Total Issue. 1971 United Artists
Total Issue could be considered one of the earliest of French progressive rock albums. The band has that loose jazzy quality that recalls Moving Gelatine Plates with flute and fuzzy guitar leading the way - especially on the brilliant 'La Porte Ouverte'. Not as Canterbury influenced nor as consistent as the almighty MGP, but still a very strong early French effort. There's also a fair amount of acoustic guitar / flute based singer-songwriter/pop material, but arranged in a progressive manner, similar to how the Italians would do. The album is mostly sung in French (a rarity for rock bands in those days), with some English tracks, which are predictably more commercial but all thankfully short. Overall an important historical piece not to be ignored.
Total Issue have five singles, of which three were not released beyond the individual 45's (so six different songs). As well there is a bootleg running around with a title called 'Psychedelic Jam' or something like that. I haven't heard it, but sounds like good bonus material to me! So if all these tracks could be added - AND we get a full biography of the group, that would be awesome.
Priority: 2
3/21/10
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