Looking for some more music that is hard rock and also influenced by English folk, preferably with some psychedelic influence and guitar soloes, such as Jethro Tull and some of Led Zeppelin. I was debating titling this thread “Middle Earth Club” music from the London establishment in the late 60s.
Some bands that are pretty darn close as they take from both traditions but not simulaneously: Pink Floyd, The Kinks.
I also know about and like Fairport Convention although they do not have enough guitar solos for what I am looking for. But the folky side is definitely what I am looking for a little of.
Is anything by Traffic looking into? Paper Sun has obviously the psychedelic influence and they have an album called John Barleycorn Must Die: is that an album worth listening to? Does it contain the type of solo-y noodling contained in Low Spark?
An album that would make the cut if it weren’t so dark and metal: Sabbath’s eponymous. Some zeppeliny blues, some mystic slow interludes, some crazy hard rock.
Julian Cope, maybe best known as part of The Teardrop Explodes, or as an alternate archaeologist, or as a chronicler of German / Danish / Japanese heavy metal [truly a renaissance man], has a site - Head Heritage -that serves as a bit of a clearing house for those with your ungodly tastes.
It used to feature a forgotten classic album of the month, but unless that has been shifted to another site, I’m not sure that archive of so many excellent records is readily accessible any more.
Some of The Strawbs output probably fits quite nicely. Down by the Sea for instance.
Or Blue Angel
I’d probably avoid their big hit, Part of the Union, though!
Good answer – the “Argus” album is definitely worth checking out.
And yeah, any Richard Thompson would fit the bill. That guy is just a monster on both acoustic and electric. Get a copy of “Rumor and Sigh”, listen to “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”, then skip ahead and listen to “Mother Knows Best”.
Gentle Giant: They are the only rock band to be influenced by medieval music for starters if you go back that far. They have acoustic elements, and they can get very loud, sometimes obnoxiously so. But there are real melodies in there. Octopus, Free Hand, A Glass House and the self titled are all great.
You might try the early albums by Genesis such as Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot and Selling England by the Pound - you can follow the chain as they morph from drumless acoustic folk through progressive rock.
Also, you could take a look at Lindisfarne - the albums you would be looking for are,
Nicely out of tune, Fog on the tyne, Dingly Dell
follow the link to get a list of their best known songs
follow the link to get a list of their best known songs
You might also try out some of Gerry Rafferty’s early stuff, he was in a band called the Humblebums and of course Stealers Wheel - I believe Billy Connolly participated occasionally
Also, I think you will find that ‘The Incredible String Band’ fits in with this company - and almost certainly were doing the music circuits in the same places at the same time as Gerry Rafferty - to be honest there is a huge bluegrass influence there too.
Another group that may be of interest is ‘Capercaille’ - hope you are ok with the Gaelic - I know it does not fit in with your original specification
Be-Bop Deluxe {yeah, it was a rubbish name} are well worth checking out, especially their early albums like Axe Victim and Sunburst Finish. Less hard rock than Ronson-influenced glam, but some monstér guitaring from Bill Nelson mixed in with delicate pastorals. “Rocket Cathedrals”, “Jets At Dawn” and “Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape” are just terrific rock songs.
