Psych /
Apryl Fool
The story of Japanese psychedelic band Apryl Fool and their eponymous debut album is simply extraordinary. It was the vehicle by which bassist Haroumi Hosono first came to prominence, years before he became known as the “Godfather of Japanese electronica” as the founding member and leader of Yellow Magic Orchestra, though this musical titan had work released prior to the group’s 1968 founding, such as the song The Sea of Summer Day, recorded with Yuko Okuyama and released by King Records the yea…
First Meeting
**2019 stock, reduced price** First Meeting is the only album from the short-lived British Jazz-Rock septet Trifle, founded by singer George Bean, which also included trumpeter Dick Cuthell, saxophonist Barrie Martin, keyboardist Alan Fealdman, guitarist John Hitchen, bassist Patrick King and drummer Chico Greenwood. The group folded shortly after this album was recorded as a result of the tragic death of its leader. The brass arrangements are excellent and the mostly original material is defini…
Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina
**2019 stock, reduced price** The baroque pop band The Left Banke formed back in 1965 in New York City. With their debut album Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina they hit the charts and both title songs became hit singles in the US. They're known for their vocal harmonies, which can be heard on most of the tracks of the album. With their pioneering use of strings, harpsichord and woodwinds they created a unique baroque sound. The beautiful and emotional vibe they laid down in their music can be …
The Road
**2019 stock, reduced price** Formed in Lancashire in 1969 around the nucleus of three brothers, John, Lea and Neil Heather - also known as The Heather Brothers - Quiet World was a studio recording project best known for being the first album to feature future Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett and with a guest appearance from Steve's brother, John. As was common practice in those early days The Road is a conceptual album, and in this case flavored with religious leanings (actually based on the cul…
Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters
**2019 stock, reduced price** Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters is the solo debut album by Robert Calvert, former singer of the space-rock band Hawkwind. It's a satirical concept album with both songs and spoken interludes based on the story of the poor quality of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter planes. The sputtering and sprawling planes starts up the album, which portrays the West German minister of defense as a psychopath who's furious about the Luftwaffe. It's the effective combination of…
The Birthday Party
**2019 stock, reduced price** In 1967, The Idle Race were the first major signing by the new British arm of Liberty Records. The group were well received by the music press for their melodies, whimsical lyrics and inventive production. They often appeared on the same bill with such bands as The Spencer Davis Group, The Who, Small Faces, Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, Status Quo, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Yes, Free, and The Move. Influential BBC disc jockeys such as John Peel and Kenny Everett were big bo…
Help Yourself
**2019 stock, reduced price** Help Yourself, known to their fans as "The Helps", were an English rock band of the early 70s. Formed in London, originally as a backing band for singer-songwriter Malcolm Morley, who had left Sam Apple Pie and had been signed as a solo act by Famepushers. The band was assembled by John Eichler who, as well as working for Famepushers, was a production manager at Strand Cosmetics. Their eponymous debut album Help Yourself was recorded from late 1970 to early 1971 wit…
Hard Rock From the Middle East
**2019 stock, reduced price** The Devil's Anvil was a 1960s band based in New York City, and Hard Rock From the Middle East, released in 1967, was their one and only album. Showcasing a mix of 1960s rock sound with Arab, Greek and Turkish melodies, the songs on the album are often sung in Arabic. The arrangements walk a tightrope between the modern psychedelia of the day and centuries-old traditional folk modalities and melodies. Hard Rock from the Middle East was released during escalating tens…
Flames / Salisbury Plain
**750 copies - 2019 stock, reduced price** Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, at various times also known as Velvet Opera, was a British Rock band active in the late 1960s. The group emerged from a soul / blues band called The Five Proud Walkers, and after supporting Pink Floyd on tour, they were inspired to change their approach and become a more psychedelic outfit. Their first recording was the single Flames b/w Salisbury Plain - published in November 1967 - which was later covered on stage by Led Z…
McGear
Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded 3 disc clamshell box set edition of the album, McGear by Mike McGear, featuring 2CDs and a DVD. Originally released in 1974, McGear was the second solo album by Mike McGear (younger brother of Paul McCartney) and was a more “serious” record than his work with the Liverpool satirical trio Scaffold, or his work with Roger McGough on the McGough & McGear album. Recorded at Strawberry studios in Stockport, (th…
Woman
Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a newly re-mastered edition of the classic 1972 album Woman by Michael McGear. Released by Island Records in February 1972, Woman was the first solo album by Michael McGear (Paul McCartney younger brother) and was a more “serious” record than his work with the Liverpool satirical trio Scaffold, or his work with Roger McGough on the McGough & McGear album. Recorded at Strawberry studios in Stockport and completed at Abbey Road studios, the…
Wonderwall Music
With the release of Wonderwall Music in November 1968, George Harrison was the first Beatle to step into the spotlight on his own. Recording sessions actually began a year earlier - when the Beatles were recording their annual Christmas message - with India and Swordfencing, both working titles that would be changed before release. In January 1968, Harrison traveled to EMI's studios in Bombay for a whirlwind five-day session. There, he employed various local musicians, wrapping up work on Jan. 1…
Psychotic Reaction
Most fans of garage know Count Five as the group behind the classic single Psychotic Reaction – a three minute and eight second distillation of everything that’s great about the genre, from its immediately recognizable opening fuzz riff to its last wigged-out break. Eminent garageologists all agree on the track’s importance in the canon, and its inclusion on the original Nuggets LP cemented its hall-of-fame status long ago. But make no mistake, the sum of Count Five is much more than that one si…
Live At Royal Albert Hall, London 13th August 1970
Classic Soft Machine performing live at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, right after the release of the milestone Third on CBS. Classic line up with Hugh Hopper (bass), Mike Ratledge (keyboards), Robert Wyatt (vocals / drums) and very special guest Elton Dean on alto saxophone and saxello. Canterbury goes to heaven!
The Deviants #3
**1000 copies, white and black splatter vinyl, gatefold cover!** The Deviants were the closest thing the '60s British rock scene had to The Mothers of Invention, with a Stooges-like fondness for fuzz guitar freakouts thrown in. And playing the Frank Zappa role as lyricist, singer, and provocateur was Mick Farren, one of the most intriguing figures to emerge from the UK underground. Farren actually had a much longer and distinguished career as a writer than he did as a musician - he penned a tota…
The American Metaphysical Circus
New York avant-garde luminary Joe Byrd had been the leader of pioneering ’60s electronica band The United States of America until given the heave-ho by his own creation. His riposte was to create this in turns beguiling and bizarre album, which if anything is even further out on a limb than his previous band’s sole groundbreaking LP. While obviously a ’60s sounding record, its many unexpected twists and turns along with Byrd’s stunning production leave it sounding undated, existing parallel to i…
Natural Screenery
**99 copies** Black Trumpets are Alex Reed and Keijo Virtanen from Jyväskylä, Finland. Alex is best known for his work with Jukka Nousiainen and Mikko Siltanen in Räjäyttäjät. Meanwhile Keijo’s long career has seen him roam freely in the outer reaches of the musical galaxy with bands such as Rambling Boys, Vapaa and ever-changing constellations of artists, such as Pekka Airaksinen – one of the most important pioneers of experimental and electronic music in Finland. Black Trumpets is a change for…
Already You If Beyond Flying
**60 copies** Based in Jyväskylä, Finland, Keijo Virtanen is somewhat of a legend in the whole finnish psych scene (on the same level as Pekka Airaksinen - in fact the two have collaborated before). He’s been working on music for ages but his work has only been starting to get attention during the last few years. This artist’s music is unlike any other, it is often based in ambient and drone and incorporates weird traditional folk instruments from around the world just as much as electronic inst…
Meditations for Beowulf
**250 copies** "Welcome to the second solo vinyl album by Jeffrey Alexander, best known these days for the lysergic guidance he provides for SF's Dire Wolves. But Alexander has underground roots that go far beyond his work with the Wolves. Back in the '90s, when still based in Providence RI, he ran the Secret Eye label, helmed a couple of superb acid-folk units and was the person most responsible for bringing not one, but two editions of the Terrastock Festival to the city Lovecraft built. Since…
Lights in the Center of Your Head
**300 copies** Great debut album by the new trio led by Detroit / Boston guitar legend Roger Miller. Roger has been going at it since he was a tiny baby, with a recording career that stretches back to Sproton Layer in 1970. He is still probably best known for his work with Mission of Burma, but cognoscenti wallow in his work with the original Destroy All Monsters, F.U.K., Empool, the Farmers, his crazy solo stuff, and recent jamming with M2. With Trinary System, Roger manages to get wild trio ak…