1967 MONO Rock LP - THE DEVIL'S ANVIL "Hard Rock From The Middle East" COLUMBIA
$
44
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Description
Excellent, guaranteed original, 1967 Psychedelic/Hard Rock LP by THE DEVIL'S ANVIL entitled "Hard Rock From The Middle East" on Columbia Records (#2664, MONO!). RARE and sought after ...original 1967 MONO first-pressing! The DEVIL'S ANVIL was a Hard Rock/Psychedelic band who released one and only album, showcasing a mix of Hard Rock and Psychedelic sound with Turkish, Arab and Greek vocals and exotic instrumentations. Their middle-eastern acid-rock was truly unique for the time featuring fuzzed-out guitar mingled with oud, bouzouki, tamboura, Goblet drum. Instrumental in the band's formation was producer Felix Pappalardi, who helped sign them with Columbia Records. It was in 1966, while hanging out in the Village that he chanced upon a group of Middle Eastern-born or -descended musicians, playing at the MacDougal Street Cafe Feenjon. Pappalardi began playing with them, and eventually they became the unofficial house band at Feenjon -- the core members of the group, which took the name The Devil's Anvil, were Steve Knight (rhythm guitar, bass, bouzouki), Jerry Satpir (lead guitar, vocals), Elierzer Adoram (accordion), and Kareem Issaq (oud, vocals). Knight and Pappalardi developed a good working relationship, trading the bass and guitar spots during the recording of the group's one album, Hard Rock from the Middle East, which set the stage for their subsequent team-up together in Mountain. This album is truly a forgotten classic with arrangements that walk a tightrope between the modern Psychedelia of the day and centuries-old traditional folk modalities and melodies and each member is a heavy hitter in his own right. According to the liner notes, Pappalardi says that the group would back stars on the Middle Eastern circuit when they came through New York. Tracks such as "Shisheler" and "Karkadon" (both tunes from antiquity) illustrate the sound of the set ideally. Amid the electric guitars that are at the forefront of the sound, oud, dumbek, and bouzouki flood the backdrop. Elsewhere, such as on the wailing opener "Wala Dai," the addition of studio drummer Bobby Gregg and an uncredited Farfisa organ make the music take on a full rock personae, while displaying its Arab characteristics in vocal, rhythmic pulse, and harmonic scale with fuzz guitar on full-surf stun. But there are other surprises, as well, such as "Kley," which is sung in Greek and played according to a folk arrangement that straddles both traditions and seems right at home as a rock tune. Likewise, "Shisheller" utilizes psychedelic overdriven guitar and bass to fuel a celebratory Turkish tune that is sung in its native language! This is the true stunner on the set, where everything that Devil's Anvil possessed is on display. The best-known cut here is "Misirlou," sung in English by Pappalardi and is entirely different – and better than – the well-known cover of it by Dick Dale. It's true that "Hard Rock from the Middle East" is an album that was ahead of it's time, and over four decades later, it remains so. With its stunning musicianship, songcraft, and skillful weaving of musical traditions into a cohesive musical statement, it endures and is perhaps even more relevant today than when it was first released. Tunes include: "Wala Dai," "Nahna Ou Diab," "Karkadon," "Selim Alai," "Isme," "Besaha," "Shisheler," "Kley," "Hala Laya ," "Treea Pethya," and "Misirlou!" Condition: Cover = solid VG (light wear, seam split all the way across they bottom), Record = solid VG/VG+ (very light paper scuffs - plays through fine though!). Winning bidder to add $3.50 postage in the USA. Good luck - check out my other auctions for more vintage records for sale and save on combined postage costs!
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