Inga Rumpf – Second Hand Mädchen

The debut album from Second Hand which was released in 1968 and called Reality is a pretty psychedelic experience. The music is heavily influenced by rock/ blues bands like Jimi Hendrix and Cream but in addition to that sound Ken Elliott´s vintage keyboards are a trademark in Second Hand´s sound. His voice is very strong and humourous. This music seems to be made while having lots of fun and probably under the influence of various drugs.

Among the many obscure British prog rock albums of the early '70s, Second Hand's Death May Be Your Santa Claus has to be one of the strangest, though not necessarily one of the best. While it's the kind of record likely to fire up genre enthusiasts, it's equally likely to inspire scorn from more general rock listeners unlikely to take a shine to its over the top frivolous absurdity…

At first, it sounds like the jazz soundtrack to either your favorite noir film or a Doris Day film from 1962. Then you realize that it isn't quite jazz at all but the orchestrated sound of six accomplished jazz musicians playing an eclectic mix of original songs and re-arranged iconic pop tunes that go back to the '50's that all sound unmistakably Chaise Lounge. On stage, the band looks as polished as it sounds. And the show, with Charlie Barnett and Marilyn Older's between song banter and the hysterical interplay between trombonist John Jensen and reedman, Gary Gregg is old-school, laugh out-loud entertainment. The grooves are soul deep.