line up 1 (1968)

- Hans Enderle -- keyboards

- Joachim Gottescalk -- vocals, lead guitar

- Peter Kempf -- drums, percussion

- Fernando Rosell -- bass, vocals

- Lutz Wolf -- vocals, rhythm guitar

- Golgatha (Hans Enderle and Peter Kempf)

- Snake In the Grass

Genre: pop

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Honesty

Company: Saga

Catalog: STFID 2142
Year: 1968

Country/State: Offenburg Germany/Spain

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+

Comments: UK pressing; some hissing on quieter numbers; no skips

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 214

Price: $120.00

If you poked around the BadCatRecords website you'll have noticed that I have a deep affection for '60s and '70s German rock bands.  Admittedly, much of their output is crappy, but there are some exceptions out there - among those, the little known The Rippers (great name for a band).  I'm not going to try to convince you that The Rippers were great, 'cause they weren't.  About half of the album is marginal and there's one truly cringe inducing performance here (read on).  That said, these guys were one of the most ecclectic German bands I've come across.  

The  Rippers are another outfit whom I don't know a great deal about.  The line-up featured four college aged Germans (keyboardist Hans Enderle, singer/lead guitarist Joachim (Jim) Gottescalk, drummer Peter Kempf, rhythm guitarist Lutz Wolf) and one Spaniard (bassist Fernando Rosell).   They apparently made some noise playing clubs and battle of the bands contests, and attracted the attention of the small German Opp label (who had signed The Blackbirds and Hairy Chapter).  How they went from Opp to releasing an album on the budget British Saga label is a total mystery to me, though someone out there must know.

1968's "Honesty" featured a collection of original material sung in English  With Gottescalk credited with writing most of the ten tracks, the band was heavily influenced by a wide array of American and English acts.  That made for a fun spot-the-influences collection with included everything from Ray Manzarek-styled organ flourishes ('Honesty'), to Stax flavored instrumentals ('Big Ben').  The band was also blessed with two strong singers in Gottescalk and Wolf.  Rosell also sang, but wasn't nearly as good.  All three men sang with distinctive accents, but you quickly got acclimated to them and the accents only occasionally stood out as an issue (the hideous ballad 'Georgia').  By the way, courtesy of the liner notes, we know that Gottescalk's voice 'has rather a black timbre.'  I'm guessing something got lost in the German-to-English translation.  A quick word of warning, the track listing sequence shown on the back cover is wrong.  The review places the songs in the right order. By the way, I always loved the category descriptions next to each song - it was really helpful to know that 'Big Ben' was a 'slow blues'. No it wasn't ...  

In case any of you are influenced by stuff like this, the album appears in Hans Pokora’s 3001 Record Collector Dreams. 

"Honesty" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Honesty (Joachim (Jim) Gottescalk) -  rating: **** stars

Opening up with a cool Rosell bass pattern and some nice Doors-organ, 'Honesty' had an instantly enjoyable ominous vibe.  A mid-tempo rocker, the opener saw Gottescalk and Wolf sharing lead vocal duties.  Great tune with considerable commercial potential. 

2.) My Woman (Lutz Wolf) -    rating: ** stars

Penned by Wolf (I'm guessing he also handled the lead vocal), 'My Woman' was a plodding ballad that sounded like a Merseybeat castoff.   Completely forgettable.   

3.) My Plight (Hans Enderle - Joachim (Jim) Gottescalk) -  rating: *** stars

'My Plight' found the band dipping their collective toes into blue-eyed soul.  You wouldn't expect a bunch of Germans to be able to pull it off, but believe it or not, they actually turned in a surprisingly enjoyable romp and the between verses comments were hysterical.  Wow, German soul !   

4.) The Night At the Lagoone (Joachim (Jim) Gottescalk) -  rating: **** stars

Their spelling, not mine, 'The Night At the Lagoone' featured the album's most psychedelic endeavor.  Complete with acid tinged vocals,  Enderle's swirling organ fills and some wonderfully psychedelic lead guitar, this was easily one of the album's highlights.   Shame it faded out so early.  

5.) Big Ben (instrumental) (Joachim (Jim) Gottescalk) -  rating: **** stars

A bouncy, Stax-flavored instrumental showcasing Enderle's organ (snicker),  'Big Ben' sounded like a Booker T. & the MG's outtake.  Totally unexpected and a charmer.   

(side 2)

1.) Georgia (Joachim (Jim) Gottescalk - Fernando Rosell) -    rating: * star

Based on the accent and the fact he co-wrote it with Gottescalk, I'm guessing Rosell handled lead vocals on the painful ballad 'Georgia'.  No other way to say it than this one was dreadful.  Literally cringe inducing ... 

2.) All the Jumping People (Joachim (Jim) Gottescalk) -  rating: *** stars

Described as 'soul beat', I guess I can see that in the catchy 'All the Jumping People'.  One of my favorite songs with Gottescalk sounding like he was slowly choking on his own phelgm.    

3.) The Girl Whom I Adore (Joachim (Jim) Gottescalk) -  rating: *** stars

'The Girl Whom I Adore' found the band taking a stab at conventional '60s blues-rock.  Imagine Eric Burdon and the Animals had they been born and raise in Offenburg, rather than Newcastle.  Surprisingly enjoyable with some very nice harmony vocals.  I've certainly heard Burdon turn in worse performances.    

4.) Blues for Kasperek (instrumental)(Hans Enderle) rating: *** stars

Written by Enderle and showcasing him on what sounded like a Hammond, 'Blues for Kasperek' was a jazzy-blues flavored instrumental with some weird scat singing on top of it.  Very '60s vibe and quite fascinating.  

5.) My Soul Is Wrong (Joachim (Jim) Gottescalk) -   rating: ** stars

In contrast to the rest of the album 'My Soul Is Wrong' sounded out of place - very early '60s Cavern Club aura.  Maybe that was the intent ?   

No idea why, but four of these songs were subsequently reissued on an album credited to the band Snake In the Grass - 1969's 'Hot und Sweet mit Beat".