Lance Barresi, co-owner of L.A./Chicago retailer Permanent Records has shown incredible persistence in tracking down a stellar collection of rare singles from the 60s and 70s for the growing compilation series. Partnered with Daniel Hall of RidingEasy Records, the two have assembled a selection of songs that's hard to believe have remained unheard for so long.
"I essentially go through hell and high water just to find these records," Barresi says. "Once I find a record worthy of tracking, I begin the (sometimes) extremely arduous process of contacting the band members and encouraging them to take part. Daniel and I agree that licensing all the tracks we're using for Brown Acid is best for everyone involved," rather than simply bootlegging the tracks. When all of the bands and labels haven't existed for 30-40 years or more, tracking down the creators gives all of these tunes a real second chance at success.
"There's a long list of songs that we'd love to include," Barresi says. "But we just can't track the bands down. I like the idea that Brown Acid is getting so much attention, so people might reach out to us."
One song on The Second Trip actually never even saw light of day, until now. "Bell Park Loon" by Spiny Norman - sounding like Jethro Tull on more acid and heavier cider - languished in a collector's archives, unreleased for 38 years until Barresi and Hall arranged to license some of the collector's goldmine.
Brown Acid: The Second Trip opens with the squealing guitar harmonies and Sabbath plod of Ash's "Midnight Wish." Sweet Crystal's "Warlords" is a fuzzy and fierce Deep Purple/Arthur Brown inspired organ-led anthem. Raving Maniac's 'Rock and Roll Man" is a tight and brash glam-meets-metal tune proving the true potential of a genre later squandered on Sunset Strip poodleheads. "Silence of the Morning" by Glass Sun serves grungy psych while the Volt Rush Band merges MC5 frantic energy with razor-sharp guitar leads. And, Iron Knowledge's aptly titled "Show Stopper" features a breakbeat and incredibly infectious detuned bass warble motif that DJs would kill for - had anyone been able to find the tune back in the day. Throughout, The Second Trip is yet another wall-to-wall set of blazing tracks that feels like you've uncovered a holy grail. And, in a way, you have.
Brown Acid: The Second Trip will be available everywhere on LP, CD and download on April 20th, 2016 via RidingEasy Records. Pre-orders are available for digital (with immediate download of first single) at iTunes and Bandcamp, physical pre-orders at RidingEasy Records.
01. Ash "Midnight Witch" (STREAM) 02. Sweet Crystal "Warlords" 03. Raving Maniac "Rock and Roll Man" 04. Crossfield "Take It" (STREAM) 05. Spiny Norman "Bell Park Loon" (Unreleased) 06. Glass Sun "Silence of the Morning" 07. Volt Rush Band "Love To You" 08. Buck "Long Hot Highway" 09. Iron Knowledge "Show Stopper" 10. Sonny Hugg "Daybreak"
01. Zeke's "Box" 02. Snow "Sunflower" 03. Tour "One of the Bad Guys" 04. Zebra "Wasted" 05. Bob Goodsite "Faze 1" 06. Raw Meat "Stand-By Girl" 07. Punch "Deathhead" 08. Bacchus "Carry My Load" 09. Lenny Drake "Love Eyes (Cast Your Spell On Me)" 10. The Todd "Mystify Me" 11. Josefus "Hard Luck"
On The Web: www.ridingeasyrecords.com