Stone Circus - s/t (1969 Canada). Following my post from Monday on Lacewing, here’s another Mainstream label gem, and possibly my favorite album I’ve heard on the label. These Montreal based musicians (save one), decided to journey south of the border to New York to find their scene. Known as The Funky Farm, Mainstream decided to change their name for the release of the album. In typical record business style, Mainstream didn’t even inform the band of the name change! Featuring an outrageous psychedelic cover of a very colorful and oversized clown engulfed in an earthquake with flames, it certainly would catch ones attention even for 1969, when such a sight was more common. I probably listened to the album 5 times in a row, as the music is the closest I’ve heard to that most magical of 60s psych bands - Strawberry Alarm Clock. Stone Circus possess the same songwriting qualities, and period instrumentation (fuzz guitar, old organs). It does miss that magic ingredient of naivete, that SAC was able to tap into so perfectly. Whether it’s the California sunshine that’s missing, or the late date of 1969, it’s clear there’s a little somethin’ missing. Still, Stone Circus’ one album is one of the better representatives of the era.

Ethel The Frog - s/t (1980 England). I remember hearing about Ethel The Frog as far back as 1981 or so. I was a dedicated collector of what had become known as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and started to see their name in the publications of the day. The NWOBHM scene was my first love, and scouring import stores was a new experience for me. I also had a tendency back then to presume that every album in the genre was an automatic buy, and that I would enjoy all of them. After buying albums by Samson, Tygers of Pan Tang, even Motorhead, it was clear to me I needed to do more research before plunking down for high priced imports (precious money that I barely had). Still, with a scene filled with serious band names like Iron Maiden, Saxon, Diamond Head and Angel Witch, seeing a group inspired by Monty Python was almost too much to pass up. All I can say now is: Thank goodness my local import store didn’t carry this! After 27 some years, I finally heard Ethel the Frog. It’s bar rock. Good time rock n roll. Let’s get drunk and crazy music. It’s barely even metal. They open with a cover of “Eleanor Rigby”. Ugh.

Dario Baldan Bembo - Migrazione (1977 Italy). While on the topic of lowlights…. Bembo’s debut is hailed as a prog rock classic by the 5 folks that have heard it. On the deck it goes… and…. the verdict is? Pop oriented keyboard rock. Sure, there are some proggy moves that actually sound like a cross between (get this) Metamorfosi and early Elton John! I just cracked myself up. Oh man… “Inferno meets Island Girl!”. He has a few other albums but I think I’ll stop here.