V.A - Lovin’ Fire 20 Obscure Gems From The UK and Europe (1969-74) (2007)

Subtitled "psychedelia melts into the progressive," this 20-track compilation gathers 20 rare British and European tracks from 1969-1971 (mostly from the earlier part of that period), the period in which psychedelia was indeed changing into progressive rock in Europe. It's certainly been compiled with care; so rare are the cuts that you'll have a hard time finding them on other reissues, if indeed any have been reissued at all. Very few of the artists will be known even to seasoned collectors, other than perhaps Paul Nicholas (more famous as a British television star) and the Locomotive (most known for doing the original version of "Rudi, A Message to You," later covered for a hit by the Specials). Still, this is going to fit an awkward niche in the '60s/'70s collector world. There's not enough pop for many psychedelic enthusiasts, and some progressive enthusiasts might find at least some of this too pop-oriented. To be honest, though, this material, while far from objectionable, fits the clich? "obscure for a reason"; there aren't many outstanding songs here, other than Children's heavy rendition of "Piece of My Heart" (the same tune done by Erma Franklin and Big Brother & the Holding Company). Naturally, many of the traits that made this sort of rock "prog" are evident, like bulky songs with sections that varied from each other quite a bit; hard rock guitar with numerous different shades of distortion and, at times, a bit of improvisation and blues/funk influence; some passages highlighting thick organ, and a serious ambition that, unlike earlier psychedelia, was more earnest and ponderous than playful and blissful. To its credit, the songs selected for Lovin' Fire are pretty diverse (including bands from Holland, South Africa, Switzerland, and Germany as well as the U.K., though everyone sings in English) within this vaguely defined genre. The Warm Sensation's 1969 single "The Clown," for instance, sounds a little like the Hollies going slightly heavy (unsurprisingly, considering that it was produced by Hollies lead singer Allan Clarke); Left Side's "Mama, You Said the Right Words" is as much glam-ish power pop as it is heavy rock; and Hunter's "Some Time for Thinking" is so much like Blind Faith and Traffic in their heavier moments that you're constantly expecting the track to turn into a cover of Blind Faith's "Had to Cry Today."