Tags
Language
Tags
April 2024
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4

Lowell George & The Factory - Lightning-Rod Man (1993) Recorded 1966-1967

Posted By: Designol
Lowell George & The Factory - Lightning-Rod Man (1993) Recorded 1966-1967

Lowell George & The Factory - Lightning-Rod Man (1993) Recorded 1966-1967
EAC | FLAC | Tracks (Cue&Log) ~ 214 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 94 Mb | Scans included
Psychedelic Rock, Folk-Rock, Blues-Rock | Label: Edsel | # EDCD377 | 00:37:37

Before emerging as a cult star in the 1970s, Lowell George was a presence on the L.A. folk-rock/psychedelic scene in the 1960s. With his group the Factory, he only managed to release one single during this time. Lightning-Rod Man rescues 15 tunes cut by this unit, including the single and over a dozen outtakes and demos. Almost exclusively original material, most of these tracks were recorded in 1966 and 1967. They show the group pursuing a slightly eccentric folk-rock vision that neither bears much similarity to George's more famous work nor matches the best work done in this genre by their L.A. peers. At times they echo Kaleidoscope in their vaguely spacy, good-natured folkish rock; just as often, they take cues from Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa in their skewed blues-rock and obtuse songwriting. In fact, Zappa himself produced and played on a couple of the demos, and one-time Mothers of Invention members Elliot Ingber and Roy Estrada show up on a few others. A few songs cut toward the end of the decade feature a heavier, bluesier sound that show George edging in a different direction. An enjoyable vault find, but not a major revelation.

Review by Richie Unterberger, Allmusic.com

Back in the late 1980's I was browsing through a record store bin one day when my eyes flashed onto a USA issue compilation album by Long Island, New York garage band The Vagrants (on Arista Records no less.) I really couldn't believe my eyes, as USA major record companies at that time really did not do things like go through their own back catalogs in search of suitable archive/re-issue material (they usually let French, German & English labels have all the fun.) Of course not to mention that most USA major labels have heads firmly up their overpaid asses. Thank GOD there are labels like Rhino & Sundazed who are actually doing things right these days.

Well, finding this great archive release by Lowell George & The Factory initially gave me the same state of disbelief, that is until I saw it was issued on Frank Zappa's Bizarre/Straight imprint. The connection was obviously a personal one as Lowell George had played in one of the later editions of The Mothers Of Invention. All that being said, "Lightning Rod Man" is a major find that connects some of the dots in that fertile late 60's Los Angeles psychedelic underground mystery. I should mention at the start that this group The Factory had nothing at all to do with the 2 UK groups who recorded under the name The Factory and issued 45's on MGM, CBS & Oak.

Lowell George's Factory did manage to record a couple of 45's for UNI and land a cameo appearance on USA gonzo TV show "F Troop." It is also now clear they left behind a treasure trove of unreleased material that is nothing short of a revelation. I'm convinced had this group gotten a few breaks they could have been one of the major players of the late 60's. Because The Factory had all the ingredients of a great band, great singing, great playing, great songs and a ton of originality. However if I were to compare them with other artists of the period, these names come to mind: The Byrds, Kaleidoscope, The Rising Sons, The Youngbloods, Love, Moby Grape, Captain Beefheart, The Mothers Of Invention & The Monkees, how's that for starters?

The set opens with the title track "Lightning Rod Man" which is a stone classic that fuses the sound of the early Mothers Of Invention with "Safe As Milk" era Captain Beefheart, it also shows an early glimpse of George's future outfit Little Feat. During the song's finale I can swear I hear Frank Zappa's voice. So just when you think you are getting ready for a major dose of acid drenched dementia the collection takes a swift U-turn into the glorious folk-rock sound of L.A. circa 1966-1967, in fact the entire first side of the record and the first couple of cuts on side 2 were recorded in 1966-67. "Lost" is a bright sunny gem that recalls "Headquarters" era Monkees. "Candy Cane Madness" & "Slow Down" recall the early sides by The Kaleidoscope and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, both of these songs are absolute classics. "Smile, Let Your Life Begin" is even better, it begins with a penny whistle type flute sound that plays a melody that I once heard in an old Shirley Temple movie (sorry but I can't remember the tune.) It then leaps into the sound of pure joy, the melodies are so bright they will blind your eyes, this song should have been a #1 hit in every country in the world.

"The Loved One" steps back to the garage madness of the title track while "Sleep Tonight" blends the sound of "Da Capo" era Love with The Monkees during their "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd." period, this is a perfect example of what is sometimes called "California Sunshine Pop." Side one closes with another absolute gem called "No Place I'd Rather Be" which sounds like the kind of sophisticated pop that The Byrds Gene Clark specialized in, the backing track is remarkable in that it blends a jazz like arrangement with an eastern sitar passage.

Side Two opens with the pure garage/psychedelia of "Hey Girl" which sounds like of a direct lift from the 13th Floor Elevators first album "Psychedelic Sounds." "Changes" is another tough garage number that once again recalls Love during their "Da Capo" period & also WB era Music Machine. Then comes a spirited live version of "Candy Cane Madness" that clearly shows what a potent live group The Factory must have been. This brings the end to the 1966-67 material and things then shift to 1968 & 1969 with material that has the sound George would later employ with Little Feat. "Crack In The Door" would later show up on Little Feat's classic debut, the version here is recorded with members of The Fraternity Of Man (where all The Factory members except George would relocate) the version here actually knocks the spots off Little Feat's version. Also included is an early take of Little Feat's "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" that's a bit tentative (it might be this collection's only weak track.)

"Framed" is a cool, greasy number that sounds like the early sides by The Flamin' Groovies, the melody reminds me of the old R&B number "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash." The final track "Juliet" is a funky, bluesy number that recalls Spirit and their 1969 album "Clear." As I mentioned earlier it's astounding to me how material as strong as 99% of the material on "Lightning Rod Man" could have been left rotting in record company vaults all these years. This album is an absolute must for anyone with even as passing interest in late 60's west coast psychedelic rock. Of course Lowell George would later gain fame and fortune in the mid 70's with watered down Little Feat music, having his songs covered by the limp Asylum Records roster of artists and producing one of the worst records in rock history in The Grateful Dead's "Shakedown Street." He would later pass away due to the usual drinking/drugs madness. But in the beginning he was a major talent and innovator and he deserves to be remembered as such. "Lightning Rod Man" will go a long way in cementing his reputation as one of rock's unsung greats.

Review by Dave Furgess, HeadHeritage.co.uk


Lowell George & The Factory - Lightning-Rod Man (1993) Recorded 1966-1967



Tracklist:

01. Lightning-Rod Man (2:15)
02. Lost (1:43)
03. Candy Cane Madness (2:05)
04. Slow Down (2:45)
05. Smile, Let Your Life Begin (2:38)
06. The Loved One (2:46)
07. Sleep Tonight (2:28)
08. No Place I'd Rather Be (2:30)
09. Hey Girl! (1:50)
10. Changes (2:29)
11. Candy Cane Madness (Live Version) (2:14)
12. Crack In Your Door (2:33)
13. Teenage Nervous Breakdown (3:21)
14. Framed (3:05)
15. Juliet (2:56)


Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 5 from 4. May 2009

EAC extraction logfile from 16. February 2010, 14:29

Lowell George & The Factory / Lightning-Rod Man

Used drive : HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDRH20N Adapter: 0 ID: 1

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 102
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy\FLAC\FLAC.EXE
Additional command line options : -6 -V -T "ARTIST=%a" -T "TITLE=%t" -T "ALBUM=%g" -T "DATE=%y" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%n" -T "GENRE=%m" -T "COMMENT=%e" %s -o %d


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.32 | 2:14.55 | 32 | 10136
2 | 2:15.12 | 1:42.38 | 10137 | 17824
3 | 3:57.50 | 2:05.22 | 17825 | 27221
4 | 6:02.72 | 2:45.25 | 27222 | 39621
5 | 8:48.22 | 2:37.58 | 39622 | 51454
6 | 11:26.05 | 2:45.67 | 51455 | 63896
7 | 14:11.72 | 2:28.18 | 63897 | 75014
8 | 16:40.15 | 2:29.52 | 75015 | 86241
9 | 19:09.67 | 1:49.38 | 86242 | 94454
10 | 20:59.30 | 2:28.67 | 94455 | 105621
11 | 23:28.22 | 2:14.23 | 105622 | 115694
12 | 25:42.45 | 2:33.37 | 115695 | 127206
13 | 28:16.07 | 3:20.65 | 127207 | 142271
14 | 31:36.72 | 3:04.70 | 142272 | 156141
15 | 34:41.67 | 2:55.60 | 156142 | 169326


Track 1

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\01 - Lightning-Rod Man.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.42

Peak level 84.7 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC B64E6CA8
Copy CRC B64E6CA8
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [CF03ADAB]
Copy OK

Track 2

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\02 - Lost.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.40

Peak level 90.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 80DC7675
Copy CRC 80DC7675
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [D0EB1146]
Copy OK

Track 3

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\03 - Candy Cane Madness.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.20

Peak level 91.7 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 09BB611F
Copy CRC 09BB611F
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [C219DBFF]
Copy OK

Track 4

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\04 - Slow Down.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.36

Peak level 95.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC BAFEB7C9
Copy CRC BAFEB7C9
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [259D6549]
Copy OK

Track 5

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\05 - Smile, Let Your Life Begin.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.62

Peak level 97.4 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 8EBCBF3C
Copy CRC 8EBCBF3C
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [5F3F3967]
Copy OK

Track 6

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\06 - The Loved One.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.17

Peak level 90.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 4BAF8821
Copy CRC 4BAF8821
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [D9A86AC4]
Copy OK

Track 7

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\07 - Sleep Tonight.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.13

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 87C7B912
Copy CRC 87C7B912
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [7CA43885]
Copy OK

Track 8

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\08 - No Place I'd Rather Be.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.57

Peak level 92.4 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 07766E00
Copy CRC 07766E00
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [CEE870B2]
Copy OK

Track 9

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\09 - Hey Girl!.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.13

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 19181E2E
Copy CRC 19181E2E
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [AC80B449]
Copy OK

Track 10

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\10 - Changes.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.60

Peak level 90.7 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC E37CBD33
Copy CRC E37CBD33
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [6B0A8A36]
Copy OK

Track 11

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\11 - Candy Cane Madness (Live Version).wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.66

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 066C40AB
Copy CRC 066C40AB
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [4F5C83BB]
Copy OK

Track 12

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\12 - Crack In Your Door.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.10

Peak level 99.8 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC EB26D323
Copy CRC EB26D323
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [8C916337]
Copy OK

Track 13

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\13 - Teenage Nervous Breakdown.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.40

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3CDCE050
Copy CRC 3CDCE050
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [043BC127]
Copy OK

Track 14

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\14 - Framed.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.86

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 1EE7EC5C
Copy CRC 1EE7EC5C
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [80600AAE]
Copy OK

Track 15

Filename C:\Documents and Settings\David Swift\My Documents\My Music\EAC Rips\15 - Juliet.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.62

Peak level 84.9 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 35CAB4C9
Copy CRC 35CAB4C9
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [818B67BA]
Copy OK


All tracks accurately ripped

No errors occurred

End of status report

[CUETools log; Date: 01.07.2018 15:58:39; Version: 2.1.4]
Pregap length 00:00:32.
[CTDB TOCID: yT6Q4l30oaX0vQBNSs8YODEZdOQ-] found.
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
2 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
3 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
4 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
5 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
6 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
7 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
8 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
9 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
10 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
11 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
12 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
13 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
14 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
15 | (7/7) Accurately ripped
[AccurateRip ID: 00139077-00e06027-be08d10f] found.
Track [ CRC | V2 ] Status
01 [cf03adab|b512ee76] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
02 [d0eb1146|b646f8bc] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
03 [c219dbff|7a3128d7] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
04 [259d6549|164e915c] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
05 [5f3f3967|983ec64c] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
06 [d9a86ac4|85c36df6] (03+10/13) Accurately ripped
07 [7ca43885|ec68d1ed] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
08 [cee870b2|51aaf3e7] (03+10/13) Accurately ripped
09 [ac80b449|f6bdc81e] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
10 [6b0a8a36|22a28f02] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
11 [4f5c83bb|b9d21e31] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
12 [8c916337|2272257d] (03+10/13) Accurately ripped
13 [043bc127|bbfeea8d] (03+10/15) Accurately ripped
14 [80600aae|e8e7212d] (03+10/13) Accurately ripped
15 [818b67ba|231e89b2] (03+10/13) Accurately ripped
Offsetted by 859:
01 [5b42c9ec] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
02 [fcaaaa9c] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
03 [143699c8] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
04 [cc73e2a5] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
05 [f168e303] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
06 [9e96da51] (00/13) No match (V2 was not tested)
07 [5fde10a3] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
08 [ab0cc080] (00/13) No match (V2 was not tested)
09 [0399a894] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
10 [e8723ce1] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
11 [d5fa3cf2] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
12 [d9c67657] (00/13) No match (V2 was not tested)
13 [e1d9f301] (00/15) No match (V2 was not tested)
14 [8b65d4cb] (00/13) No match (V2 was not tested)
15 [1779a8e6] (00/13) No match (V2 was not tested)

Track Peak [ CRC32 ] [W/O NULL] [ LOG ]
– 100,0 [44A55B59] [CA511E8B]
01 84,7 [B64E6CA8] [02257423] CRC32
02 90,5 [80DC7675] [484F8C1D] CRC32
03 91,7 [09BB611F] [BC6EA311] CRC32
04 95,5 [BAFEB7C9] [8EEDEDC4] CRC32
05 97,4 [8EBCBF3C] [310AE4C3] CRC32
06 90,5 [4BAF8821] [33EA5402] CRC32
07 100,0 [87C7B912] [EDCED0A0] CRC32
08 92,4 [07766E00] [5944EEB6] CRC32
09 100,0 [19181E2E] [017FA136] CRC32
10 90,7 [E37CBD33] [4D4A8110] CRC32
11 100,0 [066C40AB] [193165DC] CRC32
12 99,8 [EB26D323] [1B446737] CRC32
13 100,0 [3CDCE050] [399E7A8A] CRC32
14 100,0 [1EE7EC5C] [AB3F14BD] CRC32
15 84,9 [35CAB4C9] [573C7213] CRC32

foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2018-07-01 17:46:40

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Lowell George & The Factory / Lightning-Rod Man
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR12 -1.43 dB -15.87 dB 2:15 01-Lightning-Rod Man
DR9 -0.86 dB -12.88 dB 1:43 02-Lost
DR11 -0.75 dB -13.84 dB 2:05 03-Candy Cane Madness
DR13 -0.40 dB -15.80 dB 2:45 04-Slow Down
DR12 -0.22 dB -13.71 dB 2:38 05-Smile, Let Your Life Begin
DR11 -0.86 dB -14.16 dB 2:46 06-The Loved One
DR13 0.00 dB -15.70 dB 2:28 07-Sleep Tonight
DR11 -0.68 dB -13.76 dB 2:30 08-No Place I'd Rather Be
DR10 0.00 dB -11.82 dB 1:50 09-Hey Girl!
DR12 -0.84 dB -14.77 dB 2:29 10-Changes
DR11 0.00 dB -12.04 dB 2:14 11-Candy Cane Madness (Live Version)
DR8 -0.01 dB -11.63 dB 2:33 12-Crack In Your Door
DR13 0.00 dB -15.00 dB 3:21 13-Teenage Nervous Breakdown
DR11 0.00 dB -13.43 dB 3:05 14-Framed
DR11 -1.41 dB -15.27 dB 2:56 15-Juliet
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 15
Official DR value: DR11

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 854 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

Lowell George & The Factory - Lightning-Rod Man (1993) Recorded 1966-1967

Lowell George & The Factory - Lightning-Rod Man (1993) Recorded 1966-1967

All thanks to original releaser

More interesting music in My Blog