V.A. - California Love-In Vol. 3

The third "Love-In" volume keeps the good standard of the previous releases. That means unknown and (still) uncompiled music from the Californian sixties. Bands like Canterbury Fair, Morning Glory or Peppermint Trolley Co. are no unknowns for the '60s connoisseur and you will also get your kicks with Joyride's excellent cover of The Doors' "Crystal Ship", the unusual but great "We Chose To Walk" by Zone 26 or Earth Island's non-album track "Doomsday Afternoon". Info on some bands is still hard to find but Jonathan Cole was the writer for Joyrides third and last single "Land of Rypap Papyr" and also responsible for Sound Sandwich's excellent "Apothecary Dream". Maybe there's a link betweens these two bands but it's just a guess. A nice and pleasant collection with 25 titles this is recommended for "Soft Sounds For Gentle People" addicts.

Tracklist:
1. Aggregation – Maharishi
taken from the single Sunshine Superman/Maharishi (LHI 1209) 1968
Line-up: LeWayne Braun (lead gtr, vcls), Dale Burt (piano, organ, vcls), Bayard Gregory (drms, timpani, bongos, tambourine, vcls), Leo Potts (flute, clarinet, sax, recorder, kazoo, vcls), Lemoyne Taylor (flute, clarinet, sax, slide whistle, vcls). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
2. Joyride – Crystal Ship
taken from the single
The Crystal Ship/Coming Soon (World Pacific 77877) 1967
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
3. Thorinshield – Life Is A Dream
taken from the single The Best Of It/Life Is A Dream (Philips 40492) 1967
Line-up: James Smith (gtr, vcls), Bobby Ray (bs, vcls), Terry Hand (drms, vcls). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
4. Chocolate Tunnel - Ostrich People
taken from the single
Highly Successful Young Rupert White/Ostrich People
(In-Sound 403/Era 3185) 1967
Line-up incl.: Kenny Johnson (lead gtr, vcls), Jerry Ritchie (bs).
Band origin: Bakersfield (California)
5. Zone 26 – Chose To Walk
taken from the single
Chose To Walk/When The World Turns Cold (World Pacific 77896) 1967
Line-up incl.: Brian Monsour (keyb'ds). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
6. Power – She Is The Color
taken from the single
Children Ask [If He Is Dead]/She Is The Color
(Showplace WS 218/MGM K 13815) 1967
Line-up: Robin Johnston (lead gtr, vcls), John Romero (lead vcls, gtr), Joe Romero (bs, vcls), Jim Sanchez (keyb'ds, vcls), Joe Rodriguez (drms, vcls).
Band origin: Torrance/Hawthorne (California)
7. Earth Island – Doomsday Afternoon
taken from the single
Doomsday Afternoon/Tuesday Afternoon (Philips DJP 62 40673) 1970
Line-up: Bruce Doshier (lead gtr, flute, vcls), Bill Liska (gtr, vcls), Richard Vanderwoerdt (gtr, keyb'ds, vcls), Nicholas Rush (drms, vcls).
Band origin: Canada → Los Angeles (California)
8. Morning Glory – I See A Light
taken from the single Need Someone/I See A Light (Fontana 1613) 1968
Line-up: Gini Graybeal (lead vcls, cymbals, tamb), Bob Bohanna (bs, gtr, vcls), Larry Gerughty (organ, piano, harpsichord, vcls), Allen Wehr (drms).
Band origin: San Francisco (California)
9. Elfstone - Beat The Clock
taken from the single
Louisiana Teardrops/Beat The Clock (World Pacific 77912) 1968
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
10. Canterbury Fair – Days I Love
taken from the single Song On A May Morning/Days I Love (Koala 8081) 1968
Line-up: Phillip Hollingsworth (bs, keyb'ds, vcls), John Hollingsworth (keyb'ds, vcls), Joe Lo Freso (keyb'ds), Sean Corsaro (drms).
Band origin: Fresno (California)
11. Lewis & Clarke Expedition – Daddy's Plastic Child
taken from the single
Daddy's Plastic Child/Gypsy Song Man (Colgems 1028) 1968
Line-up: Ken Bloom (lead gtr, autoharp, clarinet, sax, flute, organ), Boomer Clarke [aka Owen Castleman] (gtr, perc, vcls), Travis Lewis [aka Michael Martin Murphy] (gtr, hrmnca, vcls), John London (gtr, bs, perc), Johnny Raines (drms, perc). Band origin: Dallas (Texas)
12. Gale Garnett - I Make Him Fly
taken from the single The Sun Is Gray/I Make Him Fly (RCA 47-9020) 1967
Line-up incl.: Gale Zoë Garnett (vcls), Mike Deasy (gtr), Van Dyke Parks (keyb'ds), Earl Palmer (drms). Origin: Los Angeles (California)
13. Rejoice – Golden Gate Park
taken from the single Golden Gate Park/Sonora (Dunhill D-4158) 1968
Line-up incl.: Tom Brown (vcls), Nancy Brown (vcls), Michael Patrick Moore (drms). Additional musicians: Hal Blaine (drms), Joe Osborne (bs), Larry Knechtel (piano). Band origin: Marin County (California)
14. Looking Glass - If I Never Love Again
taken from the single
Silver And Sunshine [How Wonderful Is Our Love]/If I Never Love Again
(Valiant 750) 1967
Line-up: Ron Andre (vcls), Bonnie Andre [aka Bonnie Donato] (vcls), Linda Donato (vcls). Band origin: Sacramento (California)
15. Peppermint Trolley Co. - It's A Lazy Summer Day
taken from the single It's A Lazy Summer Day/Blue Eyes (Acta 809) 1967
Line-up: Danny Faragher (vcls, clavinet, organ, trombone, piano, perc), Jimmy Faragher (vcls, bs, perc), Casey Cunningham (drms, perc). Additional musician: James Fleming Rasmussen (gtr).
Band origin: Redlands (California)
16. Knack – Pretty Daisy
taken from the single Pretty Daisy/Banana Man (Capitol 5940) 1967
Line-up: Mike Chain (lead vcls, gtr), Dink Kaplan (gtr), Larry Gould (bs, vcls), Pug Baker (drms). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
17. Family Album – Get Together
taken from the single Get Together/Mind Beside Mine (December 875) 1967
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: California
18. Chris & Craig – I Need You
taken from the single Isha/I Need You (Capitol 5694) 1966
Line-up incl.: Craig Smith (gtr, vcls), Chris Ducey (gtr, vcls).
Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
19. Zone 26 – When The World Turns Cold
See Track 5
20. Carmel Covered Popcorn – Suzie Q
taken from the single Suzie Q/Looking For A Place (Vistone 2055) 1968
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
21. People – Riding High
taken from the single Organ Grinder/Riding High (Capitol 5920) 1967
Line-up: Gene Mason (vcls), Larry Norman (vcls), Jeoff Levin (gtr), Robb Levin (bs), Albert Ribisi (organ), Denny Fridkin (drms).
Band origin: San Jose (California)
22. Yankee Dollar – Mucky Truckee River
taken from the single
Mucky Truckee River/Reflections Of A Shattered Mind (Dot 17213) 1969
Line-up: Liza Gonzales (vcls), Dave Riordan (vcls), Greg Likins (gtr), Bill Reynolds (bs), Bill Masuda (organ), Nick Alexander (drms).
Band origin: San Luis Obispo (California)
23. Knack - Banana Man
See Track 16
24. Meditations – Transcendental Meditation
taken from the single
Transcendental Meditation/Beautiful Experience
(World Pacific 77876) 1967
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: California
25. Aggregation – Sunshine Superman
See Track 1

Get it here

Listen to Zone 26 – Chose To Walk

Listen to Canterbury Fair – Days I Love

Wild Cherries - That's Life (1965-68)

The Wild Cherries started as a R&B combo in 1964. In their early days they often shared the gigs with The Purple Hearts. After a radical line-up change only founding member Les Gilbert remained and took over the keyboards. Lead guitarist Lobby Loyde (aka Barry Lyde) came from the Purple Hearts and as a five piece they released their first two singles in 1967. With new bass player John Phillips two more 45's followed a year later. The band went through a series of personnel changes and at the end of 1969 they finally call it quits. Lobby Loyde reformed the band as a power trio in 1971 but after a lone single the band finally falling apart. Half A Cow Records, who was responsible for the great Purple Hearts release "Benzedrine Beat", put out a complete discography (except the '71 recordings) of the Wild Cherries material (Half A Cow HAC 113 / 2007). Sad to say that "That's Life" didn't live up to my expectations. It is said that they were an adventurous and breathtaking live-band but on their recordings it seems that they couldn't unlock the handbrake. The strangely titled debut "Krome Plated Yabby" is not bad but nothing exceptional. The follow-up "That's Life" is far better and like its predecessor very much in the Cream style. The A-side of their third single "Gotta Stop Lying" is the best song to my ears and not unlike british psych-influenced Freak Beat. The 16 unreleased tracks, nine of them live, are more thrilling than their official releases. Especially their version of "Tobacco Road" is rough-as-guts and the live-version of "Without You" lives up for the name "Wild" Cherries. The CD comes with a 36 booklet and extensive liner notes.

Tracklist:
- Krome Plated Yabby
- Everything I Do Is Wrong
- That's Life
- Try Me (I'm Not as Bad as You Think)
- Gotta Stop Lying
- Time Killer
- I Don't Care
- Theme for a Merry-Go-Round
- Without You
- Coming Home Baby
- Tobacco Road
- Worried Blues
- You Don't Love Me
- Get Out of My Life
- Bye Bye Bird
- Without You [version 2] • live
- I'm Your Kingpin • live
- Mad Man Blues • live
- Tobacco Road • live
- Parchman Farm • live
- Smokestack Lightning • live
- My Generation • live
- Ain't Got You • live
- Baby Please Don't Go • live

Personnel:
John Bastow (vcls, hrmnca) [AB]
Malcolm McGee (lead gtr, vcls) [AB]
Rob Lovett (rhythm gtr, vcls) [AB]
Les Gilbert (bs, organ) [ABCD]
Geoff Hales (drms) [A]
Kevin Murphy (drms) [B]
Danny Robinson (vcls) [CD]
Lobby Loyde (lead gtr) [CDEG]
Peter Eddy (bs) [C]
Keith Barber (drms) [CD]
John Phillips (bs) [D]
Matt Taylor (vcls) [E]
Barry Sullivan (lead gtr, rhythm gtr, bs) [EF]
Steve Pristash (bs) [EF]
Barry Harvey (drms) [E]
Brian Wilson (lead vcls) [F]
Tim Piper (gtr) [F]
Teddy Toi (bs) [G]
Johnny Dick (drms) [G]

Band origin:
Melbourne (Victoria/Australia)

Discographie:
45's:
1. (C) Krome Plated Yabby/Everything I Do Is Wrong
   (Festival FK 1879) 1967
2. (C) That's Life/Try Me (Festival FK 2052) 1967
3. (D) Gotta Stop Lying/Time Killer
   (Festival FK 2258) 1968
4. (D) I Don't Care/Theme For A Merry Go Round
   (Festival FK 2535) 1968
5. (G) I Am The Sea (Stop Killing Me)/Daily Planet
   (Havoc H 1006) 1971

E.P.'s:
1. (C) Krome Plated Yabby (Festival FX 11422) 1967

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Gotta Stop Lying

Saturday's Children - 2 E.P.-Set (1966-67)

From Chicago/Illinois, the Saturday's Children were a pleasant pop group, clearly influenced by The Beatles' "Rubber Soul" era. They released three singles on the Dunwich label and the unreleased "A Man With Money" appeared later on the retrospective compilation Early Chicago in 1971. These eight tracks are from the Sundazed double E.P. (Sundazed SEP-2 126 / 1997) and contains all their material.

Tracklist:
- You Don't Know Better
- Born On Saturday
- I Hardly Know Her
- Leave That Baby Alone
- A Man With Money
- Tomorrow Is Her Name
- Christmas Sounds
- Deck Five

Personnel:
Ron Holder (gtr, vcls)
Dave Carter (gtr)
Jeff Boyan (bs, vcls)
Rick Goettler (organ)
George Paluch (drms)

Band origin:
Chicago (Illinois/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. You Don't Know Better/Born On Saturday
   (Dunwich 139) 1966
2. Deck Five/Christmas Sounds (Dunwich 144) 1966
3. Leave That Baby Alone/I Hardly Know Her
   (Dunwich 156) 1967

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Christmas Sounds