Week of August 26, 2007

Excalibur

Personnel:
Werner Odenkirchen - Guitar, Vocals
Hartmut Schlogens - Keyboards, Vocals
Manfred Terstappen – Bass

Album:
First (Reprise 44163) 1971
CD: Retro Disc International 33010, 2007

According to the cover of “The First Album”, this trio was discovered by Dicky Tarrach, drummer in The Rattles, Propeller, Wonderland and Brave New World. The album was recorded at Windrose Dumont Time Studio in Hamburg with Tarrach as producer and additional help from Achim Reichel (bass) and Hans Lampe (percussion, later member of La Düsseldorf and Neu). The resulting product was in many ways similar to Propeller or British band Family in their heaviest mood. As a whole, it is somewhat easy-going though. The hard rock material (nine tracks in all) was lacking in both originality and catchy tunes. A single ("Get Me, If You Want" coupled with "Hollywood Dreams") was lifted from the album, another one ("Why Do People Cry" coupled with "Run Through The Past") featured original songs, possibly scheduled for a second Reprise album (which never appeared). Three more Excalibur songs were included on the obscure “Hells Angels In Rock” sampler, released on Jaguar in 1974: "Danger Zone", "Join The Club" and "Love Circle" These were the last traces of Excalibur.

Taken from Cosmic Dreams at Play - A guide to German Progressive and Electronic Rock by Dag Erik Asbjørnsen, Borderline Productions, ISBN 1-899855-01-7


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