Salem Mass (American heavy prog or electic prog)

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   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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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	Topic: Salem Mass (American heavy prog or electic prog) 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


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.

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!!!

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: 65248	Posted: May 05 2010 at 19:16
	tough sell though I do hear some prog in there somewhere, we'll see, thanks