Borriquito, bluff package

[Fritz The Cat]

3 or 4 low budget lullabies. And the rest? No lullabies at all, but cult "Krautrock" from Hamburg. Most of the tracks played by Asterix (pre-Lucifer's Friend) and Corporal Gander's Fire Dog Brigade. No vocals by John Lawton. Lullabies? Good night, Europa!

[Fritz The Cat]

Don't miss this one if you like early "Krautrock". Don't mind the silly cover art and the usual 2 or 3 disco hit cover versions. Listen to the typical female vocals on 4 tracks. Hey, isn't that the voice of Frumpy's and City Preacher's front woman Inga Rumpf from Hamburg? Listen to the wonderful Hammond driven ballad "Love me" A3 , "He said good-bye" A5 and "Driving down this road" B2. There's no doubt about it: this must be Inga Rumpf!
John Lawton and Lucifer's Friend contribute 5 respectable tracks to this bluff package LP, whereas George Mavros is the singer on Peter Hesslein's composition "Working on the railroad" B5.
Listen to Lucifer's Friend's "Take me" A6. Composer credits A. Gilbert means an alias of Peter Hesslein or Carsten Bohn? Nobody knows.

[Fritz The Cat]

This is the first John Lawton album. With the exception of the silly title track, sung by unknown German "Schlagersänger", Lawton sings on every track here. All these Lucifer's Friend songs were composed by A. Gilbert (probably an alias of Peter Hesslein or John Lawton). Funny: the vocal version of Chinn/Chapman's "Funny funny" A2. Listen to the impressive version of "Brown Sugar" B1. Respectable guitar work by Hesslein. The song material and interpretation is similar to Deep Purple Mark 1 or early Uriah Heep.

[Fritz The Cat]

It's not underground. It's not psychedelic. It's not supreme. But it is fun: Lucifer's Friend (alias German Bonds, alias Asterix without John Lawton, plus George Mavros (?)) play Deep Purple Mark 1. Some tracks are trash and snippets of rowdy studio sessions. Some tracks are random improvisations and exercises. Some tracks are a rip off. Is Deep Purple's "Wring that neck" psychedelic underground? Peter Hesslein and Peter Hecht try to imitate Blackmore and Lord. As i said before: it's fun, but not more.

[Fritz The Cat]

It's not the Tramps. In fact its a vocal production from Pye Studios, London. On 5 tracks Elton John contributes the lead vocals. "Jingle Jangle" encloses the typical vocal sound of Lulu. David Bowie (as David Robert Jones) and David Byron (as David Garrick) produced many respectable vocal productions too. Elton John has supplemented his income between 1969 and 1970 as one of these session musicians, and his voice appears (anonymously) on several of these recordings. However his involvement could only be detected by listening concentrated to many cheapo recordings for his voice. In all, fans have uncovered over 50 songs that feature Elton's voice. http://www.eltonography.com/albums/sessions/index.html
Listen to his version of Canned Heat's "Let's work together" B3.
By the way, look at the front cover photo: do you recognize the person on the right?

[Kay Pirinha]

By the way, look at the front cover photo: do you recognize the person on the right?

Of course. And the man on the left is? Noddy Holder? Angus Young?

Best regards!

[Fritz The Cat]

Ten O'Clock Bubble Gum Train is "The Tonics" from Hamburg. This is the group with the most alias! Most of these songs were composed by Manfred Oberdörffer: "Mademoiselle Ninette" was his great hit in Europe in 1969, recorded by "The Soulful Dynamics". Fortunately there are only 2 or 3 bubble gum-hits on this record. In fact, it's typical happy beat music from Germany. By the way, what is a "High bubble gum"? On back cover you may learn how to prepare a typical (70ies!) German "Rumtopf". Na denn, Prosit!

[Fritz The Cat]

One more bluff package from clever David L. Miller. All song writing credits to him ("Damil"), but none for the musicians. There is no Alex Boggs (voc, g) existing. There is no Bob Gray (b) and no Raff Witkin (dr) too. Suspect recordings. Admittedly the singer did a respectable job. In 1971 the guitar job was a striking imitation. Listen to "Git some" B2. All told not bad for a cheapo exploitation LP.

[Fritz The Cat]

Same USA (?) musicians as on "Purple Fox" LP, but more non-Hendrix compositions, here credited to "Betty George". Only 2 Hendrix originals. Another Miller-cheat. Admittedly, after 50 years a funny mysterious cult album and pleasing cover art. Listen to "Requiem for Jimi" B2.

[Fritz The Cat]

This is not an appropriate tribute to Hendrix. This is impertinence. In fact it's a wild orgiastic exercising session. It's mishandling of guitar, fuzz-box, wah-wah pedal, feedback and amplifiers without any boundaries. Too much of everything but no song structures. No respect for the inspired work and songs of Jimi Hendrix. No wonder that this guitar berserk didn't want to reveal his real name until today. His alias is ICEM or MECI. Probably it's Rainer Baumann from Hamburg Krautrock-band "Sphinx Tush". But nobody really wants to know who was exercising on this one...

[Fritz The Cat]

This is not the genius of Elton John that i knew before in 1979. This is the dumbest and worst disco junk ever from Pete Bellotte.He once was Donna Summer's producer. Elton, i have forgiven you since many many years. Nobody is perfect. But... sorry, ähem, can i have my money back?

[Fritz The Cat]

The download codes added to the vinyl LPs: Is it really the sound of vinyl?

They can't fool me.

[Fritz The Cat]

Next David L. Miller crime. Liner notes don't tell the truth: "...in the original sounds of..., ...the big ones, ... the stone smashes...". It's not the big hits. That's also a lie. And it has no soul at all. Moneymaker...

[Fritz The Cat]

Bluff: this guitar "hero" is not Frank Gibson. In fact this is Helmut Franke. At the end of the 60ies he was founding member of Hamburg based beat group "Wonderland" (Achim Reichel, Frank Dostal, Dicky Tarrach, Helmut Franke, Les Humphries). Ex-Rattles, Ex-Tonics.
All these Beatles song covers on this LP are unnecessary muzak. Two versions to chuckle about: "I feel fine" A1 and "Can't buy me love" A2 are played in southern rock style. Embarrassing and boring. Oh, why did Helmut? Endorser contract with Gibson guitars?

[Fritz The Cat]

The Wrecking Crew goes Easy-listening-dixie-pop
Cover art says: this is the midnight train to Boston.
In fact its sloppy elevator music of mishandled generic pop songs.
Am i wrong?