H.P. Lovecraft - Discography

Often considered as folk rock this Chicago-origined group is most surely one of the prime examples of intelligent and adventurous psychedelic rock (as opposed to the more conventional Garage rock groups discussed in the Nuggets box-sets compilations) and shows that late 60's in new world were also a fertile ground for progressive psych rock. Comparable groups of the era would be JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, SPIRIT and LOVE.

Folkie guitarist-singer George Edwards had recorded a few folk tracks, before playing with jazzman Will Mercier, where Edwards met KB man Dave Michaels, before heading back to his next solo single which will become the first HP LOVECRAFT recording - they took the name from their collective love of the writer's oeuvre to which they asked his estate for permission to use the name. Guitarist Cavalleri, bassist McGeorge and drummer Tegsa completed the line-up. Their first album is a mostly-covers (albeit completely rearranged) album that can be compared to a much more subtle VANILLA FUDGE album.

They relocated to the San Francisco region following a few high-profile shows at the Fillmore West opening for PROCOL HARUM, DONOVAN, PINK FLOYD, TRAFFIC as well as all the local San Fran Flower Power groups and were on the brink of wide success. Around this time HP Lovecraft was at its peak touring almost constantly and a stupendous show was recoded on May 11, 1968, (but not released before 91), showing just how great and progressive they were.

Their second album had everything to achieve that goal (including a change of bassist) but they seemed to lack confidence in their own songwriting skills (it is formidably underrated) and again concentrated on covers. The album is incredibly strong and still nowadays quite impressive. However, just after its release, KB man Michaels will leave (exhaustion and loos of musical direction) prompting the group to implode soon after, causing the label to pull its promotional effort.

They tried to reform early 70, but failed (even as they had found anew record deal), but this effort prompted a group with no link to the original line-up (except for drummer Tegza) to record an album as LOVECRAFT (but bearing no resemblance to the first album) and a second album in 75, this time a funky affair. Most of the original members still dabble in music nowadays, around the Chicago area with Edwards and Michaels still playing together in folk circuits.

Length / Продолжительность:

Tracks / Треклист:

01. Wayfaring Stranger (02:35)
02. Let's Get Together (04:35)
03. I've Been Wrong Before (02:46)
04. Drifter (04:11)
05. That's the bag I'm In (01:46)
06. White Ship (06:37)
07. Country Boy and Bleeker Street (02:35)
08. Time Machine (02:05)
09. That's How Much I Love You, Baby... (03:55)
10. Gloria patria (Trad.) (00:26)

LP Philips 252, LP Philips 600-252

Line-up / Musicians

• - Clyde Bachand / tuba
• - Tony Cavallari / guitar, vocals
• - Ralph Craig / trombone
• - Lenny Druss / clarinet, horn, horn (English), piccolo, saxophone (bass), saxophone (Tenor)
• - George Edwards / bass, guitar, vocals, guitar (12 string)
• - Jack Henningbaum / horn, French horn
• - Eddie Higgins / vocals (bckgr), vibraphone
• - Jerry McGeorge / bass, vocals
• - Dave Michaels / organ, clarinet, piano, harpsichord, keyboards, recorder, vocals
• - Michael Tegza / percussion, drums, vocals, tympani [timpani]
• - Paul Tervelt / horn
• - Bill Traub / wind, reeds (multiple)
• - Bill Traut / percussion
• - Paul Trevelt / French horn
• - Herb Weiss / trombone

Length / Продолжительность:

Tracks / Треклист:

01. Spin, Spin, Spin (03:26)
02. It's About Time (05:20)
03. Blue Jack of Diamonds (02:55)
04. Electrallentando (06:27)
05. At the Mountains of Madness (04:48)
06. Mobius Trip (02:46)
07. High Flying Bird (03:15)
08. Nothing's Boy (00:40)
09. Keeper of the Keys (03:06)

LP Philips Phs-600-279

Line-up / Musicians

• - George Edwards / rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, lead vocals
• - David Michaels / keyboards, clarinet, recorder, lead vocals
• - Jerry McGeorge / bass, vocals
• - Tony Cavallari / lead guitar, vocals
• - Michael Tegza / drums, vocals

Length / Продолжительность:

Tracks / Треклист:

01. Wayfaring Stranger (10:23)
02. The Drifter (08:24)
03. It's About Time (04:55)
04. The White Ship (07:02)
05. At the Mountains of Madness (05:34)
06. The Bag I'm In (03:35)
07. I've Been Wrong Before (02:54)
10. Country Boy & Bleeker Street (03:46)

CD Sundazed 6002

"This live revue from 1968 finds the group reeling off what is to all extents and purposes a greatest hits set, recorded at that bastion of West Coast rock, San Francisco's legendary Fillmore West. And what a set it is. Kicking off with a powerful, ten-minute version of the folk-inspired piece 'Wayfaring Stranger', this live release thankfully captures H. P Lovecraft at their very best. It also showcases the group at their mos adventurous, with many of the tracks taken from their first two albums extended and augmented by a battery of trippy effects, glistening keyboards and gloriously harmonised vocals. In essence, this album is probably the closest many people will ever come to experiencing a full-blown gig from the 1960's counter- culture's peak, with H. P. Lovecraft plotting a much more psychedelic rock course than is evident on their softer-sounding studio efforts. Apart from the awesome - and very trippy - 'Wayfaring Stranger', other highlights include the group's spooky signature tune 'The White Ship', which is also given a muscular re-working, whilst the funk-clipped 'The Bag I'm In' positively drips with hip-shaking menace. With the double-tracked vocals of co-lead singers David Michaels and George Edwards and the ethereal, shimmering keyboards - also by Michaels - creating a highly atmospheric vibe, 'Live 1968' must surely rank as the finest evocation yet of this criminally-ignored group, showcasing both their deft songwriting touch and genuine instrumental talents to, at times, scintillating effect. A highly-impressive release, fans of all things cosmic should definitely seek this out." STEFAN TURNER - PROG ARCHIVES

Line-up / Musicians

• - George Edwards / rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, lead vocals
• - David Michaels / keyboards, clarinet, recorder, lead vocals
• - Jerry McGeorge / bass, vocals
• - Tony Cavallari / lead guitar, vocals
• - Michael Tegza / drums, vocals

Length / Продолжительность:

Tracks / Треклист:

01. Wayfaring Stranger (02:39)
02. Let's Get Together (04:38)
03. I've Been Wrong Before (02:47)
04. Drifter (04:14)
05. That's the Bag I'm In (01:46)
06. White Ship (06:35)
07. Country Boy & Bleeker Street (02:38)
08. Time Machine (02:08)
09. That's How Much I Love You Baby (More or Less) (03:57)
10. Gloria Patria (00:30)
11. Spin, Spin, Spin (03:23)
12. It's About Time (05:19)
13. Blue Jack of Diamonds (03:08)
14. Electrollentando (06:36)
15. At the Mountains of Madness (04:59)
16. Mobius Trip (02:44)
17. High Flying Bird (03:24)
18. Nothing's Boy (00:42)
19. Keeper of the Keys (03:08)

Bonus tracks:
20. Anyway That You Want Me (02:40)
21. It's All Over for You (02:37)
22. White Ship (Single Edit) (02:55)
23. Keeper of the Keys (Single Mix) (02:56)

CD Rev-Ola CR REV 88

"This album compiles all the studio recordings (1st and 2nd albums and singles) by the excellent US group H.P. Lovecraft, one of the most important American bands, which flourished in the late 1960s on the West Coast scene (although formed in Chicago, the band moved to California in the early days of their career). Based on the American Folk tradition, the band's sound was similar to that of the early Jefferson Airplane, featuring beautiful vocal harmonies by the group's two founders: guitarist George Edwards and keyboardist Dave Michaels, playing a mixture of self-penned material and covers. They epitomize the American psychedelia probably better than most of their contemporaries both in the instrumental approach, which included atmospheric keyboards, tasty guitar solos and some orchestral arrangements, and the vocal approach, based on perfect, multilayered vocal harmonies. Unfortunately the group fell apart after recording only these two splendid albums. A later incarnation, called just Lovecraft, released two more albums, but these were nowhere near the original greatness. Fortunately, in the 1990s a live recording of the group surfaced on CD ("Live May 11, 1968") showing them in full splendor. This is absolutely classic stuff, essential listening to Classic Rock enthusiasts and Psychedelic heads. Superb stuff!" Jazzis - RateYourMusic