Witchcraft Destroys Minds And Reaps Souls

Coven - Witchcraft Destroys Minds And Reaps Souls
AKARMA Records - 2003 - Original Release MERCURY Records - 1969

Side A
Black Sabbath
White Witch Of Rose Hall
Coven In Charing Cross
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Pact With Lucifer
Choke, Thirst, Die

Side B
Wicked Woman
Dignitaries Of Hell
Portrait
Satanic Mass

Since the 1970's black magic and occult themes are commonplace in rock music, but in the late 60's, Chicago's Coven were pioneers. 'Witchcraft Destroys Minds And Reaps Souls' was their debut album and contains many firsts. It is claimed that this is the first album to depict the sign of the devil horns and inverted crosses and to use the phrase "Hail, Satan" (how many metal bands owe them a debt?). While many bands of the era would use occult and black magic themes as an image it would appear Coven were the real deal. The album and their stage act courted controversy causing tours to be cancelled and the record banned in many places. The album came with a poster depicting the band conducting Satanic rites over a naked woman (lead singer Jinx?) on an alter with the lyrics to the songs and occult symbols on the reverse. The B side of the album features a 13 minute Satanic mass, another first I think, the words to which are on the lyric sheet should you want to join in.

An in-depth interview with lead singer Jinx Dawson can be found here, it's an interesting read.

The music is great, not early heavy metal as you might expect, but good psychedelic rock albeit with rather different subject matter. That said the Satanic Mass doesn't stand too many listenings. The full album can be heard on Spotify here and here's a YouTube clip of 'Black Sabbath:.......

Their Satanic Majesties Request

The Rolling Stones - Their Satanic Majesties Request - 1967

Tracks:
01 - Sing This All Together
02 - Citadel
03 - In Another Land
04 - 2000 Man
05 - Sing This All Together (See What Happens)
06 - She's A Rainbow
07 - The Lantern
08 - Gomper
09 - 2000 Light Years From Home
10 - On With The Show

If ever there was an underrated album this is it. For some reason this album is almost universally considered the Rolling Stones misguided venture into psychedelia and best forgotten about. Even Keith Richards in his autobiography dismisses it. As much as I hate to disagree with Keith, the album's detractors are wrong this is a great album far better than a lot of it's contemporaries, Sgt. Pepper's included. It's long been one of my favourites and when DJing psychedelic nights I always took it along and played 'Citadel' and '2000 Light Years From Home' and they never emptied a dance floor. Rather than being an album cashing in on the latest fad, this is the Stones bending psychedelia to suit their style. If you remove the studio trickery (not that there's much) it's not that different from anything else they were releasing at the time, which are considered classics. I would go so far as to say that '2000 Light Years From Home' is one of the best songs they ever wrote.

So it's time to ignore any preconceptions and give this album another listen and the credit it's due. Listened to it on Spotify here, play loud!

Escalator

Sam Gopal - Escalator - STABLE - 1969

Tracks:
01 - Cold Embrace
02 - The Dark Lord
03 - The Sky Is Burning
04 - You're Alone Now
05 - Grass
06 - It's Only Love
07 - Escalator
08 - Angry Faces
09 - Midsummer Nights Dream
10 - Season Of The Witch
11 - Yesterlove

Bonus Tracks:
12 - Horse (A-side STABLE STA 5602)
13 - Back Door Man (B-side STABLE STA 5602)

Sam Gopal was a British underground psychedelic band that featured Lemmy (billed as Ian Willis) on lead guitar and vocals. The band were unique in that instead of traditional drums they had a tabla, played by Sam Gopal who the band was named after. Only this album, one single and a very rare EP were released before they spilt up. Lemmy then went one to form very the short lived Opal Butterfly before joining Hawkwind.

The tabla gives the the album an Eastern flavour but the dark lyrics of many of the songs (mostly penned by Lemmy) give it a very 'heavy' feel. It also contains a very good version of Donovan's 'Season Of The Witch'. Listen to the full album on Spotify here and enjoy the promo video for 'Sky Is Burning' below......

"Live" Full House

The J. Geils Band - "Live" Full House - ATLANTIC - 1972

Tracks:

01 - First I Look At The Purse
02 - Homework
03 - Pack Fair And Square
04 - Whammer Jammer
05 - Hard Drivin' Man
06 - Serves You Right To Suffer
07 - Cruisin' For A Love
08 - Lookin' For A Love

If ever a party was captured on an album this is it, the J. Geils Band's first live album. Starting with a storming cover of the Contours' ode to gold digging, 'First I Look At The Purse', they blast through a mix of covers and originals hardly pausing for breath. The only criticism of this album is that it's too short. If ever an album needed a deluxe reissue of the full concert, this one does.

Listen to the album on Spotify here, or the YouTube video below and crank up the volume....