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Hi there fellow reformers!
Hope all is well!
Yesterday me and Thomas, the guitarist of Wasa Express, was over at Janne Kullhammar for some jamming. I had written two tunes and Thomas too. I had brought my recording equipment and today I have mixed the first tune for you to like or dislike. It all went very smoothly. The tunes were presented and we just played and jammed. It was a great feeling, very spontaneous. Just the way I like it!
The first tune is called Downhill and is written by me.
I also present you with a video of the second tune that Carl-Eiwar Sect played at the Backstage festival:
For Your Information: Cedars (Lebanon)
Yes a Lebanese psyche group! Cool! Read more about the Cedars and listen to the original under the video clip.
"Formed in Beirut, Lebanon, around 1964, they were originally known as the Top 5. By 1966 they’d become the Sea-ders with Albert Haddad on lead guitar, Joe Shehadeh on rhythm, Raymond Azoury on bass and Zad Tarmush on drums; all four band members sang. Their first 45, “Thanks A Lot” b/w “Better Loved,” was released in Lebanon in 1966 on the Symbol label. The A-side in particular was really strong, propelled by Haddad’s spellbinding double-picked Eastern motif and Azoury’s unusual pulsating bassline. It quickly became a smash hit in Lebanon, selling around 10,000 copies and topping the charts. Shortly afterwards, Decca Records made contact with the group and offered them a record deal in the UK. The group relocated to London, and in 1967 Decca released “Thanks A Lot” b/w “Undecidedly” as their first British single. The flipside was another excellent Middle Eastern flavored beat number, which had been recorded in Lebanon at the same session as the A-side. The record got some airplay on the pirate stations, but failed to break into the charts.
Nevertheless, Decca went ahead with an EP release, featuring the three previously released tracks along with the fine “Cause I Do Care.” Apparently the record had a very limited pressing as it’s now very rare.
By 1968 the Sea-ders had become the Cedars. Their next single paired two of their strongest original songs to date, “For Your Information” and “Hide If You Want to Hide.” For the recording session the group was teamed with producer Tony Clarke, who also worked with the Tremeloes. This time they employed an authentic Middle Eastern instrument, a bouzouki. Played in tandem with an electric lead guitar, the acoustic bouzouki gave the record a highly unique and appealing flavor. Unfortunately, despite the high quality and originality of both the material and the production, the record again went nowhere.
Much to the group’s disappointment, their producer turned to outside songwriters for their third and final British single, “I Like the Way” (written by Richie Cordell) and “I Don’t Know Why.” Nevertheless the Cedars infused the songs with their own Eastern-derived sound to pleasing effect. When this single failed to click, Decca not only dropped the group, but also presented them with a huge bill for studio time. Defeated and nearly destitute, the four Cedars headed home to Beirut, leaving their prized musical equipment behind.
The story didn’t end there, though—not quite anyway. The following year, 1969, “For Your Information” was released in Turkey, where it became a huge hit, going on to be covered by several Turkish artists. The Cedars, though, had by now gone their separate ways. Fortunately, their eight-song recorded legacy remains to remind the world of their uniquely exotic sound. Thanks a lot for that.
Mike Stax
Ugly Things Magazine"
Live well friends! Long live the obscure!
Jesper
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