Simon Dupree & The Big Sound were an English R&B–beat group from Portsmouth that released nine 1966–69 singles and the 1967 album Without Reservations on Parlophone. They scored a UK Top 10 hit with their third single, the psych-tinged “Kites” with guest vocals by actress Jacqui Chan. In 1968, they disguised themselves as The Moles […]
Supercharge was an English R&B big band from Liverpool led by saxophonist Albie Donnelly. They debuted with the 1974 album Between Music and Madness on Stag Music, followed by five albums through 1979 on Virgin. Donnelly guested on albums by City Boy, Graham Parker, The Boomtown Rats, and The Members. After their 1977 release Horizontal […]
Clinic were a French pop/psych band that recorded music for a soundtrack album on Motors in 1970, followed by the album Now We’re Even on Saravah-subsidiary Horse in 1973. Members: Philip Brigham (guitar, vocals), Phil Trainer (bass, vocals), Alan Reeves (keyboards, vocals), Gerry Murphy (drums), Chris Hayward (flute) Discography: La route de Salina (OST, 1970 […]
Emergency Exit was a French jazz-rock band behind the 1977 album Sortie de Secours on Pôle. Members: Robert Latxague (guitar, vocals), Pierre Maggioni (bass, acoustic guitar, vocals), Roger Levy (drums, percussion), Michel Lacrouts (electric piano, percussion) Background Emergency Exit formed in 1974 in Bayonne when guitarist-singer Robert Latxague, bassist Pierre Maggioni, and drummer Roger Lévy […]
Edith Nylon was a French new wave band that released the 1979/80 CBS albums Edith Nylon and Johnny Johnny, followed by the 1982 Chiswick double-album Echo, Bravo. Members: Mylène Khaski (vocals), Christophe Boutin (guitar, backing vocals), Karl Mormet [Laurent Perez] (bass), Frédéric Noyé (keyboards, piano, guitar), Zako Khaski (guitar, bass, backing vocals), Albert Tauby (drums), […]
Dynastie Crisis was a French psych-rock band that released two self-titled albums between 1970 and 1972 on Somethin’ Else and Harvest. Members: Jacques Mercier (guitar, vocals), Jacky Chalard (bass, vocals), Geza Fenzl (drums, 1969-73), Philippe Lhommet (keyboards), Marcel Engel (drums, 1974) Background Dynastie Crisis evolved from Soul Company, an R&B show band with singer-guitarist Jacques […]
Dün was a French Zeuhl/chamber-rock band that self-released the album Eros in 1981. Members: François Teillard (guitar), Laurent Bertaud (drums), Pascal Vandenbulcke (flute), Jacques Bretonniere (piano), Michel Blancart (bass), Thierry Tranchant (bass), Philippe Portejoie (saxophone), Jean Geeraerts (guitar), Bruno Sabathe (piano), Alain Termol (percussion), Christian Mellier (bass), Christian Dupont (saxophone) Background Dün evolved from Vegetaline […]
D. Stop were a French coldwave trio that self-released the three-song EP Traitement de Choc in 1982, followed by the album Nouvelles du Front on Romance Records in 1983. Members: Pascal Andrea [Sonny Brailleur] (noise, vocals), Jean-Christophe d’Arnell [Klod Lelook, Ross Darnell] (keyboards, programming), Phil Lethon (bass, guitar) Discography: Traitement de Choc (1982) Nouvelles du […]
Dominique Guiot is a French electronic/library musician who issued six albums on assorted labels between 1978 and 1987, starting with the now-popular Chicago 2000 release L’univers de la Mer. Background Dominique Guiot was born in France in 1950, the son of a musician father who taught him guitar. Guiot studied mathematics at Université Paris VII-Jussieu, […]
Didier Lockwood (Feb. 11, 1956 — Feb. 18, 2018) was a French violinist with Seventies stints in Magma, Surya, Synthesis, Visitors, and Zao. Starting with the 1976 Music-Zag release Jazz Rock, he made thirty-plus albums for MPS, JMS, and other labels. Background Didier Lockwood was born Didier André Paul Lockwood on February 11, 1956, in […]
Didier Bocquet is a French electronic musician who released the 1977 album Eclipse on Le Kiosque D’Orphée, followed by three further titles through 1983 on F.L.V.M. and Pulse. Background Didier Bocquet was born in 1957 and began playing drums with local groups in Bourges at age twelve. In 1976, Bocquet sold his drum kit and […]
Dick Annegarn (born May 9, 1952) is a French folk-pop/chanson singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who issued four albums on Polydor between 1974 and 1976. In 1978, he teamed with Belgian musician/composer Daniel Schell on the album Egmont and The ff Boom, released on Free Bird. Annegarn recorded four albums for assorted labels during the 1980s […]
Datura was a French symphonic-rock band that self-released the 1982 album Mr Untel. Members: Didier Corbelli, Gérard Jacquinot, Jean Paul Saint Mars, Lionnel Leroy, Patrick Loisel Background Datura coalesced as a Villenauxe quintet with singer Jean Paul Saint Mars, drummer Lionnel Leroy, keyboardist Patrick Loisel, guitarist Gérard Jacquinot, and guitarist-bassist Didier Corbelli. They wrote collectively […]
Yves Hasselmann is a French keyboardist and vocalist who played in the jazz-rock trio Travelling during the early 1970s. In 1978, he collaborated with Ange bassist Daniel Haas on the Crypto release Couleurs du Temps. Three solo albums followed during the first half of the 1980s before Hasselmann moved into the visual arts. Yves Hasselmann […]
Daniel Balavoine (Feb. 5, 1952 — Jan. 14, 1986) was a French vocalist and songwriter who released eight studio albums, two live discs, and a soundtrack recording between 1975 and 1985. Discography: De vous à elle en passant par moi (1975) Les aventures de Simon et Gunther (1977) Le chanteur (1978) Face amour face amère […]
Dan Ar Braz is a French guitarist and vocalist who backed Alan Stivell on eight albums and played in the Seventies folk groups Mor and Gabriel et Marie Yacoub. After a brief stint with Fairport Convention, Braz released three solo albums (1977–79) on Hexagon, followed by three Eighties titles on Keltia. Background Dan Ar Braz […]
Confluence was a French avant-garde jazz-rock band that debuted with the 1976 live album 4 Voyages on RCA Victor, followed by the 1977–79 titles Arkham and Chroniques Terrestres. Members: Jean-Charles Capon (cello), Didier Levallet (double bass), Jean Querlier (oboe, english horn, flute, saxophone), Christian Escoudé (guitars), Armand Lemal (percussion), Christian Lété (drums) Background Confluence formed […]
Coïncidence was a French jazz-rock band that made a 1977 self-titled album on Disques Tromblas, followed by the 1979 Village disc Clef de Ciel. Members: Jean-Pierre Llabador (guitar), Jean-Claude Llabador (keyboards, guitar), Michel Montoyat (bass), Joël Allouche (drums, percussion), Olivier Chabrol (saxophone, piano) Background Coïncidence formed in spring 1974 in Montpellier when guitarist Jean-Pierre Llabador […]
Sector 27 were an English New Wave/art-punk band that released a self-titled album with accompanying singles on Fontana in 1980, followed by three further singles in 1981. The band was formed by singer/songwriter Tom Robinson after the breakup of his namesake politi-rock band. He subsequently launched a solo career, releasing eight albums over the ensuing […]
The Ruts were an English punk-rock/reggae band from Hayes, Greater London, that released the album The Crack with accompanying singles on Virgin in 1979. A name-change to Ruts DC preceded the 1981/82 albums Animal Now and Rhythm Collision – Vol.1, the second released on self-press Bohemian Records. Members: David Ruffy (drums), John Jennings (bass, vocals), […]
Karl Ratzer is an Austrian guitarist who cut a 1972 album with the post-psych band Gipsy Love. He made numerous solo albums of instrumental jazz-rock, starting with the 1978–79 Vanguard titles In Search of the Ghost and Street Talk. Background Karl Alfred Ratzer was born July 4, 1950, in Vienna, Austria. His father, Karl Stojka, […]
Evensong was an English folk-psych duo that released a 1973 self-titled album on Philips. Members: Tony Hulme (vocals, guitar), Mike Lawson (vocals, guitar) Background Evensong formed in 1969 when Birmingham singer-guitarist Mick Lawson teamed with Manchester singer-guitarist Tony Hulme. Lawson formed his first group with schoolmate Roy Jones in 1959, then sang and played rhythm […]
The Pyramids are an American spiritual-jazz ensemble from Yellow Springs, Ohio, that released the 1973–76 albums Lalibela, King of Kings, and Birth / Speed / Merging on the self-operated Pyramid Records. They reactivated in the 2010s for a further round of titles on Cultural Odyssey, Strut, and Philophon. Members: Idris Ackamoor [Bruce Baker] (saxophone), Margo […]
Random was an American avant-rock band from Illinois that self-released the album Nothin’ Tricky in 1977. Members: Ralph Athey (clarinet, saxophone, vocals), Jerry Fiddler (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, vocals), Sam Kolmodin (bass guitar, contrabass, vocals), Sandy Robinson (violin, viola, vocals), Paul Shimandle (12-string guitar, percussion, vocals) Background Random formed circa 1977 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, […]
So & Co were a French avant-psych band that released a self-titled album on Pathé in 1975. That same year, the band backed veteran singer/songwriter Gérard Entremont on his first full-length album, released on Pathé as Gérard Entremont & Co. Saxophonist Alain Potier subsequently appeared in Plat du Jour and Urban Sax. Members: Jacques Brely […]
Schtüng was a New Zealander symphonic-rock band that released a self-titled album in 1977 on Polydor. Members: David Bowater (saxophone, flute), Geoff Bowdler (percussion), Andrew Hagen (keyboards, vocals, guitar), Paul Jeffery (keyboards, vocals), Rob Sinclair (bass, vocals), Morton Wilson (guitar, vocals) Discography: Schtüng (1977)
Space Farm was a New Zealander psych-rock quartet behind the 1972 Zodiac album Going Home to Eternity. Members: Glen Absolum (drums), Harvey Mann (guitar), Billy Williams (bass), Bob Gillette (saxophone) Background Space Farm formed in Auckland in 1971 when guitarist–singer Harvey Mann and drummer Glen Absolum teamed with bassist Billy Williams. Mann came from Mount […]
Space Waltz was a New Zealander art-rock band that released a self-titled album on EMI in 1975. Members: Alastair Riddell (vocals, guitar, synthesizer), Eddie Rayner (piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron, synthesizer), Greg Clark (electric guitar), Peter Cuddihy (bass), Brent Eccles (drums) Background Riddell (b. 1952; Auckland) got his musical start as the guitarist and singer of […]
Think were a New Zealander art-rock band that released the album We’ll Give You a Buzz on Atlantic in 1976. Members: Alan Badger (bass), Phil Whitehead (guitar), Neville Jess (drums), Don Mills (keyboards), Ritchie Pickett (vocals), Kevin Stanton Discography: We’ll Give You a Buzz (1976)
Canterbury Glass was an English psychedelic rock band that recorded a vaulted 1968 album that later surfaced as Sacred Scenes and Characters. Members: Malcolm Ironton (guitar, vocals), Michael Wimbleton (1966-?), Dave Dowle (drums), Tony “Toad” Proto (bass, vocals), Pat Jeffs (keyboards, 1966-?), Mike Hall (keyboards, guitar), Valerie Watson (flute, vocals), Steve Hackett (guitar) Canterbury […]
Joe Vitale (born April 2, 1949) is an American drummer, keyboardist, songwriter, and occasional vocalist from Canton, Ohio, who played in the garage-psych bands The Chylds and The Echos during the late 1960s. During the 1970s, he played on albums by Rick Derringer, Michael Stanley, Stephen Stills, Bill Wyman, the Outlaws, Jay Ferguson, and Dan […]
Expresso was an American west coast jazz-rock band behind the 1981 album First Cup on Freight Records. Background Expresso emerged in the San Francisco Bay Area as the quintet of bassist Dennis Harper, drummer-percussionist Casey Smiley, keyboardist Phil Chidester, and guitarists Kurt Kieffer and Rick Sigman. Smiley partnered earlier with guitarist Rich Hurdle through the […]
The Box Tops were an American pop-rock band that released four 1967–69 albums on Bell Records. They are best known for the hits “Choo Choo Train,” “Soul Deep,” and the Billboard chart-toppers “Cry Like a Baby” and “The Letter.” Singer Alex Chilton later fronted Big Star. Members: Alex Chilton (lead vocals, guitar, bass, 1963-70, 1989, […]
The Cryan’ Shames were an American garage-rock band that released three 1966–68 albums on Columbia. Their first two singles, “I Wanna Meet You” and the (Searchers cover) “Sugar and Spice,” were Top 5 hits in the Chicago area. Guitarist–keyboardist Isaac Guillory later backed Al Stewart and joined the international jazz-funk ensemble Pacific Eardrum. Members: Tom […]
The Human Beinz were an American garage-rock band that made the 1968 Capitol albums Nobody but Me and Evolution. They scored a 1967 Billboard Top 10 hit with the Isley Brothers cover “Nobody But Me” and had back-to-back Japanese No. 1’s with “Hold on Baby” and the Bobby Bland cover “Turn On Your Love Light.” […]
The Electric Prunes were an American garage-rock band that released five 1967–69 albums on Reprise Records. They are best known for their 1967 Billboard hit “I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night),” a much-comped psychedelic nugget. Members: James Lowe (vocals, guitar, 1965-68), Ken Williams (lead guitar, 1965-68), Mark Tulin (bass, keyboards, 1965-68), Mike Weakley […]
Chris Farlowe is an English rock singer who surfaced in the R&B–beat boom with five 1962–65 singles on Decca and Columbia–EMI, which issued his 1966 debut album with backing band The Thunderbirds. He cut eleven singles through 1968 on Immediate Records and scored a UK No. 1 with the Rolling Stones song “Out of Time.” […]
The Troggs were an English rock band, best known for the 1966 British Invasion hit “Wild Thing” from their debut album From Nowhere. On Page One, they made the 1967–68 albums Trogglodynamite, Cellophane, and Mixed Bag. Outside the US, they scored further hits with “I Can’t Control Myself,” “Any Way That You Want Me,” “Love […]
The Amboy Dukes were an American hard-rock band that released three 1967–68 albums on Mainstream Records. They scored a 1968 Billboard Top 20 hit with “Journey to the Center of the Mind,” a psychedelic anthem included in the Nuggets series. On later releases, they’re billed as Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes. Members: Ted Nugent […]
Lost Nation was an American post-psych band that released the 1970 album Paradise Lost on the Rare Earth division of Motown. Members: Ron Stults (vocals), Larry Zelanka (organ, keyboard), Craig Webb (guitar), Art Wolff (bass), Ron Fuller (percussion) Background Lost Nation formed in Detroit in 1970 with singer Ron Stults, bassist Art Wolfe, drummer Ron […]
The Monkees were an American pop-rock band that released eight albums between 1966 and 1969 on Colgems–RCA Victor. They starred in a musical comedy show that ran for two seasons on NBC. Their hits include “(Theme from) The Monkees,” “A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” “Valleri,” and the Billboard No. […]
The Beau Brummels were an American pop-rock band that released two 1965 albums on Autumn Records and three 1966–68 albums on Warner Bros. Their debut, Introducing The Beau Brummels, spawned the AM radio hits “Laugh, Laugh” and “Just a Little.” Members: Ron Elliott (guitar, 1964-68, 1974-75, 1979-81), Sal Valentino (lead vocals, 1964-68, 1974-75, 1979-80, 1984-85), […]
The Buckinghams were an American pop-rock band that released multiple 1966–67 singles on the Chicago-based U.S.A. Records label, including the 1967 Billboard No. 1 “Kind of a Drag.” On Columbia, they released three albums and scored further hits with “Don’t You Care,” “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” and “Hey Baby (They’re Playing Our Song).” They were an […]
The Association was an American soft-rock band that released two 1966 albums on Valiant Records and six 1967–71 albums on Warner Bros. They are best known for the harmony pop ballads “Never My Love,” “Along Comes Mary,” “Everything That Touches You,” and the Billboard No. 1’s “Cherish” and “Windy.” Members: Ted Bluechel, Jr. (drums, vocals, […]
The Monks were a garage-rock band formed by American GIs stationed in Germany. In 1966, they released the album Black Monk Time on International Polydor. Members: Gary Burger (guitar, vocals), Larry Clark (organ, vocals), Dave Day (banjo, vocals), Roger Johnston (drums, vocals), Eddie Shaw (bass, vocals) Background The Monks originated in 1964 in Gelnhausen, West […]
The Lollipop Shoppe was an American garage-rock band based in Portland, Oregon. They made the 1968 album Just Colour, which contains “You Must Be a Witch,” a much-comped heavy psych song noted for its gasping, dramatized vocals. Frontman Fred Cole led numerous garage bands in the ensuing four decades. Members: Fred Cole (lead vocals), Ron […]
The Other Half was an American garage-rock band responsible for the 1966 blues-rock classic “Mr. Pharmacist” and a 1968 self-titled album on Acta Records. Guitarist Randy Holden also played in Blue Cheer and made the 1970 album Population II. Members: Jeff Nowlen (vocals, harmonica, guitar), Geoff Westen (guitar, vocals), Larry Brown (bass), Danny “Woody” Woods […]
The Five Americans were an American pop-rock band that released the 1965 album I See the Light on Hanna-Barbera Productions, followed by three 1967–69 albums on Abnak. They are best-known for the garage-rock nugget “I See the Light” and the jangly 1967 Billboard Top 5 hit “Western Union.” Members: Mike Rabon (vocals), John Durrill (keyboards, […]
The Cyrkle was an American pop-rock band that released the 1966–67 Columbia albums Red Rubber Ball and Neon and made soundtrack music for the 1969 erotic thriller The Minx. Their best-known songs are “Turn Down Day,” “Don’t Cry, No Fears, No Tears Comin’ Your Way,” and the Paul Simon-penned “Red Rubber Ball.” They were the […]
The Balloon Farm was an American garage-rock band that released two 1967–68 singles on Laurie Records, including the fuzz-psych classic “A Question of Temperature.” They also recorded as Adam and The Huck Finn. Members: Mike Appel, Don Henny, Jay Saks, Ed Schnug Background The Balloon Farm formed in early 1967 in New York when singer-guitarist […]
The Sonics were an American garage-rock band that released the 1965–66 albums Here Are the Sonics!!! and Boom on Etiquette Records. Members: Larry Parypa (guitar, 1960-72, 2007-15), Mitch Jaber (drums, 1960-62), Stuart Turner (guitar, 1960-62), Jerry Parypa (saxophone, 1960-61), Andy Parypa (bass, 1961-72, 2009), Tony Mabin (saxophone, 1961-63), Rich Koch (guitar, 1962-63), Marilyn Lodge (vocals, […]
The Standells were an American garage-rock band that released four 1966–67 albums on Capitol–Tower. Their best-known songs include “Try It,” “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White,” and the Billboard Top 20 hit “Dirty Water.” Members: Larry Tamblyn (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Tony Valentino (lead guitar, 1962-68), Jody Rich (bass, 1962-63), Benny King (drums, 1962-63), Gary Lane […]
The Del-Vetts were an American garage-rock band that released three singles, including the 1966 proto-punk classic “Last Time Around.” In 1967, they morphed into Pride and Joy for two further singles on Dunwich. Members: Jim Lauer (guitar, lead vocals), Bob Good (bass, guitar, harmonica, vocals), Lester Goldboss (guitar, 1963-?), Paul Wade (drums, 1963-?), Jeff Weinstein […]
The Elastik Band was an American garage-rock band that released four 1967–69 singles, including the proto-punk classic “Spazz.” Members: David Cortopassi (guitar, vocals, vibraphone), Scott Williams (guitar, bass, vocals), Rusty Kierig (bass, vocals), Russel Kerger (keyboards, vocals), Vince Silvera (drums, vocals) Background The Elastik Band emerged in 1967 in Belmont, California, when nightclub operator Hank […]
The Vagrants were an American garage-rock band that released six singles between 1965 and 1968 on Vanguard and Atco. Guitarist Leslie West later formed Mountain. In 1986, Arista issued The Great Lost Vagrants Album. Members: Leslie West (guitar), Larry West (bass, vocals), Peter Sabatino (vocals), Jerry Storch (keyboards), Roger Monsour (drums) Background The Vagrants formed […]
