THE SEARCH PARTY - MONTGOMERY CHAPEL  (circa 1969/1970) RAPTURE RECORDS

At the risk of sounding like a show off, let me first say that i feel particularly privileged to be one of the less than 2000 people that have a copy of this record. About two years ago on a visit to Flash Back a member of staff had this record on, upon hearing it I didn't pay much attention to it especially because I had my mind set on whatever it was I was listening to on my headphones, but slowly my original choice of dismissing or ignoring the record had to be itself ignored.

Anyway cutting the long story short, I asked what it was and was told I probably will never find it, a year later a dealer from Italy told me he had a copy of this in which I let go of £100 or so, £100 a bit steep but not when you know that original presses of the record are going for over a £1000.00 (my copy was repressed in 1994).  

The Search party is a group of five young immensely talented Christians who created this record to spread the good word. It's a Christian record a Christian folk / psyche record the likes that I have never heard before, and was named after their place of worship 

(read more to hear track from album)

SWEET SMOKE - JUST A POKE (1970) EMI engineered by CONRAD (KONNY) PLANCK

For some strange reason I thought I had about 3 copies of this record and was going to give it out one of them in our first competition - Unfortunately I don't so something else will have to do.

Anyway while we're at it here's a little a bit about a band which some have hailed as one of the pioneers of fusion and had something of a cult following during the 60's and 70's and maybe in the 80's. Sweet Smoke were an American progressive jazz group. The Brooklynites moved over to Germany in the 60's and formed a commune of  about 15 - 20 people who apparently always came on stage when the five piece band played live. Shortly after their arrival in Germany they recorded their debut album Just a Poke which featured just two tracks both a mammoth 16 minutes or so long. - Baby Night being the stand out (Hear it below).

HENSLEY'S ELECTRIC JAZZ BAND & SYNTHETIC SYMPHONETTE - THE MASTERS OF DECEIT (1969 VANGUARD)

Another progressive rock gem, that was actually passed down to me. The band was a short lived progressive rock / jazz outfit led by keyboardist Tom Hensley - who will later fetaure with some of most recognised musicians in the 70's - and whose sounds were in tune with the scene with added humour. Reminiscent of Hatfield and the North and Nucleus.

Another one that's too good not to share.

 - Enjoy this gem

Read more for track listing