Index - Index 'Black Label Album' (MONSTER PSYCHEDELIC 60s GARAGE US 1967)
"INDEX - INDEX" 'BLACK LABEL ALBUM' (MONSTER PSYCHEDELIC 60s GARAGE US 1967)Index was formed in early 1966 in Grosse Point, Michigan when "Jim Valice" (17 years old) met "Gary Francis".
"Jim Valice" played in a local 60s Garage band, and "Gary Francis" played in another band.
One day they had a jam session with one more cool guitarist "John B. Ford".
Their first jam was exciting, the sound was full and powerful with "John B. Ford"'s technical guitar playing.
At the time "Gary Francis" didn't have his own bass guitar. "Jim Valice" and "John B. Ford" bought a violin shaped bass for "Gary Francis" as present.
Index from left to right: John B. Ford, Jim Valice and Gary FrancisThey became a party band, playing at a pool,and in the living room, in the summer of 1966.
They covered "Chuck Berry", "The Animals", and played their original songs.
At the time the band was called "Chicken Every Sunday".
One afternoon after a session, they decided to change the name.
"John B. Ford" went over to a book shelf, and said taking a book: "Let's make the name from what ever page falls open!".
He tossed the book to the floor. The band changed their name to the INDEX.
"Jim Valice" said: "When INDEX didn't have a gig or practice session, we went to these clubs to hear what was going down".
"Mike Morgan", drummer with "The Underdogs" went to Austin High School with me.
We became friends and exchanged riffs. I also got to know "Arnie DeClark" of "The Wanted". "The Wanted" was an upscale rock quintet with original material. They wrote "Here To Stay" and performed a "Wilson Pickett" favorite, "In The Midnight Hour", better than anyone".
In the summer of 1967 INDEX was attracked to a new record, with unique, innovative sound, it was "The Jimi Hendrix Experience". Hearing it they tried to make their own Psychedelic sound. "John B. Ford" wrote "Fire Eyes", "Shock Wave" and "Feedback".
In the fall "Jim Valice" got into The University of Detroit, "John B. Ford" went to Yale University in Connecticut.
He came Detroit every other weekend to play with the band.
INDEX was playing around Detroit area; during the Christmas holidays in 1967, INDEX opened for "The Rationals".
At the concert they noticed someone tried to record their music.Next morning the band tried their own recording (the so-called "The Black Label" album).
The basement became recording studio. Throughout December they had gigs in evening and rehearsed for first album during the day. After 3 days recording, they spent a couple of days mixing and adding sound effects to make feedback.
The album cover was basic black and white. On the cover was a picture of "Orpheus and Bacchus" founders of a singing club "John B. Ford" had joined at Yale University.
On the back was their picture. The record pressing company in Detroit needed a label and logo to press on the record, they selected DC from their friend "Dwight Conger" (aka DC) for his great help with the band.
Originals of this album (DC Records no#, black sleeve w/ photo, black label, Mono) are extremely rare; rumours claims that only 100 were pressed and were given away to friends.
The first few songs are sort of Psychedelic Folk-Rock.
After that things get much better with fuzzed, over-reverbered and Wah-Wah guitars floating in and out of the mix at odd intervals and volume levels.
The album is full of feedback and rather fuzzy guitars while the bass guitar is pretty loud.
While the vocals are much more in the background and the guitars sound a bit different, it is almost of similar quality.
"Index first album (called also "The Black Label" album) has an incredible primitive attitude. With amateur teenage vocals and an unreal soundscape.
A true missing link item bridging the early and late 60s sounds".[PL]
see also "INDEX - INDEX" -RED LABEL ALBUM- (MONSTER PSYCHEDELIC 60s GARAGE US 1968)
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16 Comments :
Hey, thanks for the great postings. Really love the blog.
cheers,
mr flibble
Hey, thanks for the great postings. Really love the blog.
cheers,
mr flibble
Thanks for this one. Any chance of posting their second LP or as it is known as the "Red LP". Several of the songs have been re-recorded from the first LP. For example "Eight Miles High" has the vocals much more up front. Thanks
Thankx for this post with the covers.
If you want to visit me...
http://calcetinesdelunares.blogspot.com
Well i looked at rateyourmusic.com and the tracklist there is the same as on the first album, just a different cover. But, i really want to hear the second album, hooked on the first.
thank you !
I'm sorry but i don't have The RED album... i tried to find it but it has not been possible until today. So i cannot not post it...
see you soon!
What the--another fuckin record I had. I sold my copy about 3-6? months before my house fire would have claimed it. I can't come close to describing how wicked-better yet how many wicked hours I spent deep into this one.God just seeing the back again and those gloves-- let me tell you- sitting in a tractor going 6-7 mph for 18hrs can become a very bum trip every once and while. I remember listening to this and coming down on Shadrack back to Index back to Shadrack on and on in that 190hp Deere.
Haha! Man, someone sold it on eBay, ended at US $3,951.00, pretty much money. Someone should seek up those guys, i know that they released The Red Album, and after that JUST US. Interview someone?
Hello Danny!
I wish I could get in contact with someone in that band, i might find them on facebook or somewhere.
we'll see!
cheers, have a nice one!
I've actually found Jim Valice on Facebook and i THINK i found John B. Ford on the net (http://www.odu.edu/bpa/jbford/), it says the he graduated from Yale in '71, which is kinda the same time as John B. Ford from INDEX would have, try and contact him in there, i don't have the stomach for it, haha. Good luck.
I have the link for the second album, if you want send me a mail ok?
Alice
THANK YOU Alice!
Please send me your contact in my e-mail: psychedelic.rocknroll@gmail.com
...Really really MONSTER Psy, through the Mono Sound, for my mind better than the Red one...
Thank you very much ;-))))))))))))))
Thanx a lot!
Do you still have that link?
LINK: http://freetexthost.com/6dug5bswcp
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