In 1969, a single by the Bartos Brothers Band was released, and the A-Side is absolutely amazing. “Gambler” is a driving acid rocker, jam-packed with heavy guitar riffs. It also features some proto-metal vocalizing, and has an intro that is out of this world. Once a super-obscure track, “Gambler” can now be had via a superb new compilation.
There isn’t much information readily available concerning the Bartos Brothers Band. We know that they were an Ohio outfit led by Kenny and Neil Bartos, and that their 45 came out on in ’69 on their label, Chance Records. The group were accidentally credited as “Gambler” on the 7-inch, so the guys used corrective stickers (as seen above). It’s possible they were indeed called Gambler, but then changed their name around the time the single was released.
That’s essentially all we can tell you—other than that “Gambler” is awesome.
The number has been reissued for the first time on Brown Acid: The Eighth Trip, the latest in a series of collections consisting of raw, rarely heard heavy fuzz rock and proto-metal 45s from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Released by RidingEasy Records, every song on these compilations is licensed from those involved—often no easy task, as it’s frequently difficult to locate people that put out little-known singles decades ago. The new Brown Acid is really, really good, which is kind of miraculous, considering they’re on the eighth one and still had so many fantastic rarities to unleash on us—kudos!
Brown Acid: The Eighth Trip is available in various LP and CD editions, and as a digital download. The full collection is streaming on multiple platforms, including YouTube.
We’ll end with a couple of our other favorites from the comp.
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
The outstanding 1976 ‘tax scam’ album by obscure hard rock powerhouse, Stonewall, is back!
‘Brown Acid: The Fourth Trip’: Stream some obscure vintage fuzz rock from the 60s & 70s
‘Brown Acid: The Second Trip’—Listen to DM’s exclusive stream of rare psychedelic fuzz from the 70s