Juan De La Cruz - Himig Natin + Bonus (CD)

JUAN DELA CRUZ ‚"Himig Natin‚" CD. 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 some of the best stuff by these heavy rock legends. Digitally remastered!

+ 4 bonus tracks from the Manila Concert 1973