The Next Morning - same (1971, US, heavysoulyfuzzpsychrock, Sundazed CDrip, single flac + cue, log, artwork)

*** Reviewed by great fellow Adamus67 ***

The band from Trinidad - residing in America! It sounds few appealing but I can assure everyone that this is a very successful album afterdamp clear Hendrix influence (much fuzzu). In addition, organ Hammond is in the foreground very appealing.

With their roots in the Caribbean The Next Morning were a psychedelic rock band of Trindad who moved to New York during the 60s. namely guys were Caribbean immigrants (four from Trindad, one from the Virgin Islands)

The internet is pretty sparse on any other details about them other than to jump at the opportunity to make a Jimi Hendrix comparison. To be fair, their guitarist Bert Bailey is exceptionally talented, but these guys are a five-man band with a more filled out sound, is a great mix of rock and funk, with some fantastic playing from guitarist Bert Bailey. The title track, "Stone Age"' and "A Jam of Love" are all great,so a better recommendation might be a psych act out of Barbados

African-American psychedelic groups, and rock bands from Trinidad, were both uncommon items around 1970. The Next Morning fit into both categories, making them an interesting curiosity regardless of their music. The music, however—average 1970 hard-rock with soul, hard rock, and psychedelic influences, particularly from Jimi Hendrix—is not as unusual as their origins. One would not suspect from listening that the group were largely from Trinidad, with the proliferation of heavy, bluesy guitar and organ riffs, and the strained soul-rock vocals of Lou Phillips. They recorded one album, released in 1971, that received little notice before their breakup.

The Next Morning formed in the late 1960s in New York, four of the five members having come to the city from Trinidad; Lou Phillips was from the Virgin Islands. Jimi Hendrix was a big influence on the band, as were some other hard rock acts of the period like the Who, and rock-soul hybrids like Sly Stone and the Chamber Brothers. The Next Morning were busy on the New York club circuit and attracted attention from Columbia Records, but ended up signing to the smaller Roulette label, whose Calla subsidiary issued their lone, self-titled LP in 1971. Recorded at New York's Electric Lady Studios, their 1971 debut "The Next Morning" was produced by Dick Jacobs and clearly drew inspiration from Jimi Hendrix. Propelled by Arthur's insane keyboards and Bert Bailey's wicked feedback drenched guitar, self-penned material such as "Changes of the Mind", "Life Is Love" and "Back To the Stone Age" offered up impressive slices of Hendrix-styled heavy rock. The comparison was further underscored by the fact that on numbers such as the growling title track Lou Phillips' vocals bore a modest resemblance to Hendrix. Admittedly there wasn't anything 100% original here, but the overall performances were quite attractive, making for a first-rate set that should appeal to all guitar rock lovers. Although the 'jagged' guitar sounds of Bert Bailey and some unexpected chord shifts made the album less pedestrian than some efforts in the style, the songs tended toward the long and meandering side, and the material was not as outstanding as their influences. The Next Morning's career sputtered out in the early 1970s, with bassist Scipio Sargeant finding some work doing horn arrangements for Joe Tex and Harry Belafonte. 

Thank you so much Adam for that effort

gigic2255

I'll be the first to admit a fascination with black 1960s/1970s hard rock/psychedelic bands such as Black Merda, Hendrix, Ernie Joseph and Purple Image.  With the exception of Hendrix, these outfits were caught in an impossible Catch 22 situation whereby their music was simply too white for black audiences and too black for white audiences.  How do you get out of that no win situation?  That said, here's another little known outfit to add to the list.

The late-1960s found guitarist Scipio Sargeant having left his native Trinidad for New York City.  Living in Brooklyn his lightening quick guitar began attracting attention, including that of  fellow Trinidadian/guitarist Bert Bailey.  Discovering a shared interest in hard rock, the pair decided to form a band, quickly recruiting keyboardist Earl Arthur, brother/drummer Herb Bailey and singer Lou Phillips.  With Scipio switching to bass the quintet began attracting attention on the city's club circuit.  Almost signed by Columbia, the group ended up with a recording contract on the Roulette Records affiliated Calla label.  Recorded at New York's Electric Lady Studios, their 1971 debut "The Next Morning" was produced by Dick Jacobs and clearly drew inspiration from Jimi Hendrix.  Propelled by Arthur's insane keyboards and Bert Bailey's wicked feedback drenched guitar, self-penned material such as "Changes of the Mind", "Life Is Love" and "Back To the Stone Age"  offered up impressive slices of Hendrix-styled heavy rock.  The comparison was further underscored by the fact that on numbers such as the growling title track Lou Phillips' vocals bore a modest resemblance to Hendrix.  Admittedly there wasn't anything 100% original here, but the overall performances were quite attractive, making for a first-rate set that should appeal to all guitar rock lovers.   (Dock it half a star for the butt ugly cover art - courtesy of Rubert Bonardy Jr.)

(~badcatrecords)

Tracks:

01. The Next Morning - 4.75

02. Life - 2.57

03. Changes Of Life - 6.01

04. Life Is Love - 5.34

05. Back To The Stone Age - 5.26

06. Adelane - 2.51

07. A Jam Of Love - 4.24

08. Faces Are Smiling - 6.29

The Next Morning - The Next Morning

Next Morning:

Earl Arthur - keyboards

Bert Bailey - guitar

Herbert Bailey - drums

Lou Phillips - vocals

Scipio Sargeant - bass, guitar 

[Rip and Scans by gigic2255]

Link:   266 mb/file

Click