The Gun - The Gun [1968] (1989 Reissue)

Back to it now! Here is one of my favourite ancients (or is it ancient favourites?). This is the debut album from the annoyingly-difficult-to-research band 'The Gun', a relatively obscure group from the U.K. (not to be confused with the other currently active 'Gun' from Scotland.) This one is special to me for a few reasons. Like many others I tracked it down for it's amazing cover art - another of Roger Dean's works, this being his first ever record project if i recall. I'm sure you wouldn't be alone in mistaking it for some mid-80s thrash metal album. It sure is a little darker than his popular later works, none the less, it's one of my favourites of his cover designs.

Little did i know just how incredible the album would actually be. It's a crushingly heavy rock/proto-metal sound (ala Sabbath/Leaf Hound/Iron Butterfly) mixed with a big-time brass backing and the occasionally typical flower-power-like melody (ala moments of 'Love - Forever Changes'). Recorded at just the right time blending both of these incredible sounds, like you could only do in '68. The band's one and only hit 'Race with the Devil' opens the record like a punch in the nose and immediately you know what you're in for. Is this "the" original metal album?

A lost gem for fans of the power trio format, check it out.

Try It - Buy It..Tell Me Where?!

Pink Floyd - Welcome To The Machine [1977]

So here is another one of my favourite Floyd boots/ROiOs. For ages i searched for a show that had a decent variety of tracks from both 'Wish You Were Here' and 'Animals'. Stumbled apon this beauty, which has both of those albums in their entireties, as well as 'Money', 'Us and Them' and 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene'. The quality is probably as good as you will find for any of the shows during the WYWH and Animals tours. It is not perfect however, the start is a little bit dodgy and might scare off a few but it does improve. There are also a few distracting bumps in Track 9 (Wish You Were Here) but other than those this is a very listenable and enjoyable bootleg.

For ROiO collectors note that this is in .mp3, how dissapointed you must be. The band was really rocking on this particular night. Dave in particular, seemed absolutely on fire pummeling out those solo's throughout the 'Animals' tracks. You can hear Dave and Roger fucking up at the start of 'Have a Cigar' and both share a laugh.

To thank the well-behaved crowd the band reward the audience with the extra encore "Careful With That Axe Eugene", the only time the song was played during the tour and the final time ever by the full band. It's a short version and the scream isn't as blood curdling as in the past. It is however very nice to hear the mature band pulls out this early classic.

Link P1: http://sharebee.com/9d75de96
Link P2: http://sharebee.com/384e2071