Amazing Amanda

in my most satisfying photo session since many months or even years...

To Samuel a Son by The Gods

The Gods sounds like precursors to Uriah Heep!?! And in fact both bands consisted of Ken Hensley the great organist and composer.  In 1970 this was The Gods' second and last album, just before Uriah Heep were really born.

The album can be heard as an early kind of rock opera, in the wake of Who's Tommy. The Gods build the story of Samuel's son Sammy, from birth to marriage and so on...

as my Spring Record # 1507



Genre :

Already here Hensley's spirit shows big similarities to the harmonies of Bowie (his Space Oddity /Ziggy Stardust epoque), so I begin to ask myself who may have influenced who?! Even if Bowie never can be labeled prog:ish or early metal - as both Gods and Heep surely can.

I also associate their feeling partly with Deep Purple -69, Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, The Move, earliest Genesis, yes, bands which you maybe won't compare the first thing you do, and who soon went quite different directions, still gathered round some core of keyboard based rock soul. (Even the beatlesque Badfinger lies close, as allmusic mention).



most Soulful song: TO SAMUEL A SON (on a sunny day in May...)

most Imaginative song: STICKING WINGS ON FLIES (growing apple pies)

most Amusing song: PENNY DEAR

most Beautiful song: AUTUMN

most Strong song: LONG TIME, SAD TIME, BAD TIME

most Sexy song: LOVELY ANITA [Bonus track?]

most Grounded song: LADY LADY



I don't at all find these heavenly hooks and melodies being second-rate, as some believes, not improper for the single market either. But I can understand it never overwhelmed the big audiences, since The Gods' playing + production skills are the most obvious values here. Only disappointment is the album ends a bit vague, less than it's fantastic potential has built up almost the whole way...

Bonus version of Bernsteins & Sondheims MARIA should rather have been the very ending. This Maria feels surprisingly full of magical beauty, as rich as any ordinary musical could make her.



(6) compositions

(7) instrumentations

(6) playin' feelin'

(3) lyrics (incl titles)

(6) synchronization + variation

(6) cover picture

(4) historical importance

= 38


I now give 1-7 for each cathegory
where 3 is good and total possible 7 x 7 = 49 never exist(?)






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Gothenburg Under Almost Same Old Sun Like Some Mystery

my Third Music Chakra Tower of 2015

15 Pieces Climbing Closer to my Heart
some once again, some never before

(these numbers don't compare value, just gives spiritual structure)




Above And Below Everyone


15

THE SHOEMAKER OF LEATHERWEAR SQUARE

with The Lemon Pipers
written by Shelley Pinz & Paul Leka

from Green Tambourine 1967







Crown chakra


1

THE GIRL I KNEW SOMEWHERE

with The Monkees
written by Michael Nesmith

from Headquarters 1967


2

STICKING WINGS ON FLIES

with The Gods
[a group before Uriah Heep]
written by Ken Hensley

from To Samuel a Son 1970






Brow /third EYE chakra


3

WITHOUT WALLS

with IQ

from The Road of Bones 2014


4

HOUSE FOR EVERYONE

with Traffic
written by Dave Mason

from Mr Fantasy 1967






Throat chakra


5

DAILY RECORDS
(This could be suffering
This could be pleasure)

with The Who
written by Pete Townshend

from Face Dances 1981


6

PANIC IN DETROIT

with David Bowie
written by David Bowie

from Aladdin Sane 1973





Heart chakra


7

CAN I GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER

with The Turtles
written by Barri & Sloan

from You Baby /Let Me Be 1966


8

YOU BABY

with Sonny & Cher
written by Phil Spector, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann

from In Case You're in Love 1967






Solar Plexus chakra


9

WHAT GOOD IS I LOVE YOU?

with Dusty Springfield
written by Barry, Greenwich, Rashkow, Spector

from See All Her Faces 1972


10

HORSEPOWER

with Lightning Bolt

from Fantasy Empire 2015






Sex chakra /Sacred chakra


11

I'LL KISS YOU (Love Potion no 8)

with Cyndi Lauper
written by Jules Shear & Cyndi Lauper

from She's So Unusual 1983


12

APPLES, PEACHES, PUMPKIN PIE

with Jay & The Techniques
written by Maurice Irby Jr.

from Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie 1967






Root chakra


13

WHAT AM I DOING HANGIN' ROUND?
(I should be riding on that train to San Antone)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSYJDNSUkN8

with The Monkees
written by Michael Martin Murphey & Owen Boomer Castleman


14

IF I WERE A CARPENTER

with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
written by Tim Hardin
[exists in many more versions]

from If No One Sang 1968







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Visited an Occational Steampunk Room

or a bit too orange (this year mixed with last year on gothcon)

Who's Fool

my Tortoise no 6





the one who is two


torn between impuls and sin


- who is fooling who??




if pleasure never fulfills


...until he can resist it




*    *




the fast who is slow


stuck inside distensions like


psychedelic punk




as power keeps love clearness


his life is making versions
 





Daily Records by Who



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