Compilation CD's today are in plentiful supply with most rock and music magazines giving away free copies of tracks by up and coming bands, old recordings and specialised artists.
In 1970 any compilation album was usually the rest home of mainstream and muzak productions and avoided at all costs. Rock had seen two early examples from Island and CBS which were a showcase for homegrown UK talent in their early years but by the third release from CBS came the most successful compilation of all.
"Fill Your Head With Rock" was a cut price double album of progressive and contemporary rock and folk. For a college student with little cash to outlay on full priced albums this was indeed a treasure and there was rarely a bedsit or student room without a copy. It was also possibly the first time that artists names appeared on the two discs that fans were less familiar, with them not having toured the European countries to any great extent. "Fill Your Head With Rock" virtually amounted to a festival on a double album of mostly US artists.
The audience was introduced to exotic and odd names like Moondog, Trees, Amory Kane, Pacific Gas and Electric, The Flock, Steamhammer and more. Even the album cover convinced many to buy with the wild sight of Flock violinist on the front cover. Such was the success of the album some enthusiastic fans who had the cash went on to buy the album of each artist featured.
In 1970 there was little chance of ever seeing most of the bands listed.
This was the "underground rock" of the new day and began the progression that was to change the approach to even making an album. It evolved into improvised soloing, and experimental compositions.
Here's a rare appearance of Steamhammer playing the Beat Club (German television) in 1969 with their long and ambling psychedelic stoner rock.
