Salem Mass (American heavy prog or electic prog)

Salem Mass was a short-lived American progressive rock band who played mix of heavy prog rock a la DP or UH with space rock/psychedelic influences in plenty of Moog synthesizer solos and leads (one of the first band which used this fantastic instrument :-). However the most similar band to Salem Mass is surely Black Widow (also lyrically).

line-up:

Jim Klahr (keyboards), Mike Snead (guitar, vocals), Steve Towery (drums, vocals), Matt Wilson (bass, vocals)

They've recorded only one album called "Witch Burning " in 1971 with great 10-minutes title track full of Moog soloing. This record also features plenty of goog Hammonds of course...

audio clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-MWpXQ-rhw&feature=related

http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Burning-Salem-Mass/dp/B000009PTX

full review:

http://www.progressiveworld.net/salemmass.html

other review from http://www.magnaphonemagazine.com:

"In 1971 four buddies entered their favorite bar in Sun Valley, Idaho and recorded a piece of low-fi progressive nostalgia. Possessing all the starry-eyed wonder of Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, but without the Major Label and state of the art studio, they recorded a very unique but of history. Progressive rock does not lend itself to the same lo-fi conditions that garage rock and metal do. It's just a fact. Yet I am ecstatic these guys tried it. Why? Because somehow in the midst of this confused (albeit entertaining) record they pulled out a bona-fide lost classic: "The Drifter", the last song on side two. It's a great prog rave-up worthy of Deep Purple or Uriah Heep and reason enough this should be in your collection. -"

more info:

http://www.recordheaven.net/body.cfm?x=browsetoplist&ID=&iID=51421&sc=&ob=&so=ASC&pp=20&pn=1&sl=true

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/salem_mass

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1209463/a/Witch+Burning.htm

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Atavachron Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 30 2006 Location: Pearland Status: Offline Points: 65261	Topic: Salem Mass (American heavy prog or electic prog) Posted: May 05 2010 at 19:16
	tough sell though I do hear some prog in there somewhere, we'll see, thanks

ANDREW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 21 2005 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 3064	Posted: May 05 2010 at 18:17
	I have this album and i like it very much!!!

harmonium.ro Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: August 18 2008 Location: Anna Calvi Status: Offline Points: 22989	Posted: May 05 2010 at 05:40
	A couple more YouTube samples: The synth sounds on "Bare Tree" are interesting indeed but the rest is not very convincing.

ozzy_tom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: March 15 2006 Location: China/Poland Status: Offline Points: 754	Posted: May 05 2010 at 03:04
	Salem Mass was a short-lived American progressive rock band who played mix of heavy prog rock a la DP or UH with space rock/psychedelic influences in plenty of Moog synthesizer solos and leads (one of the first band which used this fantastic instrument :-). However the most similar band to Salem Mass is surely Black Widow (also lyrically). line-up: Jim Klahr (keyboards), Mike Snead (guitar, vocals), Steve Towery (drums, vocals), Matt Wilson (bass, vocals) They've recorded only one album called "Witch Burning " in 1971 with great 10-minutes title track full of Moog soloing. This record also features plenty of goog Hammonds of course... audio clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-MWpXQ-rhw&feature=related http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Burning-Salem-Mass/dp/B000009PTX full review: http://www.progressiveworld.net/salemmass.html other review from http://www.magnaphonemagazine.com: "In 1971 four buddies entered their favorite bar in Sun Valley, Idaho and recorded a piece of low-fi progressive nostalgia. Possessing all the starry-eyed wonder of Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, but without the Major Label and state of the art studio, they recorded a very unique but of history. Progressive rock does not lend itself to the same lo-fi conditions that garage rock and metal do. It's just a fact. Yet I am ecstatic these guys tried it. Why? Because somehow in the midst of this confused (albeit entertaining) record they pulled out a bona-fide lost classic: "The Drifter", the last song on side two. It's a great prog rave-up worthy of Deep Purple or Uriah Heep and reason enough this should be in your collection. -" more info: http://www.recordheaven.net/body.cfm?x=browsetoplist&ID=&iID=51421&sc=&ob=&so=ASC&pp=20&pn=1&sl=true http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/salem_mass http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1209463/a/Witch+Burning.htm