Rhinoceros - The Elektra Albums 1968-1970 (Reissue, Remastered) (2020)

American "supergroup", formed in 1967. The band split in 1970.

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a newly re-mastered 3 CD set featuring all the albums recorded by Rhinoceros for Elektra Records between 1968 and 1970. The concept of Rhinoceros was a suggestion of celebrated producer Paul A. Rothchild (The Doors, Love, Butterfield Blues Band etc.). Because of his recent success with The Doors, Rothchild was given the freedom by Elektra founder Jac Holzman to suggest projects he felt had merit. With fellow producer Frazier Mohawk (who had been involved with Buffalo Springfield), he decided to assemble a new band from scratch, selecting some of the finest musicians in the Los Angeles area. Following a series of auditions, Rhinoceros came together to rehearse and record their debut album with a line-up of vocalist JOHN FINLEY (ex-Jon & Lee & the Checkmates), guitarist DANNY WEIS (a founder member of Iron Butterfly), keyboard player MICHAEL FONFARA (ex-Electric Flag), guitarist DANNY HASTINGS (briefly involved with Buffalo Springfield), keyboard player & vocalist ALAN GERBER, bassist JERRY PENROD and drummer BILLY MUNDI (once with The Mothers of Invention).

Despite the manner in which they came together, Rhinoceros proved to be a fine band, absorbing rock, blues and soul influences and their self-titled debut album (produced by Paul Rothchild) appeared in 1968 to good reviews. The band began to tour the USA and attracted a steady growing following. In 1969 the band recorded the album SATIN CHICKENS, another fine example of groove-based rock with psychedelic and soul influences. By this time Jerry Penrod had departed nto be replaced by PETER HODGSON. The album gained enough traction for the band to be asked to perform at the legendary Woodstock Festival in August 1969, only for their management to reject the offer to appear without the band’s knowledge. When the impact of this decision was realised morale with the band suffered and they underwent further line-up changes for their third and final album BETTER TIMES ARE COMING (issued in 1970).