1971 Albums

Banana Moon > Allen, Daevid

Artist: Daevid Allen

Label: BYG Records

Catalog#: 529 345

Format: Vinyl

Country: France

Released: 1971

Strawberry Bricks Entry:

For his second album for BYG, Daevid Allen returned to London, as Jean Karakos wanted some Soft Machine star power on board. His visa issues resolved, Allen could legally enter the UK; and after a gig supporting Soft Machine at the Roundhouse, BYG booked Marquee Studios and the ensuing Banana Moon album was recorded over a period of “bacchanalia-filled” days. Gongster Christian Tritsch’s guitar and bass ignite the opening “It’s the Time of Your Life,” which also features Delivery’s Pip Pyle on drums.

Artist: Wild Turkey

Label: Reprise Records

Catalog#: MS 2070

Format: Vinyl

Country: US

Released: 1971

Strawberry Bricks Entry:

After being “excused” from Jethro Tull, bassist Glenn Cornick forged a friendship with drummer John Weathers, which led him to South Wales and its vast pool of musicians, including vocalist Gary Pickford-Hopkins, previously with Weathers in Eyes Of Blue and Big Sleep. Guitarist Graham Williams jumped on board, but shortly thereafter he and Weathers and were off to join Graham Bond’s Magick. Fresh from Man, Jeff Jones replaced Weathers, while another Welsh guitarist, Alan “Tweke” Lewis, was recruited more nefariously.

Artist: Wallenstein

Label: Pilz

Catalog#: 20 29064-6

Format: Vinyl

Country: Germany

Released: 1971-11

Strawberry Bricks Entry:

Though originating from Mönchengladbach, Germany, Wallenstein sported an international lineup: Keyboardist Jürgen Dollase and drummer Harald Grosskopf aided American Bill Barone on guitar and Dutchman Jerry Berkers on bass and vocals. Their debut album Blitzkrieg shared the band’s original name; their choice of using a term associated with Nazi Germany was controversial for the time. Released on the Pilz label, the album was produced by Dieter Dierks. Written by Dollase, Wallenstein’s symphonic styling is based on his classically-trained piano playing.

Artist: Big Sleep

Label: Pegasus (3)

Catalog#: PEG 4

Format: Vinyl

Country: UK

Released: 1971

Artist: Procol Harum

Label: A&M Records

Catalog#: SP-4294

Format: Vinyl

Country: United States

Released: 1971

Artist: Gong

Label: BYG Records

Catalog#: 529.353

Format: Vinyl

Country: France

Released: 1971

Strawberry Bricks Entry:

Gong had now solidified from a loose amalgamation of Paris fringe musicians to a relatively stable touring unit. Daevid Allen, accompanied by partner Gilli Smyth and saxophonist Didier Malherbe, added Pip Pyle on drums and Christian Tritsch on bass; and the band completed their first return to England with a performance at the Glastonbury Festival in June 1971. Kevin Ayers also served a six-month tour duty around this time, leaving a John Peel Session as his recorded legacy with the band. Gong recorded three albums in 1971.

Artist: Trip (19)

Label: RCA Italiana

Catalog#: PSL 10509

Format: Vinyl

Country: Italy

Released: 1971

Strawberry Bricks Entry:

The Trip were an Anglo-Italian group that had origins in London. Enrico “Riki” Maiocchi, of the pop group I Camaleonti, recruited a young Ritchie Blackmore, Billy Gray and Avrid Andersen, among others, and moved to Turin, Italy. Blackmore bowed out early, and was replaced by organist Joe Vescovi; but by the time the band recorded their first album in 1970 for RCA Italiana, Maiocchi was out too. Their debut finds The Trip mixing blues rock with heavy organ and rich harmonies, and some classical influences.