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 lonely whistle catalog  /  the roots of madness

the roots of madness were formed in 1969 by geoff alexander and don campau in san jose, ca. Inspired by albert ayler, the fugs and capt beefheart, the roots of madness recorded albums of avant garde free jazz, blues, twisted rock and other genres on open reel tape.

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Archives: Roots of Madness and related projects

Roots Of Madness/ "The Girl In The Chair" (2005 re-issue)

Limited edition re-issue of the bizarre 1971 LP recorded in San Jose, California. Includes Stockhausen-like improvs, militant poetry, piano and group ramblings, harmonica solo and a tender Glenn Yarborough type ballad. While they last! Very limited suppliesLP $30

Roots Of Madness "The Girl In The Chair" (1971)CDR copy from original album pressing. CDR $4.50

Roots Of Madness "Early Efforts" (1969-70)

Raw and blistering clarinet, piano percussion skronk, electric suburb blues, microphone feedback. Insanity and totally lo fi. 2 X CDR $7

Roots Of Madness "End Of The Earth" (1971) Group improvs, twisted blues, screeching reeds, long rambling jams. 2 X CDR $7 Roots Of Madness

Roots Of Madness"Roots Of Madness" (1971)

The complete recordings of the session most of the LP was taken from. CDR $4.50

 Roots Of Madness "Ham In The Oven" (1972)

Fake Jazz at the Philharmonic riffing, rock jamming, acoustic guitar piece and a religious testamonial sing a long. CDR $4.50

 Roots Of Madness " Brunch With Chef Madness" (1972)

Saxophone, guitars, percussion workouts, Geoff's satiric poetry and lampooning, avant shortwave improvs, chamber jams. CDR $4.50

 Roots Of Madness "Macho Madness" (1972)

Long jazz and blues jams featuring a very young Russell Ferrante (The Yellowjackets) and San Jose altoist, Danny Hull. The Roots destroy any idea of continuity as they join in on sax, guitar and the kitchen sink. CDR $4.50

 Roots Of Madness "Program Music" (1972)

Free jazz, rawkish jams, a Caribbean mockup, Jim's Dream Band plays blues, Geoff and Don play swami. CDR $4.50

Roots Of Madness " Constructive, Progres sive, Loyal" (1972)

Suburban blues to Don's Dad and the usual array of strange and socially unaceptable behavior committed to open reel tape. CDR $4.50

 Roots Of Madness "Junior Achievement" (1972)

Fake Schoenberg, Pseudo ethnic jamming, long and ridiculous antics. CDR $4.50

 Roots Of Madness "Just Plain Gare" (1973)

Gary Campau drum solos, JATP showdowns, free jazz.CDR $4.50

 Roots Of Madness "Live On KTAO" (1974)

Ostinato bass with guitar solo, fucked blues, chinese flute piece, pre-punk rumble. CDR $4.50

Roots Of Madness "Blind Music" (1974)

Mock Tunisian, avant jazz, ensemble compositions, Lorenzo Milam speaks and sings. CDR $4.50

 Roots Of Madness "7 October 1974" (1974)

Weird mix of avant jazz and british ballads. CDR $4.50

Roots Of Madness "My Name Is Danny Kaye" (1976)

The final chapter of The Roots recording saga is highlighted by a long improv featuring several pinball machines and raucous banter. Some wild clarinet by Dave Dolphin too. CDR $4.50

Related Roots Of Madness projects:

Geoff Alexander/ Don Campau "KTAO Improvisation" (1971)One long track of Geoff and Don chanting, playing percussion, records, trumpet and echo on Geoff’s radio program on KTAO in 1971. CDR $3

Jim’s Dream Band "Universal Blues Jam In Los Gatos" (1971)

Jim Kulczynski leads the boys through some nasty, fuzzy and raunchy blues rock.CDR $3

Morrow's Big Band "To The Band" (1973)

Roots sideman Joe Morrow takes up his trombone and leads the ensemble through some insane duck call and horn arrangements and rants over the top with some militant statements. $4.50 CDR

The Geoffrey 3 "Live on KTAO" (1973)

Avant trio improvs goof on the fabled Jimmy Giuffre 3. Geoff Alexander fronts the trumpet, guitar, clarinet festivities on his Los Gatos radio program back in the day. CDR $4

 Beaver Family " Beaver Family" (1974)

Rather like the Portsmouth Sinfonia playing TV themes. Also some hilarious Dave talking. CDR $4.50