MEDICINE HEAD NEW BOTTLE OLD MEDICINE SEALED
$
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Description
U.S. BUYERS SHIPPING MEDIA $ 5.50 PRIORITY $ 7.00 ADDITIONAL RECORDS $ 1.50 . BOTH WITH A TRACKER. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PAY ACTUAL COST ( ESTIMATE $ 16.00 - $ 17) ADDITIONAL RECORDS ( $5 ) COMBINED SHIPPING ALWAYS HONORED. COVER SEALED . RECORD SEALED . LABEL CBS/DANDELION RECORDS 197? USA. CATALOG # DANDELION 63757. SEE PICTURES ON MON/TUES. 1970 debut album from the British duo, originally released on Radio One DJ John Peel's Dandelion label. When, in early 1970, legendary Peel ventured up to Wolverhampton's Lafayette club to do a gig, he came upon two guys who called themselves Medicine Head, the uniquely configured duo of John Fiddler and Peter Hope-Evans. So impressed was Peel that he signed Medicine Head to his label, Dandelion Records and later that year released New Bottles, Old Medicine. the first of three studio albums that Medicine Head would release on the revered label. Sonically restored and beautifully re-packaged with seven bonus tracks, new artwork; poster-style sleeve, complete lyrics and extensive liner notes featuring an interview with songwriter and one half of Medicine Head, John Fiddler. Cherry Red. MEDICINE HEAD (John Fiddler-guitar,vocals,bass drum and cymbal and Peter Hope-Evans-harmonica,mouth bow,homemade percussion)released this,their first album in 1970. Championed by legendary DJ John Peel,the duo were signed to his Dandelion Records label. The group also released several singles (some heard here as bonus tracks)and albums before the duo signed with another label,where they had a bit more commercial success. This album is,essentially,the group's live set,recorded in the studio without an audience.
The songs are a combination of folk and blues. The duo was influenced by (one-man band) Jesse Fuller (if you haven't heard him,his style is unique),whose instrumentation was similar to this duo,solo John Lee Hooker,and Bob Dylan,among others. Their sound is a combination of harder edged British folk music,and Chicago blues. At times their sound was so full that listeners thought they were hearing a full band,and were surprised at the fullness of the sound coming from two people. At times the vocals are subdued sounding,almost thoughtful in their feel,with instrumental backing oftentimes consisting of understated guitar and various percussion instruments-all of this setting off the lyrics nicely. On the track "Do It Now" (among others),an instrumental,Hope-Evans harmonica sounds straight out of Chicago's South Side. Likewise,"Fire Under Mountain" sounds very bluesy-from the distorted harp,the insistent percussion,and the vocals,which sound as if Fiddler sang through a vintage mic.
This is music that could only have sprung from the late 60's/early 70's era-when Britain (and the U.S.) gave birth to many unique groups/sounds. MEDICINE HEAD were never popular on a large scale. They had a few singles (including some for another label not heard here) that did relatively well,but their sound never met with wide-scale appreciation. For listeners who like a combination of folk-style lyrics,but with a South Side sound and feel,this is something worth checking out. Their sound was unique even for the era when experimentation and stretching of musical boundaries was the norm. Their sound will creep up on you-and that's a good thing. On his death,a box owned by John Peel was found. Inside were recordings by artists that he revered-including a couple of MEDICINE HEAD singles. This album will tell you why.
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