Deep Purple ‎– Shades Of Deep Purple (U.S. Edition)

Deep Purple ‎– Shades Of Deep Purple (U.S. Edition)

Release date:July 1968 

Genre: Hard Rock

In July 1968 (for U.S.) the English hard rock band Deep Purple released their debut studio album "Shades of Deep Purple".
Setting aside the fact that this is an album without the band's best singer Ian Gillian, 'Shades Of Deep Purple' is often overlooked for the fact that it is composed greatly of cover songs rather than original material, although there are still a few songs here that the band wrote themselves.
Of course, we can distinguish the greats Blackmore and Lord, most notably in the typically psychedelic/blues jam session that is "Mandrake Root". Just don’t expect any virtuosic escapades to the likes of "Child In Time". The work is solid but unfortunately aged. Evans doesn’t really contribute to the creativity either. Though he sounds like a typical 60’s pop/rock singer, which suits the sound of the album, his lack of charisma can be an annoying factor.
Although "Hush" may be catchy up to a certain extent, the four covers (the others being "I’m So Glad" by Cream, "Help!" by The Beatles) remain too close to their originals, resulting in a rather uninteresting listen. "One More Rainy Day" and "Love Help Me" are unfortunately downright generic 60’s pop songs. "Hey Joe," though, which starts off with a two-minute+ introduction that works off the rhythm of Ravel's "Bolero" (with all sorts of usual organ and guitar puttering - not that it's bad, just a bit aimless), before finally getting into the song, done at a slow tempo as a soul ballad.
Except for the parts that work off the themes of the introduction, of course. In other words, it takes 7:29 to get through freakin' "Hey Joe."
The album was not well received in the UK, where it sold very little and did not chart. In the US, on the other hand, it was a success and the single "Hush", an energetic rock track originally written by Joe South, became very popular at the time, reaching number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

1. And The Address
2. Hush
3. One More Rainy Day
4. (a) Prelude: Happiness  (b) I'm So Glad
5. Mandrake Root
6. Help
7. Love Help Me
8. Hey Joe

• Rod Evans – Lead Vocals
• Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
• Jon Lord – Organ, Backing Vocals
• Nick Simper – Bass, Backing Vocals
• Ian Paice – Drums

Yuya Uchida & The Flowers - Challenge!

Yuya Uchida & The Flowers - Challenge!

Release date:1969

Genre: Psychedelic Rock

"Yuya Uchida And The Flowers" were a rock band that formed in Japan in 1968, which was started by Yuya Uchida, a Japanese actor who already was making some rockabilly singles in the early '60s and was one of the opening performers when the Beatles came to Japan in 1966.
In 1969 released their debut album "Challenge". The whole album consists mainly of covers by famous groups at the time that were also part of the hard rock psychedelic movement but they are offered in a whiny guitar that gives the band one of their main characteristics.
Their version of “Summertime” or "Hey Joe" are one of the more unique covers of the era.
This album also gained notoriety for featuring all of the band members nude on the album's cover.

1. Combination Of The Two
2. Intruder
3. Summertime
4. I'm So Glad
5. Greasy Heart
6. Hey Joe
7. White Room
8. Hidariashi No Otoko
9. Piece Of My Heart
10. Stone Free

• Remi Aso ((Kyoko Wright) – Female Vocals
• Hiroshi Chiba – Male Vocals
• Hideki Ishima – Guitar, Sitarla
• Takeshi Hashimoto – Bass
• Katsuhiko Kobayashi – Lap Steel Guitar
• Yuya Uchida – Percussion, Backing Vocals
• Joji "George" Wada – Drums

Roy Buchanan ‎– That's What I Am Here For

Roy Buchanan ‎– That's What I Am Here For

Release date:1973 

Genre: Blues Rock

In 1973 Buchanan released his third album "That's What I'm Here For", produced by Reich, which proved uneven and was roundly condemned by Rolling Stone.
The stronger tracks were the cover version of "Hey Joe", Buchanan's tribute to Hendrix, is enough to seal Buchanan's reputation, with some lightning fast and super heavy blues runs,  "Home Is Where I Lost Her," a tale of the death of a lady friend, "Nephesh" - Hebrew for "soul" (one story that has been confirmed, "Rodney's Song," a soulful Southern rocker that would have been at home on an early Allman Brothers album.
During the sessions for this record, Buchanan met John Lennon, who was mixing an album in an adjacent studio. Lennon offered to play on Buchanan's album, and invited the guitarist to lay down some licks on his LP, but Buchanan blew him off).

1. My Baby Says She's Gonna Leave Me
2. Hey Joe (In Memory Of Jimi Hendrix)
3. Home Is Where I Lost Her
4. Rodney's Song
5. That's What I Am Here For
6. Roy's Bluz
7. Voices
8. Please Don't Turn Me Away
9. Nephesh

• John Harrison - Fender Bass, Backing Vocals
• Robbie Magruder - Drums
• Roy Buchanan - Guitar
• Billy Price - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
• Dick Heintze - Organ, Piano, Clavinet, Backing Vocals

Alvin Lee & Ten Years Later ‎– Ride On

Alvin Lee & Ten Years Later ‎– Ride On

Release date:1979

Genre: Blues Rock

In 1979 Alvin Lee with a powerhouse trio he called "Ten Years Later" released their debut album "Ride On".
All tracks on side A are recorded live with no overdubs. "Ain't Nothin' Shakin'" is a real non-stop rocking workout, the cover version of "Hey Joe" is almost better than what Jimi Hendrix himself did with it as Alvin sets that song on overdrive, and "Going Home" you just can't miss and it comes off with flying colors again.
While side B is in the studio. The songs are good, the lyrics are good, the music is good.

1. Ain't Nothin' Shakin'
2. Scat Encounter
3. Hey Joe
4. Going Home
5. Too Much
6. It's A Gaz
7. Rid On Cowboy
8. Sittin' Here
9. Can't Sleep At Nite

• Mick Hawksworth - Bass
• Tom Compton - Drums
• Alvin Lee - Guitar, Vocals

Music Portraits - Domenic Troiano

Domenic Troiano was born in Modugno, Italy on January 17, 1946. His family moved to Toronto, Canada three years later.
In his early teens, Domenic developed a love for rock and R&B music. Troiano picked up the guitar at 15. Basically teaching himself how to play and without any formal training, by the age of 18 he'd joined "Robbie Lane & The Disciples".
They got their big break in December of '63 when Ronnie Hawkins hired them as a second backup group. The first song he ever wrote, "The One For Me," became the B-side of "Robbie Lane & The Disciples" first single.
Troiano stayed for eight months until musical differences set in. He continued to develop his own style of playing. Domenic joined the house band at Toronto's Blue Note club. The group soon began playing venues besides the famous Toronto hangout. After leaving the Blue Note, the group named themselves "The Five Rogues", then "The Rogues", and later "Mandala".
Throughout his many years in the music business, Domenic Troiano played the role of guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and composer. Specifically as a guitarist, he gained a devoted following in Canada, America, and Europe that exists to this day.
By learning from his heroes and experimenting on his own, Troiano developed his own unique sound and a technical skill that only a handful of guitarists acquire.
Although he never enjoyed great commercial success, Domenic Troiano will be remembered simply for his impressive body of work.
Domenic succumbed to cancer on May 25, 2005 in his Toronto home, exactly one year after his last live performance at the Orbit Room.
Following his death, his family set up "The Domenic Troiano Guitar Scholarship", where two $1,500 scholarships are presented annually to Canadian guitarists - one male, one female who are pursuing post-secondary guitar education. 

Mandala ‎– Soul Crusade

Mandala ‎– Soul Crusade

Release date:1968

Genre: R&B

Domenic Troiano along with vocalist George Olliver, Pentti 'Whitey' Glan on drums, bassist Don Elliot and German-born Josef Chirowski on keyboards,they formed in 1965 in Toronto the band "The Rogues". In 1966 the band changed their name to "Mandala".
In the summer of 1968, Mandala's debut album, "Soul Crusade" was released.
Love-itis" was the first single backed with "Mellow Carmello Palumbo" and demonstrated their penchant of blending soul with jazz-flavoured pop, eventually reaching Canada's Top 10.
It failed to attract the sales the group had expected and they played their final date at the Hawk's Nest in Toronto - Ronnie Hawkins' stompin' grounds on New Year's Day 1969.

1. World Of Love
2. One Short Year
3. Love-itis
4. Come On Home
5. Every Single Day
6. Mellow Carmello Palumbo
7. Can't Hold Out
8. Don't Make Me Cry
9. Stop Cryin' On My Shoulder
10. Faith

• George Olliver – Vocals
• Domenic Troiano – Guitar
• Don Elliot – Bass
• Pentti 'Whitey' Glan – Drums
• Josef Chirowski – Keyboards