obscure vinyl Archives - Vinyl From The Vault

“WAPL Apple Cellar Tapes”

sfilzen — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 17:10:21 +0000

“WAPL Apple Cellar Tapes” 1982. Pacer Productions. Various artists compilation. “Six of the most exciting bands in the WAPL listening area as voted by the audiences and the ‘Apple’ staff during three nights of the ‘Rock Battle of the Bands.'” WAPL is an AOR/classic rock station in Appleton, Wisconsin that I listened to growing up and tune into when we head up there for visits to our families. Their playlist hasn’t changed much since 1986, which honestly makes my heart glow a little bit. We’re guaranteed to hear Rush, Van Halen, Pink Floyd or RATT at least once. So when Joe brought this home from the Exclusive Company (a regional chain record store that started up in the Fox Valley and will be shutting down all of its locations soon), I grabbed it and headed into the depths of the internet to figure out what it was. Apple Cellar Tapes is proggy and 80’s hard rock by a few different Northeast Wisconsin bands: Yazz, Adam Trask, Stormbringer, Magician, High Flyer and Fracture – this album is the only recorded appearance for each band. Not surprisingly, there isn’t much info about it other than the release date (’82) and a brief review of each track by some metalhead on his blog. It’s mostly cock rock: lots of overblown guitar solos, peacock posturing keyboard riffs and big, crashing 80’s drumming. I do kind of like Yazz’s “All Night Long” which has some serious funk; their other song “Go” is decent as well. “Fight” by Stormbringer has a rockin’ beat and plenty of rough swagger and “Can’t Do Without You” by Magician is pretty much a direct ripoff of Ozzy. “Emily” by Adam Trask is a truly painful power ballad and their other song “Cat Lady” isn’t much better. “Changing of the Guardian” by Fracture is “proggy pomp rock” (as quoted by metalhead’s blog). This is not my kind of music but I am rather delighting in the sounds of my hometown from 40 years ago. Cruisin’ the ave (College Avenue in downtown Appleton) was a favorite pastime of teens in the 80’s and I can picture any of the tracks blaring out of Firebird Trans Ams and Mustangs on a summer Saturday night.

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The Alan Wilson Experience “I’m Coming”

sfilzen — Tue, 08 May 2018 16:16:25 +0000

The Alan Wilson Experience “I’m Coming” b/w “Let It Rip” release date unknown (possibly late 80′s), Iguana Records. Super-weird and obscure, low budget (the record “sleeve” is badly folded cheap paper), lo-fi trashy Midwestern garagey psychobilly punk. Pretty sure this is the only release for both The Alan Wilson Experience and for Iguana Records; there is zero web presence for either entity save a lonely entry on Discogs and another little record auction site. The music is swampy, surf and blues-inspired guitar and beats with a punk attitude and a heavy dose of humor: “Let It Rip” refers to burping. The track is a very competent guitar riff instrumental punctuated by loud and rude belches that reverberate impressively, making me grateful the “rip” didn’t refer to flatulence.

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Gut Flower “Think So”

sfilzen — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 16:57:55 +0000

Gut Flower “Think So” b/w “Maple Leaves” 1990. Blow Valve Records, blue vinyl. Obscure early 90′s Seattle grunge on an equally obscure record label. This 45 is the only output by Gut Flower and Blow Valve Records’ only recording release. There isn’t even any information about the band members beyond their bland first names (Greg on guitar and vocals, Kevin also on guitar and vocals, John on bass and Ray on drums). The only contributors associated with Gut Flower who have any historical presence are cover photographer Lisa Haugen (who is/was married to DJ Shadow, hiphop artist who wrote the song “Lost and Found (S.F.L.)” which is dedicated to her) and recording engineer/producer Rich Hinklin who produced a couple of other early 90′s grunge singles and albums including Gruntruck’s Inside Yours. Both “Think So” and “Maple Leaves” are very Seattle grungy in the vein of Soundgarden, Mudhoney, etc. but a little more whiney in the vocals. This has been in the pile of stuff to listen to and decide to keep or sell for awhile now (I keep finding other things I’d rather listen to and write about). Unless someone out there has some amazingly cool insight into Gut Flower to share, this single will find itself back in a second-hand record bin again soon.

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