EXKURSIONS - S/T (CD, 1971, Heavy Christian Psych) Mike Johnson Band
- Blues Rock
- 2011 Born Twice Records
- For fans of: All Saved Freak Band, Bolder Damn, Stone Garden, Highway Robbery, Poobah
High-octane power rock trio of Mike Johnson, Fyl Jonnzen and Leon Wilson, their custom album absolutely blitzing through eight tunes of heavy blues-influenced material in the vein of Hendrix and Cream. No muffled sounds here ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_?ÌÎÌ_? the production is top-notch and the guitars shine forth loud and mean, heavily imbrued with ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_?ÌÎÌ_ÌÎ?60s psych effects (originally released in 1971). Singer/lead guitarist Johnson gives an exceptional performance; he contributed a number of fine solo albums in the ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_?ÌÎÌ_ÌÎ?70s, but none of them cook with near the intensity of this baby. ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_?ÌÎÌ_ÌÎ?Third Eye‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìö is a good example; after starting with some bizarre psycho-babble, the piece breaks into a fierce minute-and-a-half electric guitar jam (recalling Stu Heiss‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìö opening solo in Rez Band‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìös ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_?ÌÎÌ_ÌÎ?White Noise‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìö). ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_?ÌÎÌ_ÌÎ?Dry Ground‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìö is another standout, its fast-driving Hendrix groove outfitted with a killer searing guitar lead. ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_?ÌÎÌ_ÌÎ?Baby You Lied,‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìö a love-gone-bad slow blues rocker sounds like one of those lengthy Derek & the Dominoes tracks, with wild stereo separation that I‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìöm sure made many a hippie smile back then. Dual rhythm guitar and leads give the band a fuller sound than most trios. Wah-wah and fuzz effects abound, sometimes together as on the opening CCR-ish ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_?ÌÎÌ_ÌÎ?Picture Woman.‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìö Good solid drum work throughout, too, including a solo opportunity at the beginning of the heavily fuzzed ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_?ÌÎÌ_ÌÎ?Would You Believe,‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìö a smooth piece of soft jazz that Mike also included on his Velvet Prince album. Great psychedelic cover art to match. Says on the back they formed in Chicago in 1968, their sound ‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎÌ_??spawned out of Chicago‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìös own particular blend of jazz, blues and rock.‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_? This one delivers in everyway! On the 2011 Born Twice Records: Legends Remastered Volume Three you can hear this legendary release in digital format, remastered by specialist J Powell of Steinhaus. Everything is packaged in a beautiful 6 panel digipak that even includes a band biography that is helpsful for new fans! For fans of Hendrix, Cream, early Resurrection Band! Collect all of the Legends Remastered special series that resurrects classic Jesus Music and Christian rock releases from the 70‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìös! See also Amaziah & Bill Mason Band for Volumes 1 & 2 of this collectible series. Long out of print, Highly collectible classic Jesus Music release remastered on CD, Included in Ken Scott‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìös collector‰ۡóÁÌ_́ÌÎ_̴Ìös book The Archivist 4th Edition OF Jesus Music classics
1. Picture Woman
2. Dry Ground
3. Baby You Lied
4. What Happened to Me
5. Third Eye
6. You & Me
7. It's Been Set Down
8. Would You Believe
