The Euclid - Heavy Equipment (SUPERB PSYCHEDELIC HARD-ROCK US 1970)
"THE EUCLID - HEAVY EQUIPMENT" (SUPERB PSYCHEDELIC HARD-ROCK US 1970)Euclid's "Heavy Equipment"("Flying Dutchman Amsterdam" AMS-12005) is perhaps the best example of the merging of the 60's Psychedelic with Hard-Rock.
"The Euclid" 's musicians themselves were of an excellent caliber and very experienced; "Ralph Mazzota" who plays guitar coming from "Lazy Smoke" and the other members, "Gary Leavitt" (rhythm guitar, lead vocals), "Jay Leavitt" (drums, vocals) coming from "The Cobras" and "Maris Neibergers" (bass guitar).
One of the coolest things about "The Euclid - Heavy Equipment" is the overall evidence of it's group members various background influence on it. You have the RAW & Ferocious high energy 60's Garage element mixed with a very clear and real Psychedelic attitude.
These over shadowing characteristics combined with their new Heavy/Hard-Rock discipline and focus, resulted in one of Heavy Rock albums ever recorded in the United States. Thanks to RLEAVITT (see comments) for the valuable and accurate information.
KILLER! From start to finish!
Produced by "Bobby Herne" also with "FLAT EARTH SOCIETY - WALEECO" (NEW ENGLAND GARAGE PSYCHEDELIC US 1968).
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12 Comments :
I'm from Maine (really no one from Maine has made it on the National stage)and had no clue we had this monster in our past! AWESOME.
Great stuff. Sounds like heavy monster of past. Heavy equipments really good like crane trucks. Great share.
when did harry start playing bass? I grew up with him and he allways played lead, he aven played lead for the edgar winter band for a short while.
I guess it's time for me to correct the info out there about. I can correct the info, as I wasmarried to Gary Leavitt at the time this album was released.Harry Perino (RIP) never played on this album. The members were Gary Leavitt, band leader and rhythm guitar,his brother Jay Leavitt drummer,Maris Neibergers, bass, and Ralph Mazotta, lead guitar. Gary was killed in Montreal, Que. after the group had disbanded.
The info posted by RLEAVITT is correct, my father was a friend of Gary's.
I am the son of Gary Leavitt. This group was put together by my Father. These guys were the best. His brother Jay was the drummer because even though Dad had other drummers, he knew Jay was top notch and could provide what Dad was after for sound. Dad was extremely particular when it came to the selection of musicians in the band. Maris was a phenominal bassist, along with Ralph's awesome riffs. All four together hit that sound that was full of dynamics and raw punch.(6) out of nine songs were written by Dad in 1969. He put life's experiences within his music. Music was the man's passion and gift. This started with a little local "garage band" opening at the Oakfield Grange Hall in a small town in Maine, in 1964.There is so much more band history untold that should be shared to those who hold interest in Euclid. It started so small, then resulted in Heavy Equipment Euclid...
Thanks for the info on the band, and Gary Leavitt, can you share somewhat the story further into how he passed, please?
Back in the 60s I lived in northern Maine & played with a group based in Presque Isle. We used to play opposite them at the National Guard Armory in Caribou. 2 of our guitarists had previously been Cobras with Gary & Jay (and Holly). Their vintage Fender Showman amps were good for at least a 6 on the Richter Scale. Great memories!
I played with the King Cobras in the summer of 1968, up and down Maine and into NH. Only recently did I learn that they had morphed into Euclid. That summer was a great experience; we all lived in a house in York Harbor, practiced like crazy and then hit the road. Looks like Gary was the only one to go on to Euclid.
my name is Jay Leavitt.I'm the drummer for Euclid.So much misinformation.Harry Perino did play on the heavy equipment album.His guitar solo on gimmie some lovin'still stands up today as topshelf.bobby Hearne also was on several cuts playing what is refered to a sitar solo on the tune On the way.actually he was working the volume control knob while playing a far eastern scale.Bobby also did the solo on the stones rendition of All Over Now.Before Eucliid Bobby played a summer gig withus at Salsbury beach'Mass in a group known as King Cobras.At the end of that summer we piicked up Harry Perino on lead guitar.Harry was absoluyly phenominal.He was sherding=but his notes meant something not just scale runs.we had gone through many guitarists from Berkley in boston and let them go because of this reason.This abviously before the Satriani ere which seemed to transform berkleys guitarists.JJoe tought guitar at Berkley with one of his protages being Steve Vie.Anyway-Harry and myself left King Cobras and joined a group "The Ones"and moved to upper state New York.This was a virtual powerhouse band vocally and insturmentally.superunfortunatley this band was never recorded.As usual the band had it's ego problums so I pulled Harry Perino and Maris Neighburgers-bass guitar from the group and reformed aband with my brother-Gary Leavitt.Maris was from Rega Latvia-a very classy guy with chrisma and stage presence.Thus the genisis of "EUCLID" Shortly we decied to add guitarist Ralph Mazzota to make possible 3 guitar part harmony riffs.Ralf also was able to incoporate very highregister harmony parts.the album-"HEAVY EQUIPMENT" was recorded at Fleetwood studios in Boston.It was kinda rushed jammed together as a result of a demo which captured the interest of Bob Thiele CEO of Amsterdam records.Amsterdam was basically a jazz label.I thought "what to hell does a jazz label want to sign us for.Anyway-when the album was mixed down by ourselves-sound engeener-Rus Ham the final mix was like THUNDER .The master was then sent to Record company.The master was then given to Les Paul JR.At the time fram in music sales "bubblegum music was selling unfortunatally Les Paul jr.put so many limetars and compressors and whatever he could to shrink our sound of thunder to a rinky dink tweedeleede sound Was a engineers musical sin.He SUCKS.His father would be ashamed of him. SO in closing-what you hear on "EUCLID HEAVY EQUIPMENT" is a cup of sasperelli tea instead of DIAMONDS LIGHTNING AND THUNDER which it waz and was meant to be
Hi Jay! My sister and I used to go to the Cameo, St John street, maybe? In Portland, whenever you played. You guys were the best. I was watching the Voice tonight and had a flashback to when your wife sang Summertime. She made it my favorite song that night. Thanks for the memories, lol! Sandi
Is Harry still around,we were friends back in early 80s.What a great guitar player
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