The Third Eye - Awaking.... (1969) (2010)

South African psychedelic rock band the Third Eye were led by organist Dawn Selby and her brother Ron on guitar, assisted by guitarist/vocalist Maurice Saul, bassist Mike Sauer, and drummer Robbie Pavid. As with other South African bands of the late '60s and early '70s like Suck and Freedom's Children, a lot of their material consisted of covers, at least early on -- this debut disc includes versions of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," Janis Ian's "Society's Child," and the folk song "Morning Dew," likely brought to their attention by the Grateful Dead. Their own originals are interesting, mixing (obviously) a heavy organ presence with soul/R&B horns and heavy guitars. Saul's vocals are somewhat fey and crooning, but when the band erupts at full strength, as on the instrumental "Apricot Brandy," the effect is pretty seismic, Pavid's drums and Sauer's six-string bass creating a mighty, clattering throb while the guitars tear it up. The biggest problem with Awakening... is the horns; their presence causes the arrangements to sag, falling somewhere between the power of Deep Purple and the schmaltz of Chicago or Blood, Sweat & Tears. With less brassy blare and a stronger vocalist, they could have really been something.