TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Unchained" - Elias Hulk (1970 - Rei 2023)

"Unchained" - Elias Hulk  (1970 - Rei 2023)

Elias Hulk's..."Unchained."  One look at the cover and I knew I had to have it.  I was treading into dangerous territory purchasing a new album sight unheard.  I was just crossing my fingers hoping I didn't get burned.  Fortunately for me, the music has that early 70's bravado that I like with vocals betwixt Michael Stipe and Captain Beefheart.  The first two tracks have acid blues rock swag.  The good kind.  And then Elias Hulk becomes 'fat-guy-in-a-little-coat' stretching out their arms for the rest of the album delivering various amounts of heavy psych rock spankage and prog dust.  The spin's fun, fearless, and entertaining without drifting too far away from ground zero.

In other words, "Unchained" doesn't cast its line in the same spot of the lake for the entire album.  Before breaking up, the band was sharing stages all over England with bands like Hawkwind, Caravan, and Mighty Baby but it just didn't happen for them.  A year after the album's release,  the band was over.  Original copies of "Unchained" (1970) will set you back a butt load of cash.  Elias Hulk's one-and-done album is not necessarily the lost great square, but it's not boring either.   And the cool kitschy drawing of The Green One on the front cover is just bonus. 

"Unchained" - Elias Hulk  (back)

"Unchained" - Elias Hulk (poster)

"Unchained" - Elias Hulk
 (front & back 12" insert)

"Unchained" - Elias Hulk
(Obi - front and back)

Favorites include:
"Yesterday's Trip"
"Anthology Of Dreams"
"Free"
"Been Around Too Long" 

This copy is the black vinyl version. (There is also a limited edition red vinyl available as well.)  The album cover includes an obi around a hard laminated cardboard sleeve with the original artwork.  Inside is a very cool 16' x 11" color poster of the original cover.  Also included is a 12" insert with photos and extensive liner notes by Andy Morten.  The vinyl sounds very clean and punchy. 

Guerssen label

Cat #
GUESS226
SIDE 1  DEADWAX
GUESS226  BM82673-01 A1  
SIDE 2  DEADWAX
GUESS226  BM82673-01  B1

"Anthology Of Dreams" - Elias Hulk / "Unchained" (1970)

TRACKS:
A1  "We Can Fly" 6:16
A2  "Nightmare" 3:11
A3  "Been Around Too Long" 3:01
A4  "Yesterday's Trip" 3:55
B1  "Anthology Of Dreams" 3:08
B2  "Free" 3:36
B3  "Delphi Blues" 4:18
B4  "Ain't Got You" 3:25

PERSONNEL:
Peter Thorpe - vocals
Neil Tatum - lead guitar
Granville Frazer - guitar
James Haines - bass
Bernard James - drums

Good stuff.

Follow Me On FACEBOOK 

Comments

John Trembly said…
I first got this album way back in 1990-91 on CD from the See For Miles label after reading about it in Record Collector. Still one of my go-tos for obscure early 70s British heavy!
"Nightmare" is my fave rave on the album.
April 18, 2024 at 10:16 AM
Casey said…
Yes! And the last minute leading up to the breathy whisper..."N-i-g-h-t-m-a-r-e!"...I just luv it.
April 18, 2024 at 10:25 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview:-- Joan Staley (Actress - Classic Movies & Television)

Image
  "Elvis,  do you really want me to slap you?"  ~ Joan Staley ~     So my friends and I were talking about first crushes. First tv and movie crushes.  For me, it was easy.  It was Alma. (Joan Staley)   I broke into the double-digit age of 10 in 1993.  That was the summer I discovered my favorite Don Knotts movie while flipping thru cable one Saturday morning... "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Everyone has seen it.  It was a funny haunted house story similar to an episode on Andy G. with a cast of familiar characters, trippy organ music, and the prettiest girl I had ever seen...Alma. She was beautiful alright.  I was love-stung so bad, I swear I could smell flowers coming out of the TV set.  And best of all, she was nice.  She didn't like the smart alec, the wise guy, or the show-off.  Alma was digging Luther (Don Knotts) and that just made her that much prettier.  And from then on... But unfortunately, time and puberty wouldn't let her wait
Read more

Interview -- Henry Lee Summer (Singer/Songwriter)

Image
"I just always have played music.  For better   or worse, I banked my whole life on it." ~ Henry Lee Summer ~     It's strange how music lets you travel through time as if there truly was no time.  I played the shit out of this album growing up.  Nothing deep or complicated.  Nothing outta bounds.  Nothing to get hung about.  It's deceptively simple.  But here's the thing... Henry Lee Summer  is serving aces all over this heartland square. This is the 35th anniversary of Henry Lee Summer's self-titled album and this one falls under that sweet spot between raucous and chill.  It's a large cup of iced coffee with a nice soulful blend.  Not usually my type of go-to and yet this album easily fills a void I didn't know I had.  Let this spin be your own private Idaho.  " Check it out, Leroy!"   Henry Lee Summer... Go get you some. Henry Lee Summer Interview -- August 2023 Henry Lee Summer Casey Chambers:  Well, this is the 35th anniversary of you
Read more

Interview:--> Terry Kirkman (The Association)

Image
"...Not only learned to think, but to care.  Not only learned to think, but to dare." ~ The Association ~  With one of the most bad-ass songs about the herb that no one was quite sure about, yet everyone understood...to the anti-war homage that was both beautiful and pointed... The Association . From gentle psych pop spinneries that tease the mind...to the lush vocal and instrumental arrangements that melt the heart... The Association. The Association were all of these and none of these. Lead by co-founder Terry Kirkman, it was never an "either/or" about the music.  No pigeonhole here.  It was simply "all" about the music.  And having at least 3 of the most radio-played songs in history...I'd say The Association were on to something. TERRY KIRKMAN INTERVIEW  01/26/2015 Casey Chambers:  In the summer of '67, The Association had the opportunity to perform at the iconic Monterey Pop Festival.  How cool was that? Terry Kirkma
Read more