German Private Press Fusion: A List By Basso

I love private pressings. As a collector, there’s obviously the endorphin rush when one of them pops up in a crate filled with Saga, Bilitis, Uriah Heep and James Last. But as a music fan, it’s simply the artistic freedom you can hear when someone releases music themselves. A lot of these DIY productions have a special charm.

They’re not perfect. Some of them are pretty unusual. Some of them have horrible sound because the artist didn’t have enough money to pay for a proper recording studio and pressing the records. Some have horrible covers because of the drummer’s girlfriend. Some have amazing covers because of the drummer’s girlfriend. And a lot of them are different to the polished and often boring mainstream.

Approximately half of my collection of private presses consists of German fusion / jazz rock / jazz funk LPs. Here’s a list of some of my faves.

Basso is a record collector and owner of Growing Bin Records.

Senora – Senora

I first fell in love with the lady on the cover, but I didn’t expect to find an all killer album in the sleeve.

Merge – Exchange

When I first heard this late ’80s fusion album, my mind was blown. The Sade-like softness contrasting the edgy parts and the humor in some of the songs is one of a kind. It touched me so much that I reached out to the mastermind of Merge to inquire for more of the good stuff. I released more of it on my label shortly after.

Spinning Motion – Confidence in the Future

I’ve seen this described as “feathery light prog jazz fusion with gentle influences of singer-songwriter style folk.” An unbelievably good record from start to finish.

Train – Coo Coo Out!

Fusion jazz with strong hints of organic ethno stuff and electronic krautrock. I always said this is among my top ten. Now it’s official.

Imagination – Shake It

With a cover like this it had to a good one, huh?

Phrydderich’s Phaelda – Bruchstücke

One of the rarest pieces in this selection. Comes in a self-made silk screened cover, all copies signed on the back. Not too many copies actually exist. (And the music isn’t bad either!)

Faun – Faun

There are a lot of “funky fusion” LPs out there made by spliffed jazz freaks with a tendency to get down. This one’s a monster in the genre.

Peter Vogel & His Band – Sunny Way

Latin fusion was huge in Europe, so there are tons of good productions out there. This one’s great and exceptionally rare.

Christoph Kemmler – And Friends

Oh yes! Starting off with a super funky jam session including solos for everyone in the band, Kemmler on guitar blows the other players out of the water. He shows off some more of his funky guitar skills on the second track called, amazingly, “Chris The Fusionist.” One very remarkable thing for a private German fusion LP from 1983: It has RAPS! And they are a lot better than you’d expect from a German. (Forget about Falco!) There’s more fusion madness on the B-side with “Rebirth of the Firebirds” and it closes out with a mellow track called “It Could Be.” Smooth.

Nightwork – Jazz

Most of the songs on the LP might be labeled as night music. Something between contemporary and fusion. Recorded for an art film.

Georg Hahn & Wolfgang Nocke – Venedig

Towards the end of the list I’m getting a bit more emotional with these lovely memories of Venice. Bye bye. See you down at the bin.