V.A. - Golden Miles (Australian Progressive Rock 1969-1974) [1995]

Artist: V.A.
Title Of Album: Golden Miles
Year Of Release:1969-74/1995
Label (Catalog#) : Raven [RVCD-39]
Country: Australia
Genre: Prog Rock, Psych Rock, Hard Rock, Art Rock
Quality: FLAC (tracks+cue,log,scans)
Bitrate: Lossless
Time: 02:28:05
Full Size: 940mb(+3%)

Reissue specialists Raven Records (Australia) -- co-founded by Oz Rock's human encyclopedia Glenn A. Baker -- have done a sterling job over the years of resurrecting great music from the past. This two-CD set (two and a half hours of playing time) is a proverbial cornucopia of intriguing, and largely forgotten, prog rock from some fine antipodean exponents of the genre. Actually, many of these artists found success in the mainstream Down Under, but Golden Miles showcases them in their more adventurous moments.

The stylistic range across the album's 30 tracks is quite stunning, but certainly this is progressive rock -- just don't expect everything to sound like King Crimson. Ear-catching tracks include the jazz-slanted "Make Your Stash" by legendary Aussie rockers Daddy Cool (best known for their rock & roll anthem "Eagle Rock"), the Zappa-ish "Make It Begin" by Sons of the Vegetal Mother (also fronted by Daddy Cool singer Ross Wilson), and the quaking "'Til My Death" by avant-garde metallurgists Buffalo (from their landmark 1973 album, Volcanic Rock). But the curio of curios is "Seasons of Change" by Fraternity, a tuneful, psychedelic folk-rock number sung by none other than a pre-AC/DC Bon Scott.

Excellent liner notes include a capsule bio (written by Ian McFarlane) on each band and an overview of the period (from Baker). Probably of most interest to collectors, aficionados, and those who personally remember this musical chapter of yore, many casual listeners will also find Golden Miles very entertaining fare.
by Adrian Zupp

Tracks:
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Disc 1:
1. Bakery - No Dying In The Dark (Bakery) - 3:11
2. Carson - Travelling South (Greg 'Sleepy' Lawrie) - 3:10
3. Lotus - Lotus I (Lotus) - 3:45
4. Healing Force - Golden Miles (Lindsay Wells) - 3:19
5. Bulldog - Inner Spring (Mick Rodgers, Peter Miles) - 2:47
6. The Master's Apprentices - Melodies Of St. Kilda / Southern Cross (Doug Ford, Jim Keays) - 7:54
7. Galadriel - Girl Of 17 (Spider Scholten) - 4:39
8. Tamam Shud - Lady Sunshine (Lindsay Bjerre) - 4:35
9. Tully - You Realise You ReaIise (Richard Lockwood) - 2:56
10.The Wild Cherries - I Am The Sea (Lobby Loyde) - 3:27
11.Jeff St John Copperwine - Fanciful Flights Of Mind (Jeff St. John, Peter Figures) - 3:23
12.Melissa - Getting Through (Joe Creighton) - 4:08
13.Pirana - Here It Comes Again (Tony Hamilton) - 2:44
14.King Harvest - Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb) - 4:10
15.Friends - Freedom Train (Charlie Tumahai) - 3:55
16.Fraternity - Seasons Of Change (John Robinson, Neale Johns) - 3:34
17.Freshwater - Satan's Woman (Murray Patridge) - 2:59
18.Fanny Adams - Ain't No Loving Left (Fanny Adams) - 6:45
Disc 2:
1. Daddy Cool - Make Your Stash (Ross Wilson) - 6:04
2. Spectrum - Superbody (Mike Rudd) - 9:12
3. Company Caine - The Day Superman Got Busted (Company Caine) - 6:20
4. Kahvas Jute - Free (Dennis Wilson) - 5:12
5. Blackfeather - Long Legged Lovely (John Robinson, Neale Johns) - 7:30
6. Tymeplace - Shake Off (Alan Oloman) - 8:12
7. Sons Of The Vegetal Mother - Make It Begin (Ross Wilson) - 5:00
8. Coloured Balls - Human Being (Lobby Loyde) - 6:00
9. Buffalo - Til My Death (Dave Tice) - 5:34
10.Madder Lake -12lb Toothbrush (Madder Lake) - 6:00
11.Mackenzie Theory - Extra Terrestrial Boogie (Rob MacKenzie) - 5:47
12.Dragon - Darkness (Dragon) - 4:43

All thanks to original releaser