in band management. They did re-form in 1988, recording a new album Do What You Wanna Do.
In 1974, Jim Keays compiled a 'Best Of' album for EMI Now That It's Over. It was a good selection of 45 'A' and 'B' sides and album tracks and came with enthusiastic liner notes from fan and writer Howard Lindley. A farewell 45, Rio De Camero/Thyme To Rhyme was also issued, but didn't sell well with no band to plug it.

PENTAGRAM (US) hard rock

This was a later version of Macabre, from Arlington, Virginia. The 1972-1976 album is best described as a psychedelic hard rock album.

PENTAGRAM - FIRST DAZE HERE - 1971-1976 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/234889/

PENTAGRAM - FIRST DAZE HERE PART 2 - 1971-1976 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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Part 1 http://link-protector.com/234897/
Part 2 http://link-protector.com/234898

AGAPE (US) hard rock

Yep! Perhaps it could only happen in America. This California outfit (from Azusa) are preaching the gospel using a hard rock format and musically it's pretty good too. Fred Caban was the brain behind the project - he wrote the lyrics, music and supplies the vocals on all the tracks. The opening cut on the first album Blind is pretty bluesy, there's plenty of fuzz on tracks like Trust and a good echoed guitar on Freedom. The magnum opus is the final track, Rejoice, which deals with the end of the world and the coming of Christ. Imaginative, maybe even psychedelic, this track in particular is well worth a listen. Their second album is more laid back than the first but both are equally sought- after.

AGAPE - GOSPEL HARD ROCK - 1971 Rip from vinyl 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/233011/

AGAPE - VICTIMS OF TRADITION - 1972 Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

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http://link-protector.com/231663/

FUTURE UPLOADS:

AGAPE - GOSPEL HARD ROCK - 1971 us hard rock
AGAPE - VICTIMS OF TRADITION - 1972 us hard rock
POWER OF ZEUS - GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ZEUS - 1970 us heavy prog
FROST - FROST MUSIC - 1969 us psych hard rock
FROST - ROCK'N'ROLL MUSIC - 1969 us psych hard rock
GRANICUS - S/T - 1973 us hard rock
HEAVY METAL KIDS - S/T - 1974 uk hard rock
HEAVY METAL KIDS - ANVIL CHORUS - 1975 uk hard rock
HEAVY METAL KIDS - KITSCH - 1977 uk hard rock
LONE STAR - S/T - 1976 uk hard rock
LONE STAR - FIRING ON ALL SIX - 1977 uk hard rock
THE MASTER'S APPRENTICES - MASTERPIECE - 1970 australian hard rock
THE MASTER'S APPRENTICES - CHOICE CUTS + 2 bonus - 1971 australian hard rock
THE MASTER'S APPRENTICES - NICKELODEON LIVE - 1971 australian hard rock
THE MASTER'S APPRENTICES - A TOAST TO PANAMA RED + 2 bonus - 1972 australian hard rock
BUFFALO - DEAD FOREVER - 1972 australian hard rock
BUFFALO - VOLCANIC ROCK + 5 bonus -1973 australian hard rock
BUFFALO - ONLY WANT YOU FOR YOUR BODY + 2 bonus - 1974 australian hard rock
BUFFALO - MOTHER'S CHOICE + 6 bonus - 1976 australian hard rock
BUFFALO - AVERAGE ROCK'N'ROLLER - 1977 australian hard rock
BUFFALO - UNRELEASED TRACKS - 1972-1977 australian hard rock

PRIMEVIL - SMOKIN' BATS AT CAMPTON'S - 1974 (US) hard rock

This is an example of seventies hard rock at its best with some superb twin lead guitar work from Larry Lucas and Jay Wilfong. Some dealers describe this as psychedelic. The band came from Indiana and the album was issued privately and had a limited vinyl reissue.

Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)
Download link
http://link-protector.com/231664/

ALAMO - S/T - 1971 (US) hard rock

Formed by four Memphis musicians, Alamo released a decent hard rock album. Larry Raspberry was previously in The Gentrys and would later form the Highsteppers. Richard Rosebrough went on to play with the Hot Dogs and Big Star, whilst Ken Woodley later played with Don Nix and would team up again with Rosebrough on the first solo albums by Alex Chilton.

Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)
Download link
http://link-protector.com/231666/

NEUTRONS - BLACK HOLE STAR - 1974 & TALES FROM THE BLUE COCOONS - 1975 2in1 (UK) ex MAN space rock

A short-lived progressive rock outfit. Phil Ryan and Ray Taff Williams had both been with Man and Dave Charles guested on their 1973 Christmas At The Patti 10 inch album. Black Hole Star is mostly a keyboard-driven amalgam of psychedelic, progressive and R&B influences with some good guitar leads. The better tracks are the keyboard-led progressive Living In The World Today; Doom City, a mid-tempo semi-progressive number with R&B influences and good guitar work and Snow Covered Eyes, a strong piece with a good melody. Overall a satisfying album. It's worth noting that the logo on the back cover was designed by Rick Griffin. John "Pugwash" Weathers who played on some of the tracks later joined Gentle Giant in 1973.

Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)
Download link
http://link-protector.com/231667/
http://link-protector.com/231668/

WHALEFEATHERS - WHALEFEATHERS - 1971 (US) hard rock

From Cincinnati, Ohio, this outfit used to gig frequently with Westfauster and played a heavy, very keyboard-dominated blend of music. Their albums have distinct psychedelic influences and although both have their moments are sometimes a bit messy. Both albums are sought-after by collectors.

Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)
Download link
http://link-protector.com/233012/