Sides : The New Colony Six & The Raymond John Michael Band (Singles, Demos, Alternate Versions & Unreleased Masters 1965-1974) @ Flac

The New Colony Six started out as one of the better garage bands to come out of the Midwest in the mid-'60s, playing tough British Invasion-style rock & roll (their "At the River's Edge" made it onto the Nuggets box set), and they later evolved into a surprisingly sophisticated and skillful pop group that scored nationwide hits with the singles "Love You So Much" and "Things I'd Like to Say." However, this collection of odds and ends doesn't quite play to either side of the band's personality; in fact, most of the 24 songs aren't actually by the New Colony Six, with 11 tunes by the Raymond John Michael Band (which featured three NC6 alumni, singer Ray Graffia, drummer Chick James, and keyboard man Craig Kemp) and one each by Junior and Graffia, both latter-day Ray Graffia projects. The compilers also present a number of tracks in multiple versions, which gets a bit tiring; "The Power of Love," "Accept My Ring," and "Rap-A-Tap" by the New Colony Six all appear twice, while there are two different takes of "Hitch-Hiker" by the Raymond John Michael Band, and their cover of Terry Reid's "Rich Kid Blues" shows up no less than three times. Given the plentiful supply of alternate takes and recordings by post-New Colony Six acts, Sides is clearly for hardcore NC6 fans only, but that's not to say they won't enjoy this collection; there's a charging live recording of the New Colony Six rarity "The Time Is Right," "Come and Give Your Love to Me" is a fine high-attitude rocker, most of the Raymond John Michael Band material sounds like a solid if slightly over-polished variation on the latter-day NC6, "Bobby and Georgia" and "Gwendolyn" are witty novelty numbers, and Graffia's "Sides" is an admirably ballsy hard rock number. In short, if you're looking for the New Colony Six's greatest hits, steer clear of Sides, but if you're a committed fan looking for some choice rarities, you'll find them on this collection.

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The New Colony Six:

Ray Graffia - Vocals

Chick James - Drums

Pat Mcbride - Harmonica

Craig Kemp - Organ

Wally Kemp - Bass

Gerry Van Kollenburg - Guitar

Ronnie Rice - Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar

Ellery Temple - Bass

Les Kummel - Bass

Billy Herman - Vocals, Drums

Bruce Gordon - Bass

Chuck Jobes - Keyboards

Skip Griparis - Vocals, Guitar

The Raymond John Michael Band:

Ray Graffia - Vocals

Chick James - Drums

Craig Kemp - Organ

Greg Nashan - Guitar

Terry Stone - Bass 

Jeff Tuckman - Bass 

04. New Colony Six - The Power Of Love (unreleased alternate version)

05. New Colony Six - Accept My Ring (1967 alternate version)

06. New Colony Six - Rap-A-Tap (alternate demo version with long ending)

07. New Colony Six - Accept My Ring (instrumental backing track)

08. New Colony Six - Come And Give Your Love To Me (45 demo)

09. New Colony Six - The Time Is Right (unreleased 1965 live recording)

10. New Colony Six - Muddy Feet (On The Mississippi) (unreleased 1970 demo)

11. Raymond John Michael / Let There Be Love (1970 demo 45)

12. Raymond John Michael / Feel Free (b-side of above)

13. Raymond John Michael / Rich Kid Blues (1971 demo 45)

14. Raymond John Michael / Hitch-Hiker (b-side of above)

15. Raymond John Michael / Rich Kid Blues (unreleased 1971 stereo short version)

16. Raymond John Michael / Bobby & Georgia (unreleased 1970 demo)

17. Raymond John Michael / Hitch-Hiker (unreleased stereo 45 version)

18. Raymond John Michael / I Can't Believe That We're Alone (unreleased demo)

19. Raymond John Michael / Rich Kid Blues (unrelesaed 1971 stereo long version)

20. Raymond John Michael / Gwendolyn (unreleased 1970 demo)

21. Raymond John Michael / I Confess (unreleased 1970 demo)

22. Junior / I Will Always Think About You (unreleased 1974 demo)

23. New Colony Six - Can't You See Me Cry (2005 acoustic version)

24. Graffia Brothers / Sides (new 2007 version)

Three basic elements are essential in the making of any successful Rock & Roll band talent, creativity and versatility Chicago's NEW COLONY SIX excelled with an abundance of all three, resulting in a vast array of musical styles that easily placed them upon the highest plateau above their rivals.

In order to fully appreciate the multi-faceted talents of the New Colony Six, one must investigate the various "sides" of the Chameleon-like approach to their music The selection of rare released and unreleased recordings on this compilation offer superb examples of the awe-inspiring creativity and versatility of the New Colony sound.

Also included on this CD are rare and unreleased tracks by THE RAYMOND JOHN MICHAEL BAND, the post-NC6 group formed by original Colony members Ray Graffia, Chic James and Craig Kemp in late 1969. For the first-time listener or die-hard fan, these "sides" prove that The New Colony Six and The Raymond John Michael Band were both indeed masters of their craft.

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