Recorded in Japan in July 1973, this massive, three-LP live album was available outside the United States in 1974 but held back from domestic release in the U.S. It features the same "New Santana Band" that recorded Welcome, and combines that group's jazz and spiritual influences with performances of earlier Latin rock favorites like "Oye Como Va."

The Best of Uriah Heep is the first compilation album by British rock band Uriah Heep released in 1976. It reached gold status in Germany. Ah, perhaps there's truth in advertising after all, since The Best of Uriah Heep really is a "best of." Nothing less than a musical Juggernaut, this compilation delivers wave after wave of heavy molten rock that will either forge your fealty or send you fleeing. At their most menacing ("Gypsy," "Bird of Prey"), Heep rides relentlessly alongside the horsemen of the apocalypse, Black Sabbath and Van Der Graaf Generator. What the band lacks in artful studio execution they make up for in sheer force, from Ken Hensley's towering organ to Mick Box's distortion-drenched guitar…

An unknown UK album with such a great musical potential. Musically it is a very powerful guitar dominated underground rock such as Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, Dark or Grannie. The rarety factor is way above all those other rare UK album, which stay in low pressings of 99 copies and 15-20 such as Dark. This one has been pressed only 4 times ever. In September 1971 Eugene Carnan entered a UK-wide competition for “Best New Band” run by the famous Melody Maker magazine, they recorded the album in 1972 and took it to London to Eden Studios for a demo pressing and cut 4 acetates. Eugene Carnan a 3 piece band are from The Rhondda Valley, in South Wales, UK with guitar & vocals, bass and drums. All own composition. A killer album from beginning to end.

An interesting and slightly unexpected release on the Brian Jonestown Massacre's label – doubtless because Dead Meadow opened for that band, whose Anton Newcombe ended up providing the tapes – Got Live if You Want It! is, indeed, a show recording from a date in early 2002. The combination of sludge, drift and, in Jason Simon's singing, a surprisingly easy-to-grasp melodicism that defines the group stands out pretty well here, and, while long-time fans might debate the virtues of these takes with the studio ones, this is definitely a great starting point for those new to the group. Most of the selections come from the self-titled EP – the only Howls from the Hills song is a mighty fine "Dusty Nothing" – and, as befits the band's oldest songs, they sound well-seasoned in the group's capable hands. Simon's got it down as both a good singer and an even better guitarist; the odd semi-whine in his vocals might initially be a touch off-putting, but, by steering clear of more clichéd bellows or roars, it's a great contrast to the heavy-psych mania that the trio kicks up.

Outstanding debut studio disc by this awesome instrumental heavy guitar rock band from the land of Greece featuring the excellent six string skills of axemaster Stavros Papadopoulos on guitar. Includes 10 tracks of impressive, creative, dynamic, way-kool, blues-based, heavy guitar power trio rock mojo of world-class proportions. Universal Hippies is the musical brain-child and creation of the talented, prolific guitarist named Stavros Papadopoulos. Those of you in the know are familiar with Brother Stavros through his other various excellent Grooveyard Records bands: Super Vintage, Freerock Saints & Hard Driver. The man is a super-natural, six string freak of nature who has strong passion for the guitar…

In Dead Meadow's universe, the wah-wah pedal is just as important as the guitar itself, and both are clearly more important than any sort of vocals. In fact, at first listen, singer/guitarist Jason Simon's barely audible whine puts the band's eponymous debut in some jeopardy before it has a chance to get underway. Coupled with the all-too-sluggish haze through which early tracks "Sleepy Silver Door" and "Indian Bones" slowly drift into focus, it may scare off many listeners before they can discover the secret of Dead Meadow's true appeal. First hinted at by the sweet, acoustic simplicity of "At the Edge of the Wood" (where the singer redeems himself with a gentle, much more effective Neil Young-like delivery), this subsequently takes shape via Simon's inspired guitar work. Displaying a subtle but nevertheless formidable control of tone and feedback, the guitarist creates a hypnotic wash of sound – akin to a softcore Hendrix. Having figured out this small mystery, open-minded stoner rock enthusiasts can then appreciate the laid-back perfection of the album's stellar second half.

On their third album, Shivering King and Others, Dead Meadow continues to prove just how apt their name is, crafting vast guitar epics that have all the beauty and strangeness of a frostbitten field at midnight. While both their self-titled debut and Howls From the Hills showed power and promise, they were still defined and confined by the heavy influence of forebears such as Zeppelin and Hendrix, as well as by contemporaries such as Bardo Pond. On this album – which is also their Matador debut – Dead Meadow seems to have found their own voice and pared their music down until it reflects nothing but their essence. The stunning opener, "I Love You Too," proves this immediately: based on a riff that's equally heavy and haunting, it unfolds over seven minutes, ebbing and flowing with squalling solos and Jason Simon's moody, reverb-cloaked vocals.

Whether it was singing with Big Brother And The Holding Company or with her Full Tilt Boogie Band, Janis Joplin had one of the most identifiable, most emotional and most soulful voices ever recorded. Coming to San Francisco from Texas in 1966, Janis soon had the music world’s total attention, simply blowing the audience away at Monterey in 1967 while fronting Big Brother and gaining a record deal with Columbia Records in the process. After that, it was hit after hit with songs like her signature Piece Of My Heart, Cry Baby, and her Number One take of Kris Kristofferson’s present day standard Me And Bobby McGee, all included here. Through it all, Janis Joplin established herself as one of the very best and one of the most important singers and song interpreters ever to hit the music scene.

The tune "East-West" from the second Paul Butterfield Blues Band album of the same name made music history. It is arguably the first extended rock solo, a fusing of blues-rock with Eastern scales and tone. Here is the root of psychedelic acid rock.

CD reissue of killer early 70s hard rock album originally released in the RCA label, but now very hard to turn up. …

THE DEVIANTS - Ptooff! / Disposable (2006 UK 21-track CD album, compiling the 1st 2 LPs from the legendary Deviants, 'Ptooff!' and 'Disposable', originally released in 1967 and 1968 respectively - The Deviants were something like the British equivalent to the Fugs, with touches of the Mothers of Invention and the British R&B-based rock of the Yardbirds and Pretty Things; their simplistic riffing anticipated acts like the Stooges for an inspired collision of punk attitude and psychedelic eclecticism!

Bridge of Sighs is the second solo album by the English guitarist and songwriter Robin Trower. It was released in 1974. Bridge of Sighs, his second album after leaving Procol Harum, was a breakthrough album for Trower. Songs from this album, such as "Bridge of Sighs", "Too Rolling Stoned", "Day of the Eagle" and "Little Bit of Sympathy", have become live concert staples for Trower. The album was remastered and remixed in 1999 with bonus tracks recorded for KMET radio on 29 May 1974 at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California.

One of those real rare hard rock group often considered as heavy progressive, Jenghiz Khan produced one sole album that is now a highly-priced collectible item. With an amazing cartoon-like gatefold cover of the Great Conqueror having cut the group member's heads, this obscure quartet is also the start of bassist Rapsat's lengthy career (he had recorded with another "prog" group Laurelie the same year) as a French-speaking rock singer/songwriter. The album is the hard rock that one can expect from the era with an amateur trait, but also some undeniable progressive tendencies. The album has received a CD issue sometime ago and is now most likely scarce also.

Friday, May 12, sees the release of Earth Electric’s Vol.1: Solar on Season of Mist, which we are streaming it in its entirety now. The group finds former Mayhem guitarist Rune Ericksen teaming with highly respected Portuguese musicians Alexandre Ribeiro (bass, Grog Neoplasmah) and Ricardo Martins (drums, Jibóia) as well as London-based keyboardist Dan Knight (Messenger). Joined by vocalist Carmen Simoes (ex-Ava Inferi), the symphonic rock outfit blends the best stained glass elements of succinct, classic progressive rock with the power of unapologetic metal, culminating in an album that appeals to a broad base of listeners while never losing its integrity.