The Artwoods

The Artwoods were an English rock band who formed in 1963 and were professionally active between 1964 and 1967.^[1][2] They were a popular live attraction, rivalling groups such as The Animals, although, despite releasing a clutch of singles and an album, their record sales never reflected this popularity.
Singer Arthur Wood, from whom the band took their name, was the eldest brother of Ronnie Wood (who later found fame with the Faces and Rolling Stones). Art Wood had been a vocalist with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated for a short period during 1962, simultaneously fronting his own group, the Art Wood Combo.^[1][2]When keyboardist Jon Lord and guitarist Derek Griffiths from Red Bludd's Bluesicians joined the Art Wood Combo, the Artwoods were formed.^[1] With Keef Hartley, formerly with Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, joining on drums and Malcolm Pool from the Roadrunners joining as bassist, in December 1964 the band turned professional, securing a residency at London's 100 Club and signing a recording contract with Decca Records.^[1][2][3]

The intended debut single, a cover of Muddy Waters' "Hoochie Coochie Man", was shelved in favour of a rendition of an old Lead Belly song, "Sweet Mary".^[3]Although it didn't reach the charts, it got sufficient airplay to bring the band a lot of live work, including an appearance on the first live edition of Ready Steady Go!.^[1]Their second record, "Oh My Love", was another blues cover. Like its predecessor (and subsequent releases), it failed to chart.^[3] Their only chart single was "I Take What I Want", which reached No 28 on 8 May 1966.

Blind Faith

Blind Faith were an English blues rock band, composed of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech. The band, which was one of the first "super-groups", released their only album, Blind Faith, in August 1969. They were stylistically similar to the bands in which Winwood, Baker, and Clapton had most recently participated,Traffic and Cream. They helped to pioneer the genre of blues/rock fusion.

The beginnings of Blind Faith date from mid-1968, with the break-up of Cream. In retrospect as the first "super-group," Cream had become a financial powerhouse, selling millions of records within a few years and raising the group's (and each member's) repertoire to international popularity. Despite that success, the band was crumbling from within because of frequent animosity between Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, with Eric Clapton doing his best to mediate.^{[citation needed]} In addition, Clapton had tired of playing commercially driven blues and hoped to move forward with a new, experimental, less straitjacketed approach to the genre.^{[citation needed]}

Steve Winwood was facing similar problems in The Spencer Davis Group, where he had been the lead singer for three years. Winwood wanted to experiment with the band's sound by infusing jazz elements, but left due to his musical differences, instead forming a new band — Traffic — in 1967. That band split temporarily in 1969, and Winwood started to jam with his good friend Clapton in Clapton's basement in Surrey, England. Winwood and Clapton had previously collaborated on the "Powerhouse" project.

Gary Lee Yoder

Gary Lee Yoder is a musician who was part of several 1960s San Francisco psychedelic rock bands, including Kak, Oxford Circle, and Blue Cheer.

Oxford Circle (formed in 1966) and Kak (formed in 1968) were both formed in Yoder's hometown of Davis, California, and featured the same nucleus of members.^[1]While Oxford Circle frequently shared the stage with greats such as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Janis Joplin, they did not achieve the same level of fame and never got a record deal. In 1997, a live album, Live at the Avalon 1966 was released. It made #6 on Record Collector's list of Top 50 reissues of 1997, ahead of reissues of Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, and Santana, and also received a favorable review in Mojo.

Kak would release only one record in 1969, entitled Kak, which has become a collector's item. It was reissued by Big Beat Records in 1999 as Kak-ola. This recording additionally contained unreleased solo work by Yoder.

Yoder continues to perform occasionally.

Pacific Gas & Electric

Pacific Gas & Electric was an American blues rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by singer Charlie Allen. Their biggest hit was the gospel-tinged "Are You Ready?"
he band was formed in Los Angeles in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, lead guitarist Glenn Schwartz (formerly of The James Gang) and drummer Charlie Allen, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam. When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook, previously of Canned Heat, came into the band on drums. Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968. The record was not a success, but following the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival in May 1968 they were signed by Columbia Records.

portada original

Hendrickson Road House

So good is this slice of acidic West Coast folk that it’s difficult not to go overboard. Lost for 40 years and coveted by a handful of acolytes willing to exchange $1,000 for a copy, this is a rediscovered gem so pure it makes all previous claims to that title look like uneducated sycophancy.

The sophisticated jazzy undertow (in places not unlike contemporaries Seatrain) and sparse, intelligent arrangements are bound together by a female vocal so delicious, it could be picked and eaten. Opener Forget About You could be a template – pure, sparkly guitar and wispy, shuffling drums underpin that voice – but the coherence of the material belies its variety. Intense harmonising on Helping Hand, prog-like time changes on Tomorrow Your Sorrow and free-roaming jazz on Yesircantoo – the album is littered with unique and varied touches of class in all departments.

Wooden Hill have rightly lavished time and effort on the package and we get no less than six bonus racks. Whoever you are – or think you are – you need this record.

THE CHALLENGERS

THE CHALLENGERS

'Puerto Rico Rock and Roll Hall of Fame' Inductees 2013
 

Inducted to Puerto Rico Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2013. Reno Habif was there to receive the honors. No other band in the history of Rock in Puerto Rico had the success The Challengers had in the 70's. They had # 1 records played on all radio stations in Puerto Rico. Founded by magnificent musicians in the 60's with various changes throughout the years. Eric, Kenny, El Mono, Jorge Casas, Paul Tirado, and others. But the lineup that made it happen was when they recorded various original songs (Emily, Martha Does) and one cover song (It's For You) that took them to the top. That lineup was Jose Luis (drums), Wiso (bass), Alexy (guitar, voice), Rafy (guitar, vocals), José (Hammond), Reno (vocals). They recently reunited with a new lineup like Alberto Carrion, Reno Habif, Jorge Casas, and the help of recording musicians that play with Carlos Santana and Miami Sound Machine. This album is a must listen, see HERE. Outstanding arrangements of classic songs with a latin twist. The Challengers is a band that although their musicianship is superb, their vocals is what takes them to the next level. The result is a combination of in your face excellence in music and vocals to leave you wanting for more. Once a Challenger always a Challenger! Listen to their songs below. "It's For You" was originally written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for Cilla Black, for whom it was a Top  Ten hit in 1964 in the U.K., but it was not heard of in the U.S. until much later. If "It's For You" sounds familiar, it's because Three Dog Night recorded it years later in 1969. "It's For You" and "Emily" were very big hits and signature tunes for The Challengers, and when you heard the guitar at 0:31 on "Letting You Know", you just KNEW The Challengers were rockin' in the house!!

Don Covay

Donald James Randolph (March 24, 1936 – January 31, 2015), better known by his stage name Don Covay, was an American R&B, rock and roll and soul singer and songwriter most active from the 1950s to the 1970s. His most successful recordings included "Mercy, Mercy" (1964), "See-Saw" (1965), and "It's Better To Have (And Don't Need)" (1974). Other songs written by Covay included "Pony Time", a US #1 hit for Chubby Checker, and "Chain of Fools", aGrammy-winning song for Aretha Franklin. He received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994.

Writing in The Washington Post after his death, Terence McArdle said: "Mr. Covay’s career traversed nearly the entire spectrum of rhythm-and-blues music, from doo-wop to funk.

Albums[edit]

• Mercy! (1965)
• See Saw (1966)
• The House of Blue Lights (1969)
• Country Funk (1970)
• Different Strokes for Different Folks (1971)
• Super Dude (1973)
• Hot Blood (1975)
• Travelin' in Heavy Traffic (1976)
• Funky Yo Yo (1977)
• Adlib (2000)
• Super Bad (2009)