The Devil's Anvil ● Hard Rock from the Middle East

This album is either uproariously funny (see: the front cover) or devastatingly sad (I own a copy). First released in 1967 on Columbia Records, The Devil’s Anvil’s Hard Rock from the Middle East is exactly what it sounds like—heavy pop-rock tracks accompanied by a host of Middle Eastern instruments, including the bouzouki, the oud and the tamboura. There is plenty of guitar, drums and keyboards, too—future Mountain co-founder Felix Pappalardi is inexplicably on board as the band’s vocalist/bassist—but the focus here is clearly on creating psychedelic acid rock with an Arabic twist. The songs themselves, a collection of mostly traditional numbers (“Wala Dai,” “Selim Alai,” “Hala Laya” and the oft-covered “Misirlou”), change little from track to track. In a nutshell: Lots of fuzz guitar, pounding drumbeats, heavy bass lines and several lyrics of a non-English variety. Legend has it the album was released on the eve of the Arab-Israeli War, which ultimately killed any chance the band had at radio airplay (the lack of commercial material might also have been a factor). The end result? A quick fade to black and an entry here at The “I-Own-Every-Record-You’d-Never-Buy” CD Consumer’s Guide. Good things come to those who wait.

Notes: The most recognizable take on “Misirlou” is the 1962 version from Dick Dale and His Del-Tones. You probably don’t remember it… unless you’re a fan of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K14qx3IKe8.