Eddie's Riffs

Back in hospital again.

2009-07-05T17:57:00.003-04:00

Hi, gang.
Just wanted to let you know that I am in hospital again and won't be making any posts for a while. I hope to be out in another week or so and begin the recuperation phase. I hope the rest of you are well.
Eddie

Now for something completely different

2009-06-01T01:49:00.006-04:00

When I started posting again, I mentioned that I would be adding other genres to my usual diet of psych, surf and garage. Although I am no longer able to spend hours digging through crates of vinyl, I do haunt a few places where the digging is easy. The cover of this one caught my eye and after reading the notes, I placed my 25 cents US in the hand of the clerk and proceeded to Chez Riff to clean it and give it a listen. All but one of the tracks were composed by Quincy Jones and the other track is by Horace Silver. Six vocalists and a rhythm section putting out some very cool sounds. Think Lambert, Hendricks and Ross times two. If you like vocalise and cool jazz, I think you'll like this one. Ripped @ 320 by Eddie. Cover scans included.

Link and password are in comments.

Spam Comments

2009-05-30T13:21:00.002-04:00

Due to spam in the comments section, I am going to moderate all comments starting immediately. I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Monodelic Prunetastic

2009-05-18T22:33:00.002-04:00

Today's offering is the mono version of the first album by The Electric Prunes. It features both of their hit singles, "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)" and "Get Me To The World On Time." These are considered cornerstones of the Garage Psych genre, as well they should be. This is my vinyl rip with only a small amount of restoration used to get rid of some annoying pops and clicks. It's ripped at 320 and both covers are included in the download.

Track listing, link and password are in comments. Let me know how you like it or just say, "Hi!"

Doug Sahm & Augie Meyers

2009-05-17T17:42:00.004-04:00

Here's a great collection of Texas-tinged rhythm and blues from the one and only Doug Sahm and his saddle-pal, Augie Meyers. This is my vinyl rip at 320k as it came from the turntable. It's a clean copy and no audio restoration of any kind was used. Thanks to my pals out there for setting me straight on the release of this one.

Track listing and link in comments. Front and back covers are included in the download.

Still alive, not always well.

2009-05-16T00:27:00.003-04:00

Hello, all. It was a rough winter and spring in Chez Eddie. Screwed-up immune system had me gathering every rogue germ in the area which kept me sick much of the time. Sickness led to isolation which lead to depression which led to isolation. Still having to be careful and avoid folks who are obviously sick, but my psychiatrist has told me to get out of the house more often and to blog more frequently. Here I am, a long six months since the last post hoping that a few of you are still out there. I got my turntable fixed and hooked up to my computer again, so I will started ripping stuff for your listening pleasure again. With all the new music blogs out there, I may get more eclectic in my shares. Seems like all the garage, surf and psych bases have been covered. Expect the unexpected. I am getting out to the shops a little more, looking for obscurities and oddities and will share what I find. Thanks for taking the time to read this post and please let me know how you are, too. Your pal, Eddie

Another Halloween Treat

2008-10-31T03:56:00.003-04:00

Here's a last minute addition to the Halloween theme for you today.

Tracklisting, link and password are all in the comments. Thanks to those of you who have recently left comments, especially those wishes concerning my health. They are much appreciated.

Part 5: Psychedelic Re-ups

2008-10-29T01:26:00.002-04:00

As promised, here is the final part of the top 100 Psych songs. I had a great time tracking these down and I hope you have a great time listening to them.

Tracklisting, link and password are in the comments. Hope you enjoy and will let me know if you do!

Part 4: Psychedelic Re-ups

2008-10-28T19:03:00.001-04:00

Okay, here's part four. Check out the tracklisting, link and password in the comments. Enjoy.

Part 3: Psychedelic Re-ups

2008-10-28T05:55:00.002-04:00

As promised, here is the third installment of the five part Psychedelic Songs set. All tracks are @ 320Kbps & total size is about 162 Mb.

Tracklisting, link and password are all in the comments.

Halloween Treat for 2008

2008-10-28T03:59:00.005-04:00

After surviving another scare with the old heart, I thought I'd share some fun stuff for your All Hallow's Eve or Samhain celebration. Here's my 2008 Halloween treat for your listening enjoyment.

Tracklisting, link and password are all in comments. All tracks are @ 320Kbps and total download is about 165 Mb including artwork.

Please leave a comment of your own if you feel so moved.

Happy Halloween from your pal, Eddie

P.S. The links to last Halloween's treat are still working, so check out October 2007 for more music for the season!

Psychedelics Will Return Soon

2008-10-28T03:54:00.002-04:00

I had to take another break from blogging because of another heart "incident." I don't know why they can't just call them "heart attacks" anymore. Anyway, I'm back and will have the next part of the Psychedelic 100 up for you soon. In the meantime, I will be posting another Halloween collection, since last year's proved so popular.

Part Two - Psychedelic Re-ups

2008-09-15T04:37:00.002-04:00

Sorry it has taken a while to return to posting, but I had another stay in hospital. I hope this will be the last for a while, but who knows? I have uploaded part two of the top 100 Psychedelic Singles for your listening pleasure. The link, track listing and password are all in the comments. Please leave a comment of your own if you have the time and perhaps it will make me feel more inclined to hurry up the rest. Thanks.

Psychedelic Re-ups

2008-08-16T10:24:00.004-04:00

Back in the days before I had all my medical problems I shared John Savages "100 Greatest Psychedelic Classics" as published in Mojo magazine. I have re-done the running order of that series to make it more chronological and include the States and Great Britain on the same discs. It will be in five parts with the first part uploaded already to Rapidshare. The track listing, link, and password will be in the comments. All files are 320k. The rest will be shared as they are uploaded. I hope you enjoy.

New blog

2008-08-14T08:57:00.004-04:00

For those of you who might be interested, I have started a new poetry blog with an old friend of mine, chuckietom. We worked together, roomed together, went to lots of shows together and sometimes wrote poetry together. Most of the poetry is chuckietom's, but there are a few of mine there, too. Stop by if you have a moment and let us know what you think. The URL is....
http://chuckietom.blogspot.com/

Here's an example of my contributions to the blog:

Nocturnal Additions

The nighttime is the right time Nappy Brown wrote
Our muses come with the moonlight just as
Once upon a time our lovers did
The ink flows along with the paint and the cries of ecstasy
The stars shine brightly as we hide in the shadows unwatched by ordinary mortals
The candle and the lamp our companions
Guiding our pens our brushes and our demons
The mind takes flight in the night
As the mist clings to the ground and leaves us clear-headed
With our senses heightened we fling ourselves off the cliff of normalcy
Into the sea of mystery

Eddie Riff

Black Sun Ensemble uploaded to Rapidshare

2008-07-09T21:03:00.004-04:00

Due to requests from friends, I have uploaded the two Black Sun Ensemble albums to Rapidshare. The new links are in the comments section for those particular discs. I hope to have more available soon. Thanks for your time. Eddie

Alton Kelley 1940-2008

2008-06-03T17:38:00.001-04:00

The Return Of The Son Of HYGIY?

2008-03-02T17:49:00.006-05:00

Have You Got It Yet? Thanks to the fine folks at Madcaps Laughing you can indeed get it and in new, improved version 2.0! The first two volumes are online now at various torrent sites and blogs or you can join the forum at Yahoo groups and get signed up for the hard copy via trade or B&P. I am going to share the first volume today and will upload the second in the near future. It's 225MB of Syd Barretty goodness in flac! EDIT: Link to second volume added to comments today.

Links are in the comments.

EDIT:
Both links are now in the comments. Sorry about leaving vol. 2 off.

Black Sun Ensemble - Lambent Flame

2008-02-15T02:57:00.003-05:00

Review by Richard Foss from All Music Guide.

"Lambent Flame was recorded just before the core members of this band got completely lost in drugs and mysticism, which doesn't mean this release is short of references to either. The raga-influenced guitar freak-outs sometimes include chanted or howled vocals, which are sometimes in English, sometimes not. Odin Helgison's voice is generally buried beneath a swirl of guitars, which is just where it belongs, since when he is audible one can tell that his lyrics are second-rate acidhead ramblings. It's all redeemed by the flamboyant guitar work of Jesus Acedo, who unleashes mind-bending solos and even the occasional catchy melody. Another asset is Duane Norman's tasteful sax and flute playing, which gives a restrained counterpoint to the madness happening all around. Tracks like the Santana-esque "Blues for Rainer" and the Indian-inflected "Leviathan Song" show that this band actually had compositional skills when they felt like using them, and they could actually make music that was both heavy and subtle. There are just enough moments like that spread through this album to make it a keeper."

Check out their available releases on http://www.slowburnrecords.net/

Sadly still out-of-print, I present a CD rip @ 320 with artwork.

Link, password and tracklisting are available in the comments.

No Bowl For This Goldfish

2008-02-07T18:33:00.000-05:00

I present for your listening pleasure a vinyl rip of "The Goldfish Album" by Tucson, Arizona's Black Sun Ensemble. This is some of the best psychedelic music recorded in the U.S. after 1970. Sadly, long out-of-print and never available on cd, this first major release on Restless Records is all instrumental and seriously mind-expanding. Do yourself a favor and check out their releases available on
http://www.slowburnrecords.net/

Artwork included.

Tracklisting, link and password in comments.

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T15:53:00.000-05:00

Christmas With Jack Jones, U. S. A. F.

2007-12-11T05:12:00.000-05:00

Here's something interesting posted by Sanity Clause at Sanity Clause's Shanty. It's one side of an LP produced by the U. S. Air Force featuring Jack Jones doing some Christmas tunes. It's pretty cool and I've never seen another copy shared. Here's what he says:

"Several years ago I purchased part of a library of records which had belonged to a defunct radio station. There were lots of lps of public service announcements, ads, generic spots, etc. This is one which ended up in my Christmas collection. I've always liked Jack Jones' version of "Mistletoe And Holly" which serves as the theme for this Program produced by the U. S. Air Force during the sixties. The cover I've always found poignant, what with U. S. airmen and Santa trying to bring cheer to Vietnamese children while we...well, I won't get into that. Merry Christmas to all and when was that peace on earth going to begin?"

http://www.mediafire.com/?5udfhxzvjkt

pass: sanityclause

More Christmas Joy

2007-12-09T07:53:00.000-05:00

After the popularity of "Christmas In November" I thought I'd add to the general air of gaiety with two singles from the Vietnam War era. The first is "The Christmas Letter" by Little Teresa Ann in which our heroine writes to Santa to explain how, at age six, she would do without any toys if only her Daddy could be by her side instead of in Vietnam. The second single is "Daddy Won't Be Home For Christmas" by Two & A Half. Here, Mommy reads Daddy's letter explaing why Daddy is away in a foreign land and why he and others must fight and die.

I dedicate this post to the men, women and children who will have this kind of Christmas again this year. Peace on Earth and goodwill to all.

http://www.mediafire.com/?2zk8xvuaxwx

no password required

Christmas In November

2007-11-22T02:31:00.000-05:00

From the above album, I offer for your listening pleasure(?) possibly one of the saddest Christmas songs ever recorded. It's "Christmas In November" by Elton Britt & The Pine Toppers. Keep your tissues handy!

"Dear God, up in heaven, please grant me just this one prayer. Please help his mommy in her great hurt and despair, and please, dear God, don't let our boy get lonesome. And maybe if there's time, you can give him just a little...special...care."

http://www.mediafire.com/?c3gaxlcvzze

No password required this time around.

Halloween Treat No. 2

2007-10-24T16:09:00.000-04:00

Here's my second Halloween treat for all you tricksters and treaters. Track list, URL and password are all in the comments section. While you're there, why don't you leave a comment?

NEW LINK 19 Jan 2008

Halloween Treat No. 1

2007-10-18T10:41:00.000-04:00

Here's the first of what I hope will be a series of Halloween treats for your listening enjoyment. It's a 1982 Rhino 12" single release by Elvira, Mistress of the Dark backed by the Vi-Tones. The A-side is "3-D TV (Three Dimensional)" and the B-side is "Elvira's Theme." Ripped by yours truly @320.

No password required.

http://www.mediafire.com/?42mdao3yj3i

Honeymoon In Rome (small rodents included)

2007-09-30T03:52:00.000-04:00

The album starts out innocently enough with a mandolin, a voice, a guitar, some bells, a triangle, then it happens. Are those nutty squirrels, chipmunks? Wha' happened? You've just entered the world of Renato Carasone - a spicy Italian sausage sandwich filled with parts of Esquivel, Raymond Scott, Dean Martin and Ross Bagdasarian. A tasty mixture, indeed, awaits your ears. By the time this LP was released in the states in 1956, Renato was a big name in his native Italy. Give this a spin and you'll wonder why he wasn't as big as Topo Gigio here.

Ripped from vinyl @ 320 by yours truly. Scans included.

URL and pass in comments.

A Sunday With The Colonel

2007-09-16T11:39:00.000-04:00

In my album collection, I have a small section of product-related lps. The largest group of these is Kentucky Fried Chicken product. Several Christmas titles, The Colonel's Tijuana Picnic, but my favorite of all is "Old Time Church Hymns Recorded By The Colonel's Mandolin Band For The Glorification Of Christ." I nearly fainted when I spotted this one in the dollar rack at a local shop. The cover says it all. Just look at those freshly scrubbed faces with their matching outfits and instruments. Harlan Sanders, patron of the arts! You know you're in for a treat. Open your hymnals and sing along!

Artwork included!

URL and pass in comments

I Sing The Spirit Electric

2007-09-11T19:34:00.000-04:00

My vinyl rip of Weather Report's I Sing The Body Electric @ 192. In memory of a great spirit, Joe Zawinul, and the body of work he left behind.

Link and password in comments.

At long last, music!

2007-09-09T01:09:00.000-04:00

I am pleased to present a crazed piece of psychsploitation for your listening pleasure. A friend who works at a local second-hand shop turned this one up for me a while back and I finally got around to cleaning it and ripping it.

The Love Machine: Electronic Music To Blow Your Mind By (320kbps)

Track listing:
1. Comin' Down
2. Clockburst
3. Mindblower
4. Zenquake
5. Lunar Sea
6. Prism On Prism
7. Asbury Tripping
8. The Shadows Of Vibrate
9. Inner Ear Freakout
10. Bells For Eternal Zoom

link and password in comments.

Personally, I imagine it was very popular on the Krell jukebox on Altair IV. Can't you see Altaira and Robbie bopping around to this?

Now for some good news.

2007-06-27T12:39:00.000-04:00

To cope with all the grimness I've endured the last year or more, I started painting again after a decades long hiatus. When I haven't had canvas, I've painted whatever I could find: old buckets, ironing boards, bowls.... I haven't had a creative streak like this since the sixties. Whew!
On the health front, I have reached the point where I only have to have treatments when I feel they are necessary. I have been six weeks without a treatment, so it seems that the medication has taken over and is keeping my immune system under control. Whew again!
I don't know when or if I'll get back to blogging regularly. I hope I'll get back to sharing music again, but I can't say if it will be regularly either at this point.
Anyway, I want to say it's good to be here and thank all of you who've written and helped me endure.
I wish only the best for you all.
Your pal, Eddie

The Departure Of Eddie's Father

2007-03-25T19:42:00.000-04:00

Hello, all. I'm sorry that I have been silent for so long, but it's been a rough stretch. To make a long story short, my father passed away last night in his sleep after a recurrence of prostate cancer which had been in remission for a number of years. We had a good visit with him yesterday and he seemed more lucid than we'd seen him in a long time. I should have taken it as a sign. I was able to tell him that I loved him, and felt that he understood what I was saying. Thanks once again for all the support you've given over the last year. You have my gratitude.

2007-02-10T12:48:00.000-05:00

Thank you for supporting my blog and your concern during this time of tribulation for me and my family. I don't know if or when I'll be back, so for great music shares, visit the fine folks in the links!