Ball Bearing Group - A.A. 1050 (Esquire; 1986; Italy)

In the late 1970s the Ball Bearing Group put out a relatively obscure series of library records titled "Experience" for the Italian label Abramo Allione. This album is part of a series of untitled records in generic sleeves that I came across recently. They are marked "Esquire Records" but discogs suggests they are also Abramo and were put out in the late 1980s.

The music sounds like it was recorded ten years earlier - a blend of psychish-lounge, funk, and cosmic disco.

SW

 

Eurosound Orchestra - El Cocodrilo (Audiofon; 1977; U.S.) - Jazz, Funk

 

I can't find much information about this one online. It was pressed in Miami and seems fairly obscure.

The music is surprisingly wonderful. It's a particularly psychedelic sounding lounge-jazz-funk mix with some scat vocals that could have easily been found on an Italian library of the same era.

Check out the tracks below!

SW
   

Neil Norman - Not Of This Earth (GNP Crescendo; 1978; U.S.) - Experimental, Funk, Psych, Sci-Fi-sploitation

Neil Norman was an avid fan of science fiction who - I believe - had some role in starting GNP Records through which this album was released. Additionally, he here serves as producer, lead vocalist, and on electric guitar, synthesizers, Hammond organ, and the theremin.

This is a pretty eclectic mix of Sci-Fi themed covers (including a horrendous Star Wars medley done on a Moog), original guitar-driven compositions, early sampling, and pseudo-romantic funk lyrics. If you're willing to wade through the weeds, there's some outstanding stuff, including the two tracks posted here. It also has the same kitschy sense of fun inherent in a lot of these psych/exploitation albums from the time.

Apparently this thing's been sampled to death. Enjoy!

SW

이예나 ‎– 이예나 앨범 Vol.3 (Hyundai Records; 1979; South Korea) - Funk, Disco, Pop

I picked this fun Korean lp up from the guys over at Uncle Tony's Donut Shoppe in downtown Orlando (you can find them here: https://www.facebook.com/donutshoppe/?fref=ts). I know nothing about the artist or album (please feel free to share if you do).

The vocals are decent but somewhat generic/uninspired Korean pop singing. The real treasure here is a smattering of tracks (including the stand-out first cut on side A - posted here) with killer disco instrumentals.

I love surprises like this one.

SW

Sound Unlimited - S/T (Valley Records; 1976; U.S.) - Private-Press, High School Jazz/Funk Band

This is a rare, privately-pressed, high school jazz band. I know little-to-nothing about the school or band. The LP has black and white artwork pasted to the front and back. It's not dated, although rumors date it at 1976 or 77.


The back reads:

Dear Sound Unlimited:
This year has been one of putting together a new group, and you have done it well. You have brought a great deal of Joy and Entertainment to many people this past year, and have represented yourselves and Valley High School very well. It is with great pride that I say, "You are the best Las Vegas has to offer."

Mr. Mr. "O"

The LP includes both original compositions (e.g. Preface - sound clip posted here) and arrangements of 1970s funk and soul hits by Parliament, Elton John, Diana Ross, Mark Cherry, and others. The brass and vocals are often-times off key or warbling, but the overall enthusiasm and amateur-nature of it is endearing.

SW

The Professional #18 Prime Time/Contempo - Roger Webb (Media Music by Capitol; 1978; U.S.) - Cosmic, Jazz-Funk, Disco, Library

Roger Webb was a British pianist and composer of television and film scores. As far as I know, he was most prolific as a contributor to obscure (and now highly prized) library records.

This album put out by Capitol's Media Music: The Professional stands far above other releases in the series by different composers/groups.

The sleeve may be boring but this is a stellar collection of 70s Euro-style disco grooves and cosmic funk.

SW

Human Egg - S/T (Lizard Records; 1978; France) - Prog, Space, Disco, Funk

This French group's lone album is an eclectic mix (with equally mixed results) of progressive space rock, funk, disco, and psychedelia. Sometimes these uneven albums can be frustrating letdowns but the highs on this one are so high that it's worth the often expensive price tag.

Apparently, Human Egg was a project of Jean-Pierre Bernard Massiera, a French producer and sound technician responsible for my favorite non-film related horror soundtrack: "L'Etrange Monsieur Whinster" (credited to Horrific Child).

All of his albums are worth checking out.

Finders Keepers released a compilation of this work titled "Midnight Massiera" for which they wrote this wonderful description of JPM's work:

"He started off as a musical scientist who was affected by chemical fallout in World War 2 – he spoke to Jesus, went crazy and became a mad scientist. He then created a strain of mutant piranha fish which gave birth to a world of horrific monsters who assisted him in his murderous merriment. In the end he finds a giant egg and finally makes contact with aliens… That would be the end of chapter 1 and this is the era that we will focus on for this compendium (In chapter 2 JPM would be kidnapped by the Aliens and taken to planet disco to have sex with green goddesses and snort space dust on intergalactic nudist beaches where he probably still resides) In the worldly, derelict, laboratory of Dr. Jean-Pierre Massiera we are surrounded by decaying fish fins, test tubes, fuzz pedals, echoplex units and the lost souls and ambitions of aspiring young pop groups… I think your gonna like it here."*

Human Egg has been re-issued by Favorite Recordings.

SW