Search - Lightning :: 1968-1971

Lightning
1968-1971
Genres: Pop, Rock

Track Listings (16) - Disc #1
1. Prelude To Opus IV
2. Hideaway
3. When a Man Could Be Free
4. Madame Sunrise
5. 1930
6. Freedom (Is Life With Living)
7. They've Got the Time
8. (Ghost) Riders In the Sky
9. William
10. Of Paupers And Poets
11. (Under the Screaming Double) Eagle
12. What Have I Now
13. Rat
14. Hideaway
15. Freedom
16. William Tell Overture (The Lone Ranger Theme)

CD Details

All Artists: Lightning
Title: 1968-1971
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Arf Arf
Original Release Date: 1/1/2007
Re-Release Date: 11/6/2007
Genres: Pop, Rock
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 737835510021

Synopsis

Album Description

"A hidden treasure that deserves a wider listen." -- All Music Guide A severe stoner hard rock thunderstorm from 1968-1971, Lightning was an offshoot of Minneapolis '60s legends Litter and featured guitar wizard Tom Zippy Caplan, who left after recording their 1966 garage classic Distortions and 1968 psych masterpiece $100 Fine. The band started out as a power trio and cut one fierce Cream-inspired single, William b/w Of Paupers and Poets, under the White Lightning moniker with Twin Cities record producer Warren Kendrick. The band regrouped into a quintet and scored a record deal with P.I.P., who issued an eight-song album that, over time, has become a highly collectable LP. Lightning became one of the Midwest's hardest working rock acts, touring extensively throughout the region during their three-year tenure. This authorized CD reissue includes the entire LP and the aforementioned 45, plus six more bonus tracks (including edited 45 mixes of two album tracks), all wrapped in an archival twelve-page booklet with lots of photos and liner notes by Litter scribe Doug Sheppard. Fans of Blue Cheer, Cream, Hendrix, and Arf !Arf!'s four psychedelic Dose comps will really dig this new disc.

CD Reviews

White lightning

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 06/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been consuming a lot of 70's "proto-metal" hard rock albums lately from bands like Atomic Rooster, Bloodrock, Budgie, and Warhorse that helped usher in the heavy metal sound I love, so I didn't think twice about picking up this collection of Lightning recordings. Judging by the band photo and some of the song titles, I knew there was a better than average chance I'd like what I heard.

Lightning's sound was undeniably heavy, vaguely psychedelic, and surprisingly melodic. The band definitely drew inspiration from bands like Deep Purple, Cream, and Led Zeppelin. I'm by no means an expert on this era of music, so I'm probably missing a more apt point of comparison, but I know what I like, and I like Lightning's hard rock sound. The combination of heavy, grooving riffs, soulful, emotional singing and the kind of guitar solos that nobody seemed to play outside of that brief period all make for a listening experience that transports you back in time, even if it happens to be before your time. The whole album rocks, but the band's heavy version of the cowboy staple (Ghost) Riders in the Sky and frantic take on the William Tell Overture definitely stand out.

This collection includes the full Lightning album plus a whole host of bonus tracks (b-sides, remixes, etc.), all digitally remastered, and features detailed liner notes that give some insight into this relatively unknown band. If you're a serious classic rock fan, or like me are exploring the evolution of hard rock and metal, this Lightning collection is well worth checking out.

"

Overlooked rockers!

Jon Oneall | Cedar Falls, Iowa USA | 05/31/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What a treat to find the original recordings of this group! Saw them at the Roof Garden in Okoboji, Iowa in 1970, and not surprisingly, they brought the house down! Talented musicans on the cutting edge plus interesting artwork on the orignial album. I owned it but have lost it through the years. Once again, what a treat to find it on CD at last. Check it out, you won't be dissapointed! Midwest rockers live on!!"