Japrocksampler - The Soundtrack

CD1

CD1
01 - The Jacks • Marianne (Vacant World, 1968)
02 - Love Live Life + One • Shadows of the Mind (Love Will Make A Better You, 1970)
03 - Masayuki Takayanagi and Kaoru Abe with New Direction • untitled [excerpt from side one] (Kaitaiteki Kokan, 1970)
04 - Flower Travellin' Band • Satori, part II (Satori, 1971)
05 - Speed, Glue & Shinki • Run and Hide (Speed, Glue & Shinki, 1971)
06 - Masahiko Satoh with Soundbreakers • untitled [excerpt from side one] (Amalgamations, 1971)
07 - Blues Creation • Sorrow (Demon & Eleven Children, 1971)
08 - Datetenryu • Harugeshiki (Unto, 1971)
09 - Lost Aaraaff • Hell of Screams (Genya Concert, 1971)
10 - People • Shomyo, part I (Ceremony: Buddha Meet Rock, 1971)
CD2
01 - Taj Mahal Travellers • untitled [excerpt from track 2] (July 15,1972, 1972)
02 - Akira Ishikawa and Count Buffaloes • Pigmy (Uganda, 1972)
03 - J.A. Seazer • Echigo Tsutsuishi Oyashirazu (Kokkyou Junreika, 1973)
04 - Acid Seven Group • untitled [track 6] (Oz Days Live, 1973)
05 - Yonin Bayashi • Omatsuri (Isshoku Sokuhatsu, 1974)
06 - Karuna Khyal • untitled [excerpt from side one] (Alomoni 1985, 1974)
07 - Geinoh Yamashirogumi • Osorezan [excerpt] (Osorezan, 1974)
08 - Magical Power Mako • Jump (Jump, 1977)
09 - Les Rallizes Denudes • Enter the Mirror (’77 Live, 1991)
10 - Far East Family Band • Timeless Phase (Tenkujin, 1977)

Curious heads can be filled with more here.

Secret Mural of Chicago Music

Damaged psychedelic guru Steve Krakow/Plastic Crimewave has painted a Chicago music themed mural in the doorway just west of Reckless Records in Wicker Park featuring...

Sun Ra

Rick Nielsen & ?

Roger McGuinn & H.P. Lovecraft

Muddy Waters

Friend and Lover & Curtis Mayfield

Human Switchboard (US post-punk/garage, 1981)

From the top of my reissue wish list. This is Human Switchboard's sole LP (not counting a live one and a ROIR cassette) plus a collection of 7” and compilation tracks of variable sound quality.

Human Switchboard - Who's Landing In My Hanger?

Plush - Fed (US lost ork-pop masterpiece 2004)

Chicagoan Liam Hayes has been performing as Plush since the early 90’s, beginning in 1994 with the near-perfect single ‘Three-Quarters Blind Eyes” b/w “Found a Little Baby”. Four years later a full-length consisting mostly of piano ballads, More You Becomes You, was released. For the follow-up, Fed, Liam went over the top, running up a huge studio bill with massive arrangements and LA session players. Unfortunately, this pushed the cost for the release rights far too high for any US independent label to pick up making it one of the great lost albums of our time. Fed was eventually released only in Japan on the After Hours label and may currently be out of print. Hayes still hopes to see Fed released in the US one day. Meanwhile, Drag City released the cassette demos in 2004 as Underfed, an interesting contrast to the original album that stands up pretty well on it’s own in some spots.

Fans of Burt Bacharach or Jimmy Webb should not pass this one up.

Plush - Fed

Exuma (US voodoo/psych/folk/soul 1970 - 1972)

It’s extremely difficult to describe the sound of Exuma. This article from Perfect Sound Forever explains it all far better than I could. After reading it check out his first four albums here.

Exuma (part one)
Exuma (part two)

Forever Amber - The Love Cycle (UK Psych-Pop, 1969)

Forever Amber must have worn out the grooves on their copy of the Zombies' Odessey and Oracle. Their rare 1969 LP, The Love Cycle, emulated the late-period Zombies rather well with its classically influenced melodies and careful harmonies. A very derivative album, but a good one, bound to please listeners who regretted the Zombies' split after Odessey and Oracle. The Zombies aren't the easiest group to clone, but Forever Amber do a good job with their deft melodies and harmonies, as well as the classically patterned keyboard arrangements. "Bits of Your Life," had it gained wide distribution, had obvious hit potential, and rates as the best Zombies imitation ever (admittedly not a wide field). It was reissued on CD in the 1990s, although the re-releases are themselves hard to find in the US. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Forever Amber - The Love Cycle

Jandek For Dummies

Jandek is the kinda artist that's more heard about than actually heard from. I won’t waste your time going into his already well known tale, though like other obscuro acts like Joe Meeks or The Shaggs I gotta admit that his music sure ain’t as interesting without first knowing the back story on it. This here is a fan compiled (I think?) greatest hits collection that’s a great introduction to Jandek and might even be all you’ll ever need from him.

Jandek For Dummies