Tuesday, September 30, 2008

25e Regiment Pt 2

I don't usually like to post whole LP's, but in this case I'll make it an exception, as this record has never been reissued and I only have the mp3's myself. A lucky google search turned up the entire 2nd LP by 25eme Regiment (a/k/a: 25ieme Regiment or 25e Regiment) entitled "Ecology."

I am a HUGE fan of the 25eme Regiment's stuff on Tony Roman's Revolution label. As far as I know, they only put out 3 singles on Revolution. I cannot tell if they came out before or after this record, as far as I can tell, both came out in 1970. I have read online that Ecology is from 1970 and two of the singles released on the Revolution label are covers of songs from 1970 ("Venus" by Shocking Blue and "Evil Ways" by Santana).

However, I THINK that this came out before the stuff on Revolution, as there are funk elements in the Revolution stuff that makes me think it's from at least 1971.

The big suprise upon listening to this LP is that is entirely in English. I do not think it's Georges Thurston singing, but it well might be. It's a nice soft-psych LP with one or two great moments, but I am kind of suprised how average it is, considering that amount of money (in the range of 100 bucks), i've seen it go for. It is interesting though that unlike their French material, there are no cover songs on here (as far as I can tell). It seems the idea of being conscious of the environment  had some cachet in 1970, as both 25e Regiment and Rare Earth released albums with that title that year. Perhaps the first celebration of Earth Day had something to do with it?

25e Regiment- Ecology