Czar

Home to one of the decade’s more maniacal album covers (have you ever seen anything so deliciously diabolical?), Czar first appeared in 1970 on UK-based Fontana Records. The record itself, a dark, brooding, largely keyboard-driven affair, is yet another example of the burgeoning progressive rock scene that blossomed in the later stages of the psychedelic ‘60s. There are plenty of heavy riffs, blistering guitar leads and thumping bass lines—see “Tread Softly on My Dreams,” “Cecilia” and “Follow Me,” for example—but it’s the ballads “Today,” “Oh Lord I’m Getting Heavy” and “Good Morning Sunshine” (the last two included as bonus tracks) that best showcase the band’s songwriting abilities. The group’s penchant for two- and three-part harmonies also adds a bit of depth to what is overall a rather appetizing collection of prog-influenced hard rock.

Notes: Czar received a straight reissue a couple of years ago from Italy’s Akarma Records, but this 2007 Sunbeam release includes rare memorabilia and photographs, extensive liner notes and a whopping eight bonus tracks. The package also includes an interview with Bob Hodges, the band’s keyboard player. He had this to say: “I find it hard to comprehend that people are so interested in the album today.” I can hear you asking yourself the same question.