Casino - The Ultimate Collection ℗ 2012 State Records
Artist: Casino
Album: The Ultimate Collection
℗ 2012 State Records Ltd.
Country: U.K.
Genre: Rock, Blus-Rock
Total Time: 00:57:38

• Группа 'Casino' начала интенсивную концертную деятельность с 1973 г., исколесив в европейских турне тысячи километров дорог. В течение своей карьеры группа разогревала публику перед выступлениями Steely Dan, Ритчи Хэвенса, Curved Air и 10cc. Она включала талантливых композиторов-песенников и исполняла исключительно собственный материал. "В основном, мы были коммерческим коллективом с тяжёлыми музыкальными оттенками" - как-то пояснил участник группы Стив Миллс (Steve Mills).
• Сотрудничество Питера О'Доннелла (Peter O'Donnell) с фирмой "State Records" началось в 1975 г., когда он был фронтменом Casino. Тогда он сочинил сингл "Crazy", поднявшийся на третье место в чартах Piccadilly Radio. После интенсивных европейских турне Питер решил испытать удачу в сольной карьере и вскоре оказался в Лос Анджелесе, где стал работать с продюсером Джоном Элкоком (John Alcock). После своего возвращения он некоторое время выступал с концертами вместе с Nashville Teens и The Visitors, после чего вновь объединился в одном составе с Уэйном Бикертоном (Wayne Bickerton) и возобновил сотрудничество со State Records.

• Уроженец небольшой деревушки под названием Сомерсет, Питер концертировал по всему миру как музыкант с разными обличьями. В начале 70-х , будучи 19-летним пареньком, он стал фронтменом нескольких групп поочерёдно, таких как Tuesday, Casino, Partners in Crime и The Ravers. Впечатляет и количество заключённых им контрактов: с лейблами "Pye", "A&M Records", "State Music" и "Vogue Paris".
• Превосходный вокалист, он также неплохо играл на электрической и акустической гитарах. Он провёл три года в Нью-Йорке и Голливуде, и как-то его игру на "гибсоне" похвалил сам маэстро Би Би Кинг, когда он выступал в одном из клубов.
• Блистательное исполнение Питером рока, блюза и традиционных американских песен всегда создавало у слушателей ощущение праздника (чуть ли не кабаре), а его трибьют Роду Стюарту "Rod Stewart Sensation" удивлял не только в целом, но и некоторыми частными нюансами. Как певец и автор песен, он имеет огромный бэк-каталог собственного материала, написав более 400 песен.
• Работая как судовой аккомпаниатор за фортепиано на различных морских круизах, включая "Princess Cruises" и "Seaborn", он имел возможность совершить увлекательные путешествия по всему миру, побывав на Аляске, в Австралии, на Дальнем Востоке, в США, Индии и Средиземноморье.
• Вплоть до 2010 г. его квартет играл по пятницам и субботам в отеле "The Ritz" на улице Пикадилли в самом центре Лондона. В настоящее время Питер работает над двумя сольными альбомами в своей студии, расположенной в St Leonards-on-Sea (Вост. Эссекс), а также пишет и продюсирует другой альбом со своим музыкальным партнёром Полом Беллом (Paul Bell) в рамках проекта Odonnell & Bell.

                                                                                                                                      - VaTAga

------- ☆☆ ☆ ☆☆☆☆ ☆ ☆ --------

• Casino kicked off in 1973 and toured Europe extensiviely clocking up thousands of motorway miles. During their career, they supported Steely Dan, Richie Havens, Curved Air and 10cc. The band were talented songwriters and played only original material. "Basically, we're a commercial band with heavy undertones", explained lead singer Steve Mills.

• Peter O'Donnell's association with State Records began in 1975 when he was the lead singer with Casino. It was for them he wrote the single "Crazy" which reached No.3 in the Piccadilly Radio charts. After regular European tours, Peter decided to try his luck solo and soon found himself in Los Angeles working with producer John Alcock. On his return he toured briefly with "Nashville Teens" and "The Visitors", before teaming up once again with Wayne Bickerton and State Records.

• Originally from a small village in Somerset, Peter has toured the world as a musician in many guises. In the early 1970s his first record deal at the age of 19 led him to front a number of bands including «Tuesday», «Casino», «Partners in Crime» and «The Ravers». Peter has been signed by Pye, A&M records, State Music and Vogue Paris.

• An excellent vocalist he also plays electric and acoustic guitar. He spent three years in New York and Hollywood and even got to meet BB King who signed his Gibson guitar when he played at his club.

Peter’s played rock, blues, and American Songbook as well as performing in cabaret and as a Rod Stewart tribute act – the Rod Stewart Sensation as well as some acting and voice over parts. As a singer songwriter he has a huge back catalogue of material and has written over 400 songs.

• Working as a piano entertainer on a number of Cruise Ships, including Princess Cruises and Seaborn, he had the opportunity to further travel around the world in places as far away as Alaska, Australia, the Far East, USA, India and the Mediterranean.

• Since 2010, his four piece band plays every Friday and Saturday at The Ritz hotel in Piccadilly, London.

Peter is currently working on two solo albums in his studio based in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex and also writing and producing another album with his musical partner Paul Bell as Odonnell & Bell.

            ♪ Tracklist:

           01. Baby Blue 04:15
           02. Baby I've Been Thinking 03:29
           03. Better The Devil You 02:24
           04. Binoculars 03:49
           05. Boys In The Band 02:19
           06. Crazy 03:58
           07. Forever 05:26
           08. Good Time 05:14
           09. Midnight Groover 03:15
           10. Mr Sunshine 04:26
           11. Never Been In Love 03:19
           12. Shooting Star 03:31
           13. So Much Love 03:16
           14. Squire Gordon 03:18
           15. There's A Cuckoo In Your Nest 03:30
           16. Tonight's The Night 03:37

                            Producer - Peter Gage, Tony Waddington
                             Written-By - Peter O'Donnell & Rod Trott

----- ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ------

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Pressed Down Shaken Together and Running Over (1975 - 79)
Compilation made of songs 
from the original album:
• Pressed Down, Shaken Together
and Running Over • 1975  Almond Tree
Catalog#: 20423
• Star Of The Show • 1979  WOW Record
Catalog#: WPPD 116
Location: Marty Timlin, Levittown, NY. USA
Genre: Acoustic Rock, Pop, Christian Rock
Total Time: 00:51:13

• В начале 1970-х годов три талантливых музыканта, длинноволосых рокера Joe Fair, Paul Cuoco и Ralph Graham, ранее подвизавшихся в The Way International, образовали группу под названием Pressed Down. Стилистически новообразованный коллектив напоминал Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young и немного Eagles. Музыканты предпочитали акустическое звучание, слова к песням сочиняли, черпая вдохновение в христианстве, старались добиться проникновенного гармоничного вокала. Что же касается названия группы, то они заимствовали его из текста псалма "Gospel of Luke 6:38 Give A Listen!"...
• Одноимённая дебютная грампластинка "Pressed Down" включает треки "Winding Binding, Goodbye Waltz", "Hey, Whatcha Been Doin", "Blessed Day" и "Bright And Morning Star", которые заполнены прогрессивным хиппистским фолк-роковым настроением и соответствующей мелодикой, способными вызвать ностальгические чувства у бывших хиппи. При этом, как отмечают многие рецензенты, группа в своём творчестве сумела достичь оптимального баланса между акустическим и электрическим гитарным звуком. Очень умело использован орган, особенно в таких произведениях, как "The Blind Man", "It’s Outside Of Your Mind" и титульной, более тяжёлой рок-композиции. К месту звучат фортепиано и саксофон. Иногда песни Pressed Down напоминают вещи Вильсона Маккинли (Wilson McKinley), если иметь в виду лирическую сторону его творчества. Интересно, что в треке "Christ Is Coming" звучит электрогитара Пола Верджилио (Paul Vergilio), который в тот момент записывал сольный диск на том же самом лейбле. Ну, и нельзя не отметить прелестную обложку альбома, которая выполнена с юмором и свидетельствует о хорошем настроении, с которым работали музыканты в студии граммзаписи. Второй тираж альбома производился в 1976 г. уже лейблом "WOW", причём картинка на обратной стороне конверта была изменена. Новое издание включало дополнительный трек "Give A Listen", а также сокращённые версии некоторых других песен.                                                                                                                         ~ VaTAga

----- ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ------

• Joe Fair, Paul Cuoco and Ralph Graham formed Pressed Down in the early '70's. Their sound was remenicent of CS&Y and the Eagles with acoustic based original compositions, God-inspired lyrics laced with harmonies that blended their voices beautifully. The Band name was taken from the Gospel of Luke 6:38 Give A Listen! ..

• Pressed Down Shaken Together & Running Over is Joe Fair, Paul Cuoco and Ralph Graham - three longhaired rocker dudes from The Way International. Their self-titled debut is an excellent independent release of melodic rural folkrock ala Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Songs like ‘Winding Binding, Goodbye Waltz’, ‘Hey, Whatcha Been Doin’, ‘Blessed Day’ and ‘Bright And Morning Star’ all have progressive hippie folkrock appeal, natural layered harmonies with a strong CSN bent, and a good balance of acoustic/electric guitar work alongside piano. Organ also works its way into a few cuts, including ‘The Blind Man’, ‘It’s Outside Of Your Mind’ and the heavy-rocking title track. Sometimes recalls the mellower side of Wilson McKinley. Paul Vergilio contributes electric guitar on ‘Christ Is Coming’ – he’s got a worthwhile lp of his own on the same label. Great cartoon cover of a happy sun shining down on trees. A second pressing exists on the WOW label from 1976 (WOW WPPD 104) with a different back cover. That version contains an additional track ‘Give A Listen’, but also shortens several of the others.(Ken Scott - Archivist)

• Though much of the edge from their debut is lacking here, Star Of The Show still manages to capture an appealing pop-flavored blend of country and heartlands rock. Overall a more refined generic “Christian rock” sound that often downplays the guitars in favor of emphasizing piano, vocal harmonies and sometimes saxophone. A couple songs with a ‘Short People’ kind of shuffle, another with a whiff of Sanford-Townsend. There seem to be more Way-isms filtering into the lyrics this time – lots of references to speaking in tongues, “holy spirit” in lower case, “I grow by leaps in bounds in the Way Corps”. A bit harder to find than the first one. (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition)

            ♪ Tracklist:

          01. Winding Binding, Goodbye Waltz (03:36)
          02. Hey Watch Been Doin (04:16)
          03. Blessed Day (04:18)
          04. Bright and Morning Star (04:41)
          05. Attitude of Heart (03:25)
          06. Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over (05:05)
          07. All The Little Children (04:08)
          08. Hand In Hand (02:41)
          09. Christ Is Coming (05:42)
          10. Like An Eagle (05:16)
          11. I Am A Leaf (05:03)
          12. Truly Glad (02:53)

            Tracks: 01-04, 06, 09 from the album 
           "Pressed Down, Shaken Together and Running Over"
            Tracks: 05, 07, 08 and 10-12 - Album "Star Of The Show"

Joe Fair, Paul Cuoco & Ralph Graham with The help of the following on the first record:

Mike Leb - Bass Guitar on numerous tracks; Ralph Dubofsky - Guitar on ''Winding Binding'' and ''Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over''; Steve Perez - Organ on ''The Blind Man''; Paul Vergilio - Guitar on ''Christ Is Coming''. Special Thanks to Tom Lepinski who wrote ''STAR OF THE SHOW'' which became the title song on the second album. A 3-minute pop song that says it all! Thanks Tom!

----- ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ------

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Bob Cooper - Understanding 1981

Performer: Bob Cooper
Album: Understanding
Published By "The Soundworks"
Catalog#: ACR-8165
47 ARCHER CRES. London, Ontario N6E 2A4
Produced By Bob Cooper
Photography: Al. Mitchell
Art & Design: Bill Girling
Genre: Folk-rock, Country
Format / Bitrate: MP3 / 320 kbps
Cover: PNG, 300 dpi - Full Scan
Total Time: 00:39:12

Self Produced and all instruments played by Bob Cooper on this fantastic pop folk album.
Seems like a lost 60's album, but was recorded in 1981, in London, Ontario.

              ♪ SIDE ONE:
          1. The Things That You've Given Away 4:01
          2. Shoreline of My Destiny 3:48
          3. Understanding 2:20
          4. Just a Child, Just a Night 2:57
          5. Faith, Hope and Love 3:47
          6. The Garden 1:47
             ♪ SIDE TWO:
          1. When i Walk With You 3:31
          2. Mother Behold Your Child 5:22
          3. Young Girls Face 2:30
          4. Everybody's Son 2:50
          5. That's All You can Be 2:10
          6. Because of You 2-31

• Special Thanks:
To my wife Shawn, for her love and understanding, for being an endless source
of strength and inspiration. To Don Harris, Wayne Gatschene, Koert Dekker for
sharing the vision. To Kathleen and Leslie Ann for all the cups of tea.

----- ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ------

...

Kevin Vicalvi with Denis DelaGorgendiere - Songs From The Down The Hall (1974)
Performer: Kevin Vicalvi
with Denis DelaGorgendiere
Album: Songs From The Down The Hall
Original Vinyl Records: 1974
Ⓟ & © 2002 Left Records
Catalog#: 82387
Duration: 01:06:03

• Кевин Викалви - талантливый автор песен и исполнитель из Уорчестера (Массачусеттс), в 1974 г. при помощи своего старого приятеля бас-гитариста Дэниса делаГоргендьере (Denis delaGorgendiere) выпустил пластинку "Songs From Down the Hall". В альбом он включил материал исключительно собственного сочинения, очень грустный, но вполне мелодичный, приятный на слух. Некоторые коллекционеры считают, что произведение Викалви - лучшее, что было в поп-роке 70-х. Другие относят альбом к классике "независимого песенного/авторского жанра". Пластинка долгое время пользовалась большим спросом у коллекционеров, но недавно был выпущен CD с бонус-треками (правда, музыка Кевина в аннотации к альбому уже названа фолк-роком), так что ажиотаж немного поубавился.

• Kevin Vicalvi, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, has been a musician all his life... in 1974, Kevin released an extremely nice psych / folk album of his own material, feat. himself on vocals, guitars,and keyboards, with friends and fellow musician Denis dela Gorgendiere on bass. The album is still considered a classic of the independent singer / songwriters genre and is requested by collectors around the world...
• Like most songwriters of his generation, Kevin Vicalvi picked up a guitar and learned to play as a direct result of the Beatles' invasion of the U.S. airwaves. 
"I had always loved music, but until the Beatles hit, singing and songwriting was something someone else did. They showed me that it was a road I could go down. And I did. And I never looked back."
• After a few years of playing in central Massachusettes rock bands such as The Jon Does and The Sleepy Time Blues Band (later shortened to Sleepy Time), Vicalvi tried his hand at writing and soon had a few songs worth recording.
"...or so I thought at the time. We took some cover tunes we were doing (Honky Tonk Women, etc.) and a couple of my own things to a 2-track studio in Shrewsbury, Mass. (Northeast Recording Studio operated by Fred Holovnia). What we thought were pretty respectable demos make me cringe with embarrassment today. The singing was so-so for 17-18 year old boys, and my first songs were horrible."
• In the next year, Vicalvi would return to that studio several times to record more of his compositions.
"I got my feet wet. I learned microphone technique, primitive overdubbing by ping- ponging from one 2-track machine to another - basic stuff. My songs were getting only slightly better. After graduating from high school, I kept playing gigs with Sleepy Time and went to Lowell State College for their music program. Lowell State was intent on turning me into a teacher, and since I didn't see it their way, I left after one year. From there it was just bouncing around, doing gigs and getting nowhere faster than anyone else. Then one day in a music store, I ran into a friend of my cousin. His name was Dwight Glodell. We'd hung out and jammed once before, and I respected his guitar playing. Dwight said he was assembling a recording studio in an upper floor of the building we were standing in. I mentioned that I was getting ready to record some of my tunes and maybe release them myself on an LP. We agreed to work together toward this end. The result was "Songs From Down The Hall." 

                                                                                                                    - www.vicalvi.com                                                                              

          • Треклист:

         01. Prologue: A Song From Down the Hall 2:23
         02. Another Day, Another Time 4:32
         03. You Just Don't Know 2:43
         04. Achin' in My Heart 5:45
         05. Lost or Going Home 3:35
         06. Rude Awakening 3:32
         07. Lover Now Alone 3:07
         08. More Than I Could See 2:30
         09. Letter to Michael Henchard 3:56
         10. Old Richard 4:27
         11. Letter to My Big Brother 5:15
         12. All My Love (Demo) 3:28
         13. The New Shadow Show (Demo) 4:04
         14. Another Day, Another Time (Demo) 4:25
         15. You Just Don't Know (Demo) 2:15
         16. Lover Now Alone (Demo) 3:14
         17. More Than I Could See (Demo) 2:26
         18. Old Richard (Finished Version) 4:26

Kevin Vicalvi - All guitars, piano, harmonica, synthesizer, vocals  
Denis delaGorgendiere - bass and vocals
Dave Rice - drums and percussion 
Dorrie Powers - vocals

----- ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ------

           PS: Many Thanks to Jorge Pac and VaTAga for Your help!

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The Enfields - The Enfields / Friends of the Family 1993

Performed: The Enfields
Album: The Enfields / Friends of the Family
(The Songs of Ted Munda)
Ⓟ & © 1993 Get Hip Recordings
Catalog #: GHAS 5000
Jacket Printed in Canada
Genre: Garage Rock, Psychedelic, Folk-Rock
Cover: JPG, 360 dpi (Front, Back)
Duration: 00:50:11

• This outfit formed in Wilmington, Delaware around 1964. Ted Munda and Gordon Berl had earlier played in an outfit called The Playboys with a third guy called Rick. Bernard Gallery and Eaton had previously played in a quartet named The Touchstones with a fourth guy called Charles Jenner, which played mostly surf music. With the British invasion so strong at the time they opted for a British name to reflect the sound they were striving for. There was after all a town in England called Enfield, the Royal Enfield motorcycle and a British rifle named the Enfield. They got their first break in late 1965 when they were taken under the wings of Vince Rago, who managed several local Delaware bands in the fifties and sixties. The group agreed to make a record and at Vince Rago's suggestion the same song was put on both sides so that dee-jays would know which side to play. Eyes Of The World created quite a lot of interest locally with its Beatle-like harmonies and some nice minor chord guitar work. The follow- up, She Already Has Somebody, was more polished, a minor-key folk rocker with some fine guitar work from John Bernard, and already The Enfields had become Wilmington's top band. You Don't Have Very Far was a quieter, reflective ballad but the flip, Face To Face was one of their finest moments with a compelling "Taxman" riff.

• Bill Gallery left the band shortly after the third single. He was replaced by John Rhoads from The Wrecking Crew - another local band that included Jeff Daking, who later joined The Blues Magoos. In early 1967 they travelled to the Virtue Recording Studios in Philadelphia to record cuts for a possible album. Twelve Months Coming, Time Card and four other songs were recorded for the album. The tape ended up costing quite a bit of money and Vince Rago decided not to buy it. The studio's owner overdubbed it with a different vocalist and sold it to Capitol records, where it remains today. Rago, meanwhile, took the band to an inferior studio in New Jersey, where less good versions of Twelve Months Coming and Time Card were recorded and released on a 45 by Rago without the band's consent. The Enfields decided to call it a day in disgust and the record flopped. Ted Munda, who had written all the band's songs, formed a new outfit The Friends Of The Family with John Rhoads and two members of another local band, The Tuds.
• The Distortions retrospective album collects all The Enfields and most of The Friends Of The Family tracks together and provides an excellent insight into this obscure ouffit who produced some magical moments that deserve wider recognition. Get Hip have also released a simliar CD retrospective, which also includes previously unreleased material.

• The Friends of the Family:
Upon the demise of The Enfields (a Wilmington, Delaware outfit), Ted Munda quickly formed another band with John Rhoades and two former members of another local band The Turfs, Wayne Watson and Jimmy Crawford. In May 1967 they entered the Virtue Recording Studios in Philadelphia to record a six song demo, which several labels (including Kama Sutra) expressed an interest in but none would actually release. The tracks - Time Music, Wallace, He Plays With Frogs, Funny Flowers, Blue Boat Makes Me Sad, Jello Lights and Bambi's March - can now all be heard on the Distortions/Get Hip retrospectives. They perfectly showcase Munda's fine songwriting and breathtaking Zombies-style vocals.
• John Rhoades left the band in the late Summer of '67, being replaced by Linzee Lee and Ray Andrews, and a further five original songs (You See I've Got This Cold, Last Beach Crusade, Hot Apple Betty, Together and Sing A Song) were recorded in July '68. These tunes were arguably Munda's finest work, with a Beatles/Left Banke feel, and can be found on the Get Hip CD retrospective. They were all passed over at the time, however, in favour of the two tracks Can't Go Home and How You Gonna Keep Your Little Girl Home, which were penned by Cameo Parkway staff writer Neil Brian. In fact, the band were only allowed to sing on these two cuts, with hired session musicians playing all the instruments. Subsequently, the band fell out with label owner/producer Joe Renzetti, and went their own way... they didn't record again, but did get to open for The Who and Pink Floyd at the Philadelphia Music Festival in late '68, shortly before they split.
Ted Munda went on to play with Hotspur, who released an album on Columbia in 1974, and later in the '80s, an outfit called State Of Heart. He has also written some children's books.

♪ Tracklist:

01. In the Eyes of the World 2:18
02. I'm for Things You Do 2:31
03. She Already Has Somebody 2:49
04. You Don't Have Very Far 2:39
05. Face to Face 2:36
06. Twelve Months Coming 2:15
07. Time Card 2:26
08. Time Music 1:54
09. Wallace He Plays With Frogs 2:33
10. Funny Flowers 2:32
11. Blue Boat Makes Me Sad 3:17
12. Jello Lights 2:29
13. Bambi's March 2:23
14. You See I've Got This Cold 1:36
15. Last Beach Crusade 3:25
16. Hot Apple Betty 6:11
17. Together 3:45
18. Sing a Song 2:32

Credit:
Ted Munda - Composer, Guitar, Vocals
Charlie Berl - Composer, Tambourine, Vocals
Gordon Berl, Jimmy Crawford - Drums
John Bernard, Wayne Watson - Guitar
The Enfields, Friends of the Family - Primary Artist
Bill Gallery, John Rhodes - Bass
Lindsay Lee - Organ, Vocals
Greg Matecko - Art Direction
Joe Renzetti, Tony Pace, Frank Virtue - Producer

----- ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ------

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