Powertrane

Scott Morgan's Powertrane is the latest in a long line of rocking rhythm and blues bands from the spiritual home of the genre, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Powertrane was formed early in 2001. When Geoff Ginsberg, president of Real O Minds Records (Philadelphia), brought Robert Gillespie into Forty-Ounce Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan to overdub the guitar work on Morgan's song, "Satisfier", the chemistry between Morgan and Gillespie was immediately apparent. Both are seasoned veterans of Detroit's storied rock-n-roll history. Morgan, the prime soul sound of the Rationals in the 60's, went on to form the nucleus of the Sonic's Rendezvous Band (with Fred "Sonic" Smith of the MC5) in the 70's, Scots Pirates (with Scott Asheton) in the 80's, and, more recently, the Hydromatics. In the mid 70's, Gillespie was a charter member of the "New MC5" with Rob Tyner; later he and Johnny Angelos teamed up to form the notorious Torpedos. Gillespie joined with Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels in the early 80's, started the Motor City Rockers (with ex-Romantic Jimmy Marinos) in the early 90's, and then returned to work with Mitch Ryder in the mid-90's to present. Joining these Detroit rock-n-roll warriors are two young and talented Ann Arbor-based musicians. Andy Frost has been playing drums with Scott Morgan's Hydromatics lineup and previously played with the High Rollers. Chris Taylor has rocked many local fans as the lead guitarist of the punk band Mazinga; he plays bass guitar for Powertrane. Featuring guest musicians Deniz Tek (Radio Birdman), Ron Asheton (the Stooges) and Hiawatha Bailey (Cult Heroes), Ann Arbor Revival Meeting is a must-have for aficionados of the Motor City sound.

Official site
Myspace site

Ann Arbor Revival Meeting (2003)

1. R.I.P. R&R
2. Hangin' On
3. Runaway Slaves
4. Ready to Ball
5. Blood from a Stone
6. Taboo
7. Earthy
8. Shellback
9. Love and Learn
10. What Gives
11. Dangerous
12. Outside
13. 1969
14. I Wanna Be Your Dog
15. Down on the Street
16. No Fun
17. TV Eye

format: mp3
bitrate: 128kbps
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Beyond the Sound (2007)

1. Chilly Willy Is Missing
2. Beyond the Sound
3. Mixed Up Shook Up World
4. Ain't No Time
5. Inner-Flight Head Royale
6. Pearl
7. One-Eyed Jacks
8. Nightliner
9. I Stole Everything
10. Taboo
11. Talk Is Cheap

format: mp3
bitrate: 128kbps
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The Hydromatics

The Hydromatics are made up of Detroit rocker Scott Morgan (The Rationals, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Scots Pirates, Dodge Main), The Hellacopters' Nicke Royale, and two Dutch punks, Tony Slug (Loveslug, Nitwitz) and Theo Brouwer (Nitwitz, Big Paulus). They got together to record an album in February '99 in Amsterdam with studio wizard Evert Kaatee twiddling the knobs. The idea was to make a definitive hard rock album featuring Morgan's legendary voice. Both Slug and Royale are huge fans of Morgan's work with Sonic's Rendezvous Band in the '70s, and the had recorded two songs, "Heaven" "City Slang, " by the seminal Detroit/Ann Arbor band. When the Hellacopters made their U.S. debut in November '98 in New York City, Morgan joined the band for scorching encores of the above-mentioned songs. They also recorded a single, the ripping "Down Right Blue", produced by Daniel Rey with Morgan and Royale sharing the lead vocals, which has been released on Sub-Pop. When the Hellacopters returned to the U.S. in December, Morgan did some shows with them in the Mid-west adding more songs to their collective repertoire. Although they are from different generations and half a world apart geographically, Morgan and the Hellacopters fit together perfectly. Slug was in the loop in terms of getting Morgan and the Hellacopters together, and, always thinking, figured it would be great if he and his pal Nicke could get Morgan to record with them. Morgan jumped at the chance, as these guys understand his music and have a certain reverence for it. The plan was to give some of the old SRB tunes a proper studio recording as well as bringing in new songs. The results were impressive to say the least.

- Geoff Ginsberg, All Music Guide

Myspace site

Parts Unknown (1999)

1. Earthy
2. Valentine Frankenstein
3. Dangerous
4. Runaway Slaves
5. Heaven
6. Get It Together
7. No Justice (in Rock 'n' Roll)
8. Getting There (Is Half the Fun)
9. 7 Come 11
10. Nailed
11. Calling LWA
12. Baby Won't Ya

format: mp3
bitrate: 192 kbps
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Powerglide (2001)

1. Ready to Ball
2. RIP R'n'R
3. Soulbone
4. Asteroid B-612
5. Tumblin' Down
6. Love and Learn
7. Sweet Nothing
8. Powerglide
9. Hustlin'
10. Thrill
11. Green Eyed Soul
12. Do It Again
13. Electrophonic Tonic

format: mp3
bitrate: 192kbps
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The Earth Is Shaking (2007)

1. Standin' at the Juke
2. Baby Jane
3. Mystically Yours
4. Streets of Amsterdam
5. Funball
6. Power and Glory
7. The Most
8. Speechless
9. All Down the Line
10. The Earth is Shaking
11. Detroit Leaning
12. Monumental

format: mp3
bitrate: 256kbps
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