Gonzalez 'Nothing Ever Comes That Easy' (De-cheesing edit)

Gonzalez 'Nothing Ever Comes That Easy' (De-cheesing edit)

Gonzalez hailed from Blighty and released their ludicrously be-imaged second album in 1975. Hornsy funk rock given a bit of light trimming by yours truly to de-cheese it a bit.

WAR 'I'm About Somebody'

WAR 'I'm About Somebody'

Obscure funk/reggae crossover tune from WAR's first album for RCA released in 1982. The 'somebody' they sing about on this slow-burning low tempo juggernaut must be Dr. John AKA Mack Rebennack AKA 'The Night Tripper' surely? A Google search brings up nothing on this song. Any further interpretations warmly welcomed...

Phil Upchurch - Sitar Soul

Phil Upchurch - Sitar Soul

Upchurch fills a hole with super noodles smothered in clattering percussion.

Alternative Rock Routes - Mixtape

Alternative Rock Routes - Mixtape

To make up for a combination of lethargy, distraction, hangovers, love interests and other non-excuses for a lack of postings recently, here's over an hour's worth of rock-orientated fare cobbled together recently to form a mix. It comprises obscure re-edits from labels like Blackdisco, Messalina, History Clock and Mindless Boogie, as well as some gin-u-wine original tunes too!

Joe Beck 'Ain't No Use In Talking'

Joe Beck 'Ain't No Use In Talking'

Whilst another Beck was hogging all the limelight in the late 60s and early 70s, this one was operating under the radar with his own take on folk rock incorporating a jazz guitar and soul seam. This number attends to the situation of his girlfriend being a slight pain in the arse at times.

Dennis Coffey 'Back Home' (Edit)

Dennis Coffey 'Back Home' (Edit)

Earnest low-note piano riffs and dancing flute lines exchange pleasantries, as Dennis Coffey goes under the scalpel in an operating theatre decked out in tan leather and fake palm trees.

Patrick Abrial 'Slag Machine'

Patrick Abrial 'Slag Machine'

Bonkers, over-sexed and misogynistic Frenchman Patrick Abrial was a lot more miss than hit in his time, but this is a cool two minutes of trippy guitar instrumental and some of the funkiest jaws harp ever committed to record. 'Go away, come back' is what you can only imagine he said to most of the girls.

Steve Winwood, Remi Kabak & Abdul Lasisi Amao (AKA Third World) 'Irin-Ajo'

Steve Winwood, Remi Kabak & Abdul Lasisi Amao (AKA Third World) 'Irin-Ajo'

Third World (not the cheesy reggae outfit) AKA Steve Winwood, Remi Kabak and Abdul Lasisi Amao released this African rock-fusion record in 1973. It's a further demonstration Stevie's almost boundless musical talents. Fragrant flute, eleccy guitar and rickety percussion interplay for hot, lazy days.

Iron Butterfly 'Get Out My Life Woman'

Iron Butterfly 'Get Out My Life Woman'

Psych-tinged cover of Lee Dorsey's hit single from 1967. As well as being one of the most covered songs of the era, the drum break from 'Get Out My Life Woman' became one of the most sampled beats of all time and the foundation for innumerable hip-hop tunes. The original is still the best, lean and direct song crafting from the great Allen Toussaint.

Esin Afsar 'Zuhtu'

Esin Afsar 'Zuhtu'

After a much-needed hiatus in Anatolia on a kebab and Turkish rock music pilgrimage, the blog reawakens to this saz-laden excursion into the swirling waters of the Bosphorous courtesy of Esin Afsar.

Disco Blaze 'Plastic Feelings'

Disco Blaze 'Plastic Feelings'

Kicking Nigerian psych-funk from the mid-seventies. There's nothing very disco about this or any of the other tracks on 'Jump Back' - a collection of percussive stompers intermittently peppered with pidgen English lyrical efforts. The album was recently discovered by some geezer on a trip to Lagos and got a subsequent re-release on African Sun Records last year. Presumably the album title refers to the evasive action one might need to take when encountering the sheer hotness of the Disco Blaze talent?

Black Merda 'Cynthy-Ruthy'

Black Merda 'Cynthy-Ruthy'

Got wind of this psychedelic rock and funk group via a really cooking compilation called 'Chain And Black Exhaust' - a collection of scratchy biker jams that is well worth hunting down. The line-up of Black Merda were, bar one, all Mississippi born but came of age in Detroit. That lineage is plastered all over 'Cynthy Ruthy' - a choppy, Band Of Gypsies-style growler, dripping in two stroke oil and brake fluid.

Supermax 'Fly With Me'

Supermax 'Fly With Me'

Cosmic rock tip from 1979. Supermax were an Austrian group formed in 1976 who fused spacey synth disco with dub, rock and other assorted influences to create a pretty unique sound. Supermax were the first multiracial band to tour South Africa. Despite regular death threats they played 21 shows, causing quite a political stir in the process and earned lead man Kurt Hauenstein "no-entry" status to several countries as a result.

Hot Chocolate 'Bump And Dilly Down'

Hot Chocolate 'Bump And Dilly Down'

Hidden away on the B-side to a distinctly average single called 'Changing World' off Hot Chocolate's debut album 'Cicero Park' is this little funk excursion, featuring cool organ squiggles and the Brixton outfit's notoriously tight percussion elements. Quite what to "bump and dilly down" means doing is anyone's guess.

Donnie & Joe Emerson 'Give Me A Chance'

Donnie & Joe Emerson 'Give Me A Chance'

A taster from the very recent vinyl-only compilation of cosmic oddities compiled by Light Sounds Dark and Psychemagik called 'After The Void'. There should be a few copies still floating around if you're quick and its a worthy investment containing everything from crazed proto-techno drum tracks from unknown German synth pioneers, to the above selection. The cover of Donnie & Joe Emerson's 'Dreamin Wild' gives absolutely no indication of the quality held within, rather its the type of cover you laugh out loud at, then study a bit closer, and then avert your gaze from rather sheepishly and slightly repelled.

Terry Reid 'Live Life'

Terry Reid 'Live Life'

Terry Reid's career was littered with what-if's and he is probably most famous for turning down an offer to be lead vocalist in Jimmy Page's new band after The Yardbirds - basically an embryonic form of Led Zeppelin. Aretha Franklin commented in 1968: "There are only three things happening in London, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Terry Reid." High praise indeed. For more info on Terry including extensive biographical notes by dusty, bearded rock gnomes check out The Terry Reid Temple website.

Dennis Coffey Trio 'Let The Sunshine'

Dennis Coffey Trio 'Let The Sunshine'

Instrumental-ish funk rock cover of 5th Dimension's Liberty single 'Aquarius/Let The Sunshine' for a grey, wet start to February.

Peter Green 'Funky Chunky'

Peter Green 'Funky Chunky'

Poor old P.G. Arguably the most naturally gifted guitarist the UK has ever produced, he never realised his full potential due to a number of setbacks in the mental health department. Having played with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and founded Fleetwood Mac, Green took a turn for the worse in the early 70's and spent the rest of the decade well and truly in the wilderness. He returned in 1979 to record 'In The Skies,' an album full of beguiling majesty, religious overtones and trademark laid-back guitar styles. Check out 'Just For You', 'In The Skies' and 'Apostle' for more outstanding fret work.

Crosby, Stills & Nash 'Dark Star'

Crosby, Stills & Nash 'Dark Star'

Stand out track on CSN's album of the same name from 1977. Stills was the driving force behind this one. Voyage rock with a seam of understated organ and guitar parts that compliment the evocative vocal delivery like pickle does to cheese.

Headhunters 'If You've Got It, You'll Get It'

Headhunters 'If You've Got It, You'll Get It'

Inhabiting the more palatable reaches of the jazz-funk spectrum (if such a place exists in your life), Headhunters were formed from the band that backed Herbie Hancock on his hit album of the same name. This track is from their first album without Hancock, released in 1975 and also featuring the hit 'God Make Me Funky'. They've been a useful source for many an Akai-wielding, sample hunter in the years since.