Guitar legend Jimi Hendrix exploded onto the UK scene in early 1967 after ex-Animals bassist Chas Chandler hooked him up with the Noel Redding/Mitch Mitchell rhythm section. Combining American R&B and blues roots with some mind-blowing psychedelic guitar set him on the path to fame. CD versions amalgamate original UK and US releases.
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Disraeli Gears Cream 1967 [Atco/Reaction]
Power-trio 'supergroup' that helped lay the foundations for hard rock and heavy metal. Guitarist Eric Clapton, drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce were the "cream of the crop" in the UK blues and jazz world. When producer Felix Pappalardi came on board their sophomore effort took on a decidedly psychedelic twist.
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Vanilla Fudge Vanilla Fudge 1967 [Atco]
One of the early heavy rock albums, Vanilla Fudge specialised in writing nothing original and converting most of what they covered into a tripped-out psychedelic dirge. We get a couple of Beatles tracks, something from Sonny Bono and, of course, the anthemic cover of the Supremes 'You Keep Me Hangin On'. A bit dated, but not too bad.
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Vincebus Eruptum Blue Cheer 1968 [Philips]
Thumping San Francisco-based trio that virtually invented heavy metal, taking their name from a brand of LSD. The basic idea was to take the blues, mix in some psych and pump up the volume. A #14 hit in 'Summertime Blues' provided breathing space to invent. Consequently just about every punk, metal-head and hard rocker owes these guys.
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Morgen Morgen 1969 [Probe]
Heavy psych from Long Island outfit named for their lead guitarist Steve Morgen. Distortion and feedback is the order of the day, with the buzz saw approach propelled by some thunderous drumming. Morgen's voice lets him down a bit at times, but his Hendrix-meets-the-Who sound is well worth a look for heavy acid rockers.
Some classic minor-chording heavy moments and plenty of raga-rock made this album a real collectible. This London-based outfit started life as the Drag Set, quickly changing their name to something a bit more trippy. Their big and brilliant hit single 'Magic Potion' has been tacked on as a bonus track, as well the Drag Set's 'Day and Night'.
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Arzachel Arzachel 1969 [Roulette]
A legendary gem of heavy-psych, the band takes its name from the ingenious medieval Arab astronomer. Guitarist Steve Hillage takes centre stage on an album that, as legend has it, was recorded in an inconspicuous cavern somewhere in the Ukraine. Comparisons are probably unfair, but imagine middle-period Pink Floyd doing Sabbath.
Sussex Bent Wind 1968 [Trend]
Fuzzy Canadian outfit that ran the gamut from hard acid rock to a superb folksy tripper in 'Hate'. CD reissues contain their 'Castles Made of Man' single, an obvious reference to the Hendrix sound these guys were probably trying to emulate. Their label at the time described them as "...a mythical entity from somewhere out on the edge".
