Juan de la Cruz - Himig Natin ( Re-Issue Series) (CD)

Facts First release of this essential album (1973) by hard-rock powerhouse power trio (a band, not a man) from the Philippines, who flourished in the 1970's-their first studio only album. Totally rocked out bluesy stoner jams, with sex and party obsessed lyrics-"get drunk all day, get down all night"; "I'll just wait for you down in the alley / and I'll show you how it can be"-that are pure Rock 'n' Roll. It's not clear who's singing (probably the drummer, American Joseph Smith, who previously played in the equally primal Japanese psych/rock band Speed, Glue, & Shinki), but he's got the perfect delivery for this stuff, which includes the garage-psych great, 'I Wanna Say Yeah'. "Himij Natin" features the classic band line-up of Wally Gonzales (guitar), Mike Hanopol (bass), and Smith (drums, acoustic guitar). It's got the aforementioned 'I Wanna Say Yeah', as well as 'Take You Home' (also recorded by Speed Glue & Shinki)-the song with the "down in the alley" lyrics), and the epochal 'Shake Your Brains', among other highlights. No-frills packaging, but still the only way to acquire good versions of the best stuff by these heavy rock legends. Digitally remastered.