Devil's Anvil Explained

The Devil's Anvil
Origin:	New York, NY
Genre:	Hard rock, psychedelia
Years Active:	1966–1967
Label:	Columbia
Associated Acts:	Mountain
Current Members:	Steve Knight Jerry Satpir Elierzer Adoram Kareem Issaq

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

Formation

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

Recordings

Unfortunately for The Devil's Anvil, their one and only album, Hard Rock from the Middle East, was released during escalating tensions between Israel and neighboring Arab countries and the subsequent Arab–Israeli War in 1967.^[1]

Hard Rock from the Middle East

All tracks arranged by the band unless otherwise indicated.^[2]

1. "Wala Dai" (Traditional*)
2. "Nahna Ou Diab"
3. "Karkadon" (Lebanese; composed by Abdul-Galil Wabbi, lyrics by Philimon Webbi)
4. "Selim Alai" (Traditional Arab*)
5. "Isme (El Atrash)"
6. "Besaha" (Lebanese; composed by Afif Radwan, lyrics by Abdul-Galil Wabbi)
7. "Shisheler" (Traditional Turkish)
8. "Kley" (Greek; composed by Theodorakis, lyrics by Leivaditis)
9. "Hala Laya" (Traditional Arab*)
10. "Treea Pethya" (Traditional Greek)
11. "Misirlou" (Traditional Middle Eastern; composed by Leeds, Roubanis, Russell, Wise)

*Arranged by Pappalardi

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20110727191006/http://www.psychemusic.org/TheDevilsAnvil.html The Devil's Anvil
2. https://www.discogs.com/The-Freak-SceneDevils-Anvil-Psychedelic-Psoul-Hard-Rock-From-The-Middle-East/release/6318278 The Devil's Army: Psychedelic Psoul / Hard Rock From The Middle East