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Monday, September 16, 2013

Golden Earring - Together (1972 dutch, 8th album, excellent classic hard rock)



Together represents an important step forward for Golden Earring. Unlike the group's previous outings, the songs on this album don't fall into strict rock or progressive categories. Instead, the group blurs these strict lines and weaves elements of each genre into a distinctive style that gives the songs their unique flavor. 

For instance, "Brother Wind" has the complex arrangement and length of a prog rock epic, but it moves forward with the energy and powerful riffing of a hard rock song. The group also makes a concerted effort to give each song a tight arrangement and usually more than one catchy hook. The result is the band's first truly consistent album. 

Driving rockers abound on Together: "Avalanche of Love" is driven by a procession of gutsy riffs that live up to the song's title, and "Buddy Joe" is a surging, dramatic adventure tale built on a singalong chorus and an insidiously catchy Indian-style guitar riff (this rousing tune has remained a popular part of the band's live set list). "Jangalene" is another highlight, a cleverly arranged tune that starts out as an acoustic blues but flowers into a full-throttle rocker midway through.  

Together remains an impressive album and clearly shows off the chops and songwriting skills that would bring the group a massive worldwide success the next year with Moontan.
by Donald A. Guarisco


Tracks
1. All Day Watcher  - 4:49
2. Avalanche of Love  - 4:14
3. Cruisin' Southern Germany  (Barry Hay) - 3:00
4. Brother Wind  - 7:54
5. Buddy Joe  - 3:48
6. Jangalene  - 5:08
7. From Heaven from Hell  - 6:06
8. Thousand Feet Below You  - 4:11
all songs written by George Kooymans, except where noted

Golden Earring
*Rinus Gerritsen - Bass, Keyboard
*Barry Hay - Flute, Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
*George Kooymans - Guitar, Vocals
*Cesar Zuiderwijk - Drums

The Golden Earring-s
1966  Winter-Harvest
1968-69  Miracle Mirror
1969  On The Double
1973  Moontan

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Butch Engle And The Styx - No Matter What You Say, The Best Of (1964-67 us, strong west coast psych, Sundazed edition)



Butch Engle And The Styx were based in Mill Valley, California, USA. They were formerly known as the Showmen, under which name they recorded ‘You Know All I Want’ for the local MEA label. They took their new name in 1965 with the line-up comprising Butch Engle (vocals), Bob Zamora (lead guitar), Mike Pardee (organ), Harry ‘Happiness’ Smith (bass) and Rich Morrison (drums). 

In 1966 they won the Band Bash at San Francisco’s Cow Palace and secured the patronage of Ron Elliott, songwriter/guitarist with the Beau Brummels. He wrote and produced the group’s ‘Going Home’, in 1967, which was issued on Loma, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Records. The single was an ideal showcase for Engle’s strong voice and the group’s musical skills. 

Larry Gerughty replaced Mike Pardee before the band, now known simply as the Styx, completed a follow-up. Both sides of ‘Hey I’m Lost’/‘Puppetmaster’ were co-composed by Elliott, but this 1968 single was not a success and the Styx broke up soon afterwards.
by Colin Larkin


Tracks
1. Hey I"m Lost  (Ron Elliott, Bob Durand) - 2:32
2. Left Hand Girl  (Ron Elliott) - 2:27
3. No Matter What You Say  (Ron Elliott, Butch Engle) -  2:46
4. Smile Smile Smile  (Ron Elliott, Dave Bettiga) -  1:51
5. I'm A Fool  (Ron Elliott) - 2:35
6. I Call Her Name  (Ron Elliott) -  2:45
7. She Is Love  (Ron Elliott) - 2:14
8. If You Believe  (Ron Elliott) -  2:25
9. Smile Smile Smile  (Ron Elliott, Dave Bettiga) -  1:52
10.Going Home (Ron Elliott) - 2:06
11.I Like Her  (Ron Elliott) - 1:55
12.Hey, I'm Lost (Ron Elliott, Bob Durand) - 2:30
13.Puppetmaster (Ron Elliott, Bob Durand) - 3:46
14.She Is Love (Ron Elliott) - 1:47
15.Tell Me Please (Bob Zamora, Butch Engle) - 2:04
16.You Know All I Want (Bob Zamora) - 1:54
17.Hey I'm Lost (Ron Elliott, Bob Durand) - 2:28

Butch Engle And The Styx
*Butch Engle – Lead Vocals
*Bob Zamora – Lead Guitar
*Mike Pardee – Organ
*Harry "Happiness" Smith – Bass
*Rich Morrison – Drums
*Larry Gerughty – Keyboards
*Barry Lewis - Drums, Percussion (1967-68)

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