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Ascension
records are ecstatic to announce the official authorized re-issue of three all
time crucial albums from the late 60s/early 70s anywhere in the world, The
Human Instinct's Burning Up Years (1969), Stoned Guitar (1970)
& Pins In It." This marks the first release on CD for the
first 2 albums by this legendary group led by Billy T.K.; Pins In It
was released on CD in 1998 by Little Wing in Germany (packaged in a ridiculous
generic sleeve), but Ascension claims that all LW Human Instinct releases are
"bootlegs".
These Ascension
label titles are licensed from group member Maurice Greer, who allegedly
obtained the rights from Pye/Polygram in 1989. Each CD features the original
LP cover artwork, and a fairly detailed history of the band, including a
memorable Jesse Harper/Jimi Hendrix anecdote. Burning Up Years features
4 original Jesse Harper tracks, as well as a cover of the Kinks' "You
Really Got Me". [Maurice Greer has written in to correct the above
paragraph and inform us that Billy T.K. was merely an employee of his group
for two years; while this may be accurate, there is a general consensus
amongst contempory listeners of the complete Human Instinct output that
guitarist Billy T.K. was integral to the heart & soul of the group's
The latest
release mined from the vaults of the Zodiac Records archive, which, for the
uninitiated was New Zealand's finest label from the late 50's to the early
70's. This compilation starts from the beat boom of Ray Columbus & The
Invaders & The Merseymen and ends with acid tinged psych and prog rock of
the likes of The Hi-Revving Tongues and Space Farm, respectively. All tracks
are from the original mastertapes. Thirty one tracks, featuring tracks from
all six previous CD releases from the Zodiac label releases on Ascension by
The La De Da's, The Pleazers, Ray Columbus & The Invaders, The Underdogs,
The Hi-Revving Tongues & Space Farm, along with tracks seeing their first
release on CD by The Merseymen, Soul Agents, The Layabouts, The Gremlins, The
La De Da's, The Troubled Mind and Sandy Edmonds backed by the Pleazers. 31
tracks -- almost 80 minutes long, nine tracks on CD for the first time