Devil's Anvil

The Devil's Anvil was a hard rock/psychedelic band based out of New York City in the 1960s. They released one album entitled Hard Rock from the Middle East in 1967 showcasing a mix of 1960s hard rock and psychedelic sound with Turkish, Arab and Greek vocals and traditional instrumentals.

Formation

Instrumental in the band's formation was producer Felix Pappalardi, who helped sign them with Columbia Records.

It was in 1966, while hanging out in the Village that he chanced upon a group of Middle Eastern-born or -descended musicians, playing at the MacDougal Street Cafe Feenjon. Pappalardi began playing with them, and eventually they became the unofficial house band at Feenjon -- the core members of the group, which took the name The Devil's Anvil, were Steve Knight (rhythm guitar, bass, bouzouki), Jerry Satpir (lead guitar, vocals), Elierzer Adoram (accordion), and Kareem Issaq (oud, vocals). Knight and Pappalardi developed a good working relationship, trading the bass and guitar spots during the recording of the group's one album, Hard Rock from the Middle East, which set the stage for their subsequent team-up together in Mountain.^[1]

Album Release and the Six-Day War

Unfortunately for The Devil's Anvil, their album was released during escalating tensions between Israel and neighboring Arab countries and the Six Day War, or the Arab-Israeli War, in 1967. Subsequently, radio stations would not touch the album because of its controversial sound.^[2] The band also released a rare promo 45 in the same year; and in Israel there was a 4-track EP released.

Track Listings and Composers for Hard Rock from the Middle East

1. Wala Dai, (Traditional)
2. Nahna Ou Diab
3. Karkadon, (Wabbi, Webbi)
4. Selim Alai, (Traditional)
5. Isme, (El Atrash)
6. Besaha, (Radwan, Wabbi)
7. Shisheler, (Traditional, Turkish)
8. Kley, (Livaditis, Theodorakis)
9. Hala Laya (Traditional)
10. Treea Pethya (Traditional)
11. Misirlou (Leeds, Roubanis, Russell, Wise)

References