A harmony-pop outfit from London, they started as The West Coast Consortium. With their high-pitched falsetto vocals they are nothing for the hard-psych connoisseur. Their first single didn't make any impression and for some reason they changed their name for the second 45 to Robbie (maybe to establish their lead singer Robbie Fair as a solo act). Again success eluded them, although it was quite good. The follow-up "Colour Sergeant Lilywhite" was perhaps their most psychedelic and one of their best outings. Soon after they added organist Bill Mangham to their line-up and shortened their name to Consortium. The first record they did under the new moniker was "All The Love In The World". It was their only hit, reaching #22 in the UK charts. Not a bad song, but the backings are totally annoying. They released five more singles, all in the same style. Particularly "Day The Train Never Came", "I Don't Want Her Any More" and "The House Upon The Hill" are well worth hearing. They finally split around 1975 after RCA cancelled a record deal for an LP. At this time only Robbie Fair, now Robbie Legat, was the only remaining original member. The recordings were finally released as "Rebirth" on Angel Air in 2006 and more or less in the Pop-Rock vein. In 2003 Castle (Castle Music CMRCD 786) released "Looking Back", a 27 track CD, including all the singles (except the last) plus 11 unreleased tracks. There's another CD on Wooden Hill called "Mr. Umbrella Man" with more unreleased stuff.
Tracklist: - Some Other Someday - Looking Back - Indigo Spring - Listen To The Man - Colour Sergeant Lillywhite - Lady From Baltimore - All The Love In The World - Spending My Life Saying Goodbye - When The Day Breaks - The Day The Train Never Came - Beggar Man - Cynthia Serenity - I Don't Want Her Anymore - The House Upon The Hill - Melanie Cries Alone - Copper Coloured Years - To Please Louise - Amanda Jane - Cindy In Love - Willow Wood - I'll Always Love You - Soldiers In The Rain - Live And Let Live - Once Upon A Time - What Are They All Singing About - Scarlet River - One Day The Train Never Came Personnel: Robbie Fair [aka Robbie Leggat] (vcls) [ABC] Brian Bronson (gtr) [AB] Geoffrey Simpson (organ, lead gtr, vcls) [AB] John Barker (bs, trombone) [AB] John Podbury (drms) [AB] Bill Mangham (organ) [B] Brian Parker (vcls, gtr) [C] Mick Ware (vcls, gtr) [C] Ken Brown (bs) [C] John Parker (drms) [C] Band origin: London
Discographie: Albums: 1. (C) Rebirth (Angel Air SJPCD 216) 2006
[1. racorded 1975]
45's: 1. (A) Some Other Someday/Looking Back (Pye 7N 17352) 1967 2. (A) Indigo Spring/Listen To The Man (Pye 7N 17370) 1967 3. (A) Colour Sergeant Lillywhite/Lady From Baltimore (Pye 7N 17482) 1968 4. (B) All The Love In The World/ Spending My Life Saying Goodbye (Pye 7N 17635) 1968 5. (B) When The Day Breaks/Day The Train Never Came (Pye 7N 17725) 1969 6. (B) Beggar Man/Cynthia Serenity (Pye 7N 17797) 1969 7. (B) I Don't Want Her Any More/The House Upon The Hill (Pye 7N 17841) 1969 8. (B) Melanie Cries Alone/Copper Coloured Years (Trend TNT 52) 1970 9. (B) Annabella/Tell Me My Friend (Trend 6099 004) 1971
[1. + 3. as West Coast Consortium] [2. as Robbie] [4. - 9. as Consortium]
An influential band from Canterbury/Kent that underwent a fluctuate line-up and served as a stepping stone for most of the members to the better known Soft Machine and Caravan. The Wilde Flowers never made an official release up to 1994 as Voiceprint put out a collection of demos from 1965-69 (Voiceprint VP 123 CD). The majority of the tracks were recorded 65/66 and although the instrumentation is in the typical Beatsound, Robert Wyatt's and Kevin Ayers' vocal treatments had already that special Canterbury-style (it's up to you if you like it or not). I must admit that this release is more an artefact and rather of historical interest. There are a few notable songs, though: "Those Words They Say" and "Time After Time" get the full Beat treatment, "Impotence" has all the indications for the later Soft Machine adventures while the best and one of their earliest songs "He's Bad For You" is a haunting R&B ballad that would had fitted perfectly on a Captain Beefheart setlist.
Tracklist: - Impotence (1969) - Those Words They Say (1966) - Memories (1966) - Don't Try To Change Me (1965) - Parchman Farm (1965) - Almost Grown (1965) - She's Gone (1965) - Slow Walkin' Talk (1965) - He's Bad For You (1965) - It's What I Feel [A Certain Kind] (1965) - Memories [Instrumental] (1965) - Never Leave Me (1966) - Time After Time (1966) - Just Where I Want (1966) - No Game When You Lose (1966) - Impotence (1966) - Why Do You Care (1968) - The Pieman Cometh (1968) - Summer Spirit (1968) - She Love To Hurt (1969) - The Big Show (1969) - Memories (1969) Personnel: Graham Flight (vcls) [A] Brian Hopper (gtr, sax) [ABCDE] Hugh Hopper (bs) [ABCD] Richard Sinclair (gtr) [AB] Robert Wyatt (drms) [ABC] Kevin Ayers (vcls) [B] Richard Coughlan (drms) [CDE] Pye Hastings (gtr, sax) [CDE] Dave Lawrence (bs, vcls) [CDE] Dave Sinclair (keyb'ds) [E] Band origin: Canterbury (Kent/UK)
A band from Portugal with a strong Moody Blues influence. Their output spans nearly a dozen Singles/EPs and two albums, the first in the soft-rock/pleasant psych mould, the latter with a more symphonic Prog vibe (I would recommend the first). This release (World Psychedelia WPC 68490 / 2005) contains the best from their 45's and if you like the music of their english contemporaries then you will be rightly served here. Not every track is a winner but songs like "Os Faunos", "Balada Para D. Inês", "Dona Vitória" and especially "Ode To The Beatles" are quite worthwhile.
Tracklist: - A Lenda De El-Rei D. Sebastião
- Os Faunos
- Gente
- Balada Para D. Inês
- Partindo-Se
- Dona Vitória
- Nas Terras Do Fim Do Mundo
- Meu Irmão
- Domingo Em Bidonville
- João Nada
- As Trovas Do Vento Que Passa
- Epílogo
- Back To The Country
- Ode To The Beatles
- Uma Nova Maneira De Encarar O Mundo
Personnel: António Moniz Pereira (gtr) [ABCDE]
Jorge Moniz Pereira (bs) [A]
José Cid (keyb'ds, vcls) [ABCDE]
Miguel Artur da Silveira (drms) [ABCD]
Mário Rui Terra (bs) [B]
Tózé Brito (bs) [CDE]
Mike Seargent (gtr) [E]
Guilherme Inês (drms) [E] Band origin: Estoril (Portugal)
Discographie: Albums:
1. (B) Quarteto 1111 (Columbia 8E 062-40037) 1970
2. (E) Onde, Quando, Como, Porquê Cantamos Pessoas Vivas
(Decca SLPDP 5016) 1974
45's:
1. (A) Meu Irmão/Ababilah (Columbia/EMI ) 1968
2. (B) Nas Terras Do Fim Do Mundo/Bissaide
(Columbia/EMI 45 ML 245) 1969
3. (B) Génese/Os Monstros Sagrados
(Columbia/EMI 8 E 006-40035 M) 1969
4. (B) Todo O Mundo E Ninguém/É Tempo De Pensar Em Termos
De Futuro (Columbia 8E 006-40080 M) 1970
5. (D) Back To The Country/Everybody Needs Love, Peace
And Food (Columbia 8E 006-40088 M) 1970
6. (D) Ode To The Beatles/1111
(Columbia 8E 006-40140) 1971
7. (D) Sabor A Povo/Uma Nova Maneira De Encarar O Mundo
(Columbia 8E 006-40250) 1972
E.P.'s:
1. (A) A Lenda de El-Rei D. Sebastião/Os Faunos/
Fantasma «POP»/Gente (Columbia/EMI SLEM 2289) 1967
2. (A) Balada Para D. Inês/Partindo-se/
Vale da Ilusão/Dragão (Columbia/EMI SLEM 2304) 1968
3. (B) Guarda Nocturno/Perspectiva/Tempo de Inocência/
Dona Vitória (Columbia/EMI SLEM 2325) 1968
4. (B) João Nada/Estrada Para A Minha Aldeia/Domingo Em
Bidonville/Epílogo (Columbia/EMI E 016-40059) 1970
Pete Miller is yet another fascinating figure from the underexpiored recesses of the British '60s beat under-world. He released two tremendous, utterly twisted singles: "Baby I Got News For You" (as Miller) in 1965, and "Cold Turkey" as (Big Boy Pete) in 1968. Prior to this, he had been lead guitarist for Peter Jay & the Jaywalkers, whose output included several singles produced by Joe Meek. Judging by some of the quirky, inventive and just plain WEIRD sounds on this collection, Miller had been watching Meek closely during his Jaywalkers days, (though he'd have to have been doing so furtively as Joe was secretive to the point of paranoia about his sound techniques). In his home studio in Norwich -"sur-rounded by lava lamps and Hindi visuals" - Miller and his musician friends spent most of 1966-69 conjur-ing up bizarre feats of pop and psychedelia, utilizing some of the echo and compression techniques he'd observed at Meek's studio along with many of his own electronic innovations. Fourteen of these songs make their first public showing on Homage To Catatonia, amply displayed in a magnificent gatefold sleeve complete with lyrics and all-telling liner notes. Combine a razor-sharp studio instinct, simple but superior '60s recording technology, madcap psycho-pop songsmithing ala (maybe) Roy Wood/Jeff Lynne with p'raps a little Edward Lear-esque nonsensical wordplay thrown in, and you may - just may - have same idea what you'll find on songs like "Knit Me A Kiss" or "A Dog Called Doug"-but it still won't begin to explain the impossible-to-pigeonhole (and amazing) "I Am Seldom 21", "Chinaman" or 'The Procession." Miller's tapes truly are a very unique secret horde of English psychedelia, and, incredibly, several of these recordings pre-date even the Beatles "Revolver", let alone the subsequent psychedelic stampede. Perhaps the strangest but most strangely satisfying set since I Hear A New World. A grower. I recommended. (Mike Stax in "Ugly Things")
This album was released on the Tenth Planet label (Tenth Planet TP 026 / 1996). There's nothing much to say against his pop-psych tunes but he polished his old tapes a bit too much. So I've got the feeling that it sounds more like the '90s than the '60s. But I'm nagging and nagging and nagging... In fact it's a good album with some great songs like "Knit Me A Kiss", "Paranoia" or "The Procession". More info about his music on his website
Tracklist: - Sheer Lunacy - Crocogators - I Am Seldom Twenty One - Knit Me A Kiss - 1,500,000 Volts - Captain Of My Toy Balloon - John Celery - Paranoia - Chinaman - Music Created By Dust - A Dog Called Doug - The Procession - The Candleman - The Treacle Dance Personnel incl.: Peter Miller (gtr, bs, sitar, vcls) Origin: Norwich (Norfolk/UK)
Discographie: 45's: 1. Cold Turkey/My Love Is Like A Spaceship (Camp 602005) 1968
Mandrake Paddlesteamer made one, now legendary, psychedelic 45 which inevitably interests collectors. The original release of Strange Walking Man is now very expensive to purchase but aside from the disc's reissue by Bam-Caruso in 1988, the 'A' side, Strange Walking Man has also been heavily compiled. It's unusual for a tempo change towards the end where the vocal parts end and the song culminates with an instrumental passage. The track also features some great understated guitar work, and superb trippy lyrics. The flip side, Steam, is a pretty decent keyboard-driven instrumental. Their second 45, Sunlight Glide/Len (Parlophone SD 6072) 1969, was only released in Sweden, though no-one seems to know quite how this came about. It was written by Clae Fellbom and Calvin Floyd, two film producers responsible for a minor Swedish film called 'Skottet', which the songs were included in. Sunlight Glide is a melancholic, slow number, quite unlike this first 45. The flip side, Len, is a fuzzy instrumental. (taken from "Tapestry Of Delights")
This collection (Scaner Jots Records BD 20002 / 199?) contains acetates and recordings from John Peel's Top Gear show from '69. A pretty rough sound indeed but you can hear their pontential on songs like "Overspill", "Cooger And Dark" or "Ivory Castle Of Solitaire Husk". They did never reach the heights of "Strange Walking Man" again though. I've added "Strange Walking Man" and their sole swedish single where they've shortened their name to Mandrake as bonus cuts. There's also anofficial websitewhere you can find more information about the band.
Tracklist: - Overspill - Carmen - Cooger And Dark - Steam - Slo Blo - Senlac Lament - Cooger And Dark - Janus Suite - Ivory Castle Of Solitaire Husk - East Wing - Strange Walking Man (bonus) - Sunlight Glide (bonus) - Len (bonus) Personnel: Brian Engel (vcls) [A] Martin Briley (lead gtr, vcls) [AB] Paul Riordan (bs) [ABC] Martin Hooker (keyb'ds) [ABC] Barry Nightingale (drms) [AB] David Hooker (drms) [C] Band origin: London
This band operated out of Turin/Italy and was responsible for the fantastic "Le Insegne Pubblicitarie". This great piece of garage-psych could be best described as a mixture of the Elevators "Tried To Hide" and Famen's "Hurry" (if that helps). Their first EP (Musical Time MT 01 / 1966) contains the aforementioned "Le Insegne Pubblicitarie", the forgettable "Nadia" and "Il Treno", another fine acid-punker. On their second release (Moon GNP 79024 / 1967) they teamed up with singer Eligio Irato and did two covers, "We Shall Overcome (Trionferemo)" and "Come By Me (Vieni Qui Vicino)", not their best idea and to be honest absolutely out of question. They did better on their last 7-inch (Polydor 2060002 / 1969). "Katia" is a wonderful dreamy soft-psych song whilst "Felicità Vuol Dire" is a fine slice of late '60s Pop. Destination X Records released an album (Destination X TRR 33032 / 1998) with all their singles (except "We Shall Overcome") and ten unreleased songs from 1968. These demos can not really match with their best stuff but "Anche Se..." and "Alberi" are pretty worthwhile.
Tracklist: - Le Insegne Pubblicitarie - Nadia - Il Treno - Un Nuovo Giorno - L'Indossatrice - Specchi Di Ghiaccio - Crema - Katia (demo) - Un'Immagine - Anche Se... - Alberi - Ti Voglio - Il Trionfo Del Diavolo - Vieni Qui Vicino - Katia - Felicità Vuol Dire Personnel: Luigi Nagliero (lead gtr) Walter Nagliero (rhythm gtr) Spartaco Nagliero (vcls, bs) Gino Antone (organ, vcls) Gino Nagliero (drms) Band origin: Turin (Italy)
Discographie: 45's: 1. We Shall Overcome [Trionferemo]/Vieni Qui Vicino [Come By Here] (Moon GNP 79024) 1967 2. Katia/Felicità Vuol Dire (Polydor 2060002) 1969
E.P.'s: 1. Le Insegne Pubblicitarie/Nadia/Il Treno (Musical Time MT 01) 1966
Formed in Vancouver in 1968, their first 45 has become their most sought-after item. Described on their second album as a "happy mixture of psychedelic rock, blues-rock, jazz-rock with an overall country flavour" their material is an enjoyable and diverse mixture of styles. The first album is the stronger of the two, being the less country-influenced and more psychedelic. Crammed with excellent guitar-work throughout and fine harmony vocal arrangements, the highlights include the uptempo Times Are Changing, the great country-rocker One Glass For Wine, the dynamic lick-laden One Ring Jane, the sublime melancholy of Funny Feeling and the climatic slow-burning finale of Somebody Think, which can also be appreciated on Echoes In Time, Vol. 1. Recommended - an album to savour. The group was slated for inclusion on the Cool-Aid Benefit album but either Capitol or their management put the nix on it! (taken from "Dreams, Fantasies & Nightmares")
This album was re-issued on CD in 2000 but I never had the chance to get a copy of that. This rip is from another source and all you get here is the fantastic music but sadly not the artwork.
Tracklist: - Times Are Changing
- No One In Particular
- Little Pony
- One Glass For Wine
- Elevated Platform
- Walk Your Head Around
- One Ring Jane
- Pot Of Gold
- Intermission Poetry
- Funny Feeling
- Blue Dye
- Someone Think
Personnel: Don McDougall (lead vcls, gtr) [AB]
Roger Law (lead gtr, vcls) [A]
Charlie Faulkner (bs, vcls) [AB]
Hugh Lockhead (drms, perc) [AB]
Pat Caldwell (vcls, tamb, hrmnca) [AB]
Leslie Law (lead gtr, vcls) [B]
Jim Pirie (pedal steel) [B] Band origin: Vancouver (British Columbia/Canada)
Discographie: Albums:
1. (A) Home Grown Stuff (Capitol ST 6304) 1969
2. (A) Starting A New Day (Capitol ST 6352) 1970
45's:
1. I/Funny Feeling (Duck 1) 1968
2. I/Funny Feeling (London 17363) 1968
3. I/Funny Feeling (TCP 106) 1969
4. One Ring Jane/Kill The Pig (Duck 2) 1969
5. One Ring Jane/Funny Feeling (Capitol 72583) 1969
6. Times Are Changing/One Ring Jane (Capitol 2707) 1969
7. Starting A New Day/No One In Particular
(Capitol 72614) 1970
The Marmalade (formerly Dean Ford & The Gaylords) was a band I have never paid much interest to. They were responsible for the cover of the dull "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", which gave them their only number 1 hit. To be honest it was the only song I have heard by them. In 1999 Tenth Planet released a collection of 15 tracks entitled "Kaleidoscope [An Alternate History Of The Marmalade]" (Tenth Planet TP044) and I gave The Marmalade a second try. It was a good decision 'cause songs like "I See The Rain", "Laughing Man" or "Man In A Shop" are Psych-Pop/Freakbeat masterpieces. There are also a few weaker tracks like "Chains", "Mr. Tambourine Man" or "And Yours Is A Piece Of Mine" (plus the uninteresting Bee Gees cover "Butterfly") but the rest of the set is pretty strong, most notably the eastern-influenced "Kaleidoscope".
Tracklist: - I See The Rain - There Ain't No Use In Hangin' On - It's All Leading Up To Saturday Night - Chains - Hey Joe - Butterfly - Laughing Man - Kaleidoscope - Mr. Lion - Man In A Shop - Mr. Tambourine Man - And Yours Is A Peace Of Mind - Mess Around Personnel: Dean Ford (lead vcls) [ABCD] Junior Campbell (lead gtr) [AB] Pat Fairley (gtr) [ABC] Graham Knight (bs) [ABCD] Raymond Duffy (drms) [A] Alan Whitehead (drms) [B] Dougie Henderson (drms) [CD] Hugh Nicholson (lead gtr) [C] Joe Breen (bs) [D] Howie Casey (drms) [D] Mike Japp (gtr, keyb'ds, vcls) [D] Band origin: Glasgow (Scotland)
Discographie [up to 1976]: Albums: 1. (B) There's A Lot Of It About (CBS 63414) 1968 2. (B) Best Of The Marmalade (CBS SPB 36) 1969 3. (B) Reflections Of The Marmalade (Decca LK/SKL 5047) 1970 4. (C) Songs (Decca SKL 5111) 1971 5. (D) Our House Is Rockin' (EMI 3047) 1974
45's: 1. It's All Leading Up To Saturday Night/ Wait A Minute Baby (CBS 202340) 1966 2. Can't Stop Now/There Ain't No Use In Hangin' On (CBS 202643) 1967 3. I See The Rain/Laughing Man (CBS 2948) 1967 4. Man In A Shop/Cry (CBS 3088) 1967 5. Lovin' Things/Hey Joe (CBS 3412) 1968 6. Wait For Me Marianne/Mess Around (CBS 3708) 1968 7. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/Chains (CBS 3892) 1968 8. Baby Make It Soon/Time Is On My Side (CBS 4287) 1969 9. Butterfly/I Shall Be Released (CBS 4615) 1969 10. Reflections Of My Life/Rollin' My Thing (Decca F 12982) 1969 11. Rainbow/The Ballad Of Cherry Flavour (Decca F 13035) 1970 12. My Little One/Is Your Life Your Own? (Decca F 13135) 1971 13. Cousin Norman/Lonely Man (Decca F 13214) 1971 14. Back On The Road/Love Is Hard To Re-Arrange (Decca F 13251) 1971 15. Radancer/Just One Woman/Sarah (Decca F 13297) 1972 16. The Wishing Well/Engine Driver (EMI 2033) 1973 17. Our House Is Rockin'/Hallelujah Freedom Blues (EMI 2071) 1973 18. Come Back Joe/Way It Is (EMI 2131) 1974 19. Falling Apart At The Seams/Fly Fly Fly (Target TGT 105) 1976 20. Walking A Tightrope/My Everything (Target TGT 110) 1976 21. What You Need Is A Miracle/Rusty Hands Of Time (Target TGT 113) 1976 22. Hello Baby/Seafaring Man (Target TGT 115) 1976
The Rokes achieved much more success in Italy, than they did in their homeland, but their UK 45s are now quite collectable and When The Wind Arises was quite psychedelic. Norman Shapiro was born in London in 1943 and by the time he was seventeen was playing guitar and singing with Rob Storm & The Whispers (who later became Robb Storme Group). Norman then played for a while backing Gene Vincent's Blue Caps, followed by a stint in The Shel Carson Combo in 1961, touring Germany's clubs such as Top Ten Club in Hamburg, and supporting Tony "Colin" Hicks for a two month tour in Italy in 1963, where the band changed their name to "The Cabin Boys". Spotted on tour by their (soon to be) new manager, they were renamed The Rokes and backed the young girl vocalist Rita Pavone before recording a demo for RCA Italiana. This led to the release of "Shake Rattle and Roll" on RCA subsiduary ARC Records, but this failed to create any impact. A second 45 followed after they played at the "Festival Degli Sconosciuti" (Contest For Unknown) in Ariccia (Rome), performing "Un Anima Pura" sung in broken Italian. The song was received favourably, and although it was unsuccesful, it did point the way ahead for the remainder of the bands existence. In 1965 The Rokes began writing original songs and had some hit's: Grazie A Te (aka Clint Ballard Jr.'s I'm Alive) which reached No. 12 and C'e Una Strana Espressione Nei Tuoi Occhi (a version of Jackie DeShannon's When You Walk In The Room) which got to No. 11 in the Italian Charts. They also released their debut album The Rokes. The following year, the band had further success with Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi and E La Pioggia Che Va, both of which remained in the Top 20 for over 25 weeks, and they were also voted second best Beat Group in Italy at "Cantagiro 1966". Another track Piangi Con Me written by Shapiro/Mogul was released in the UK as Let's Live For Today and also covered by The Living Daylights. In the US, The Grassroots also covered the song, where it sold over two million records, although the band never received any money from the song. In 1967 their first entry in the "Festival Di San Remo" Bisogna Saper Perdere was poorly received by the critics, but went to No. 2 in the Italian Charts, and remained in the Top 20 for fourteen weeks. They returned to the festival the next year where they performed Le Opere Di Bartolemo with US group Cowsills, and again the following year where they backed a little girl vocalist Nada with the song "Ma Che Freddo Fa", coming 5th for the journalists and critics. 1970 saw a decline in the groups fortunes, as the public taste changed, and they played their last concert in front of 3,500 people at the "Festival De L'Unità" on the 8th August. The concert was organised by the Communist Party! The Rokes are still remembered fondly in Italy, although they never managed to recreate their success elsewhere. Shel Shapiro has remained active in the music business, as songwriter, producer and manager, and in 1977 founded "Spaghetti Records" in Milan, discovering new talent such as Luca Barbarossa. He now works in TV collaborating with music journalist. Gianni Minà. Mike Shepstone later played with Mick Brill (ex Thane Russal Band) in Pax, whilst Johnny Charlton became an Art expert, and now runs an Art Gallery in Rome. Bobby Posner returned to England and lives in Hastings. Shapiro and Shepstone also released a single in 1966 under the name Les and Kim La Mia Ispirazione/Unchained Melody (ARC 4096). (taken from "Tapestry Of Delights")
This 2 CD-Set was released by BMG (BMG 74321963432(2) / 2002). This will be my last post for the next 2 weeks. I'm on vacation now.
Tracklist: [Disc 1] - Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi - Un'Anima Pura - Grazie A Te - Eravamo Amici - C'è Una Strana Espressione Nei Tuoi Occhi - Piangi Con Me - Spegni Questa Luce - Bambina - Summertime - Quando Eri Con Me - La Mia Città - Ma C'è Un Momento Del Giorno - Bisogna Saper Perdere - Shake, Rattle And Roll - Ci Vedremo Domani - She Asks Of You - Eccola Di Nuovo - Cercate Di Abbracciare Tutto Il Mondo Come Noi - Ascolta Nel Vento
[Disc 2] - È La Pioggia Che Va - Ricordo Quando Ero Bambino - Finchè C'è Musica Mi Tengo Su - Che Mondo Strano - Baby Blue - Le Opere Di Bartolomeo - Se Io Fossi Povero - Lascia L'Ultimo Ballo Per Me - Qui Non C'è Nessuno - Somewhere - Io Vivrò Senza Te - Baby, Come Back (Non C'è Pace Per Me) - Ma Che Freddo Fa - 28 Giugno - Roll Over Beethoven - Per Te Per Me - Ombre Blu - When The Wind Arises (Il Vento) Personnel: Norman David [aka Shel Shapiro] (gtr, vcls) Johnny Charlton (gtr, vcls) Bobby Posner (bs, vcls) Mike Roger Shepstone (drms, vcls) Band origin: London → Rome (Italy)
Discographie: Albums [Italy only]: 1. The Rokes (ARC SA 4) 1965 2. The Rokes Vol. 2 (ARC SA 8) 1966 3. Che Mondo Strano (ARC SA 15) 1966 4. The Rokes (ARC ALP 11006) 1968
45's [Italy]: 1. Shake Rattle and Roll/Quando Eri Con Me (ARC 4013) 1964 2. Un'Anima Pura/She Asks For You (ARC 4021) 1964 3. C'e Una Strana Espressione Nei Tuoi Occhi/ Ci Vedremo Domani (ARC 4046) 1965 4. Grazie A Te/La Mia Città (ARC 4067) 1965 5. Ascolta Nel Vento/Il Primo Sintomo (ARC 4075) 1966 6. Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi/Piangi Con Me (ARC 4081) 1966 7. E La Pioggia Che Va/Finche c'e Musica Mi Tengo Su (ARC 4100) 1966 8. Ride On/Che Mondo Strano (ARC - Juke Box Only) 1966 9. Bisogna Saper Perdere/Non Far Finta Di No (ARC 4109) 1967 10. Eccola Di Nuovo/Ricordo Quando Ero Bambino (ARC 4122) 1967 11. Cercate Di Abbracciare Tutto Il Mondo Come Noi/ Regency Sue (ARC 4137) 1967 12. Le Opere di Bartolomeo/Siamo Sotto Il Sole (ARC 4142) 1968 13. Lascia L'Ultimo Ballo Per Me/Io Vivrò Senza Te (ARC 4152) 1968 14. Qui non c'e Nessuno/La Luna Bianca La Notte Nera (ARC 4156) 1968 15. Baby Come Back/Hello Come Stai (ARC 4169) 1968 16. Ma Che Freddo Fa/Per Te Per Me (ARC 4172) 1969 17. 28 Giugno/Mary (ARC 4182) 1969 18. Ombre Blu/Sempre Giorno (ARC 4194) 1969
45's [UK]: 1. Let's Live For Today/Ride On (RCA RCA 1587) 1967 2. Hold My Hand/Regency Sue (RCA RCA 1646) 1967 3. When The Wind Arises/The Works Of Bartholemew (RCA RCA 1694) 1968
The Charlatans were the very first San Francisco underground rock band. At the start the group played Chuck Berry numbers and R&B standards like Got My Mojo Working and My Babe but gradually they evolved the folk rock repertoire for which they had become famous. Eventually the group were offered a residency at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada. Here The Charlatans acted as a magnet for the whole hippy scene. News of them soon got around and acid heads came from Reno, 'Frisco and as far afield as Seattle and Los Angeles to hear them play. The Red Dog Saloon predated any of the San Francisco venues, and at the time it was the only place on the West Coast where you could hear the new music. But things began to go wrong. Despite being packed almost every night, the saloon made a loss because no admission charge was levied so profits could only be made from beer and wine sales. The owner had left his 22 year old son in charge and was not pleased when he found, on returning to discover the reasons for this loss, that everyone was having a ball at his expense. To make matters worse his visit coincided with two members of the group getting busted on the way back from San Francisco with more drug supplies for the group. Eventually the band headed back to San Francisco for good, taking with them a reputation on a par with anybody. Before long, record companies began to take an interest in them and they eventually signed with the Lovin' Spoonful's label, Kama Sutra. In retrospect, they would have done better to wait for a company to offer them the sort of advance RCA had offered The Jefferson Airplane. The group cut a nine-track album for Kama Sutra which included the Buffy St. Marie song Codine (later recorded by many other 'Frisco bands), amazing versions of traditional songs like Alabama Bound and 32-20 Blues, and the old Coasters' song The Shadow Knows and two songs featuring Lynne Hughes, who worked as a barmaid at the Red Dog Saloon (and later sang with Tongue and Groove and Stoneground) on vocals - Side Track and I'd Rather Be The Devil. The Charlatans had wanted Codine backed by 32-20 released as a single, but the record company got cold feet because of the mention of 'drugs' in Codine and cut off all contact with the band. This was disasterous for The Charlatans and ironic when one considers that the song was condemning drugs rather than advocating their use. At this point, Mike Ferguson left the group to join Tongue and Groove with Lynne Hughes, to be replaced by Patrick Bogery, and Dan Hicks gave up the drums to concentrate on the rhythm guitar. So Terry Wilson, who had been playing with David LaFlamme and Jaime Leapold in a group called The Orkustra came in on the drums. But they struggled to get work and Hicks, Bogerty and Hunter left the group for good. Hicks to set up Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. The remaining three (Wilhelm, Olsen and Wilson) recruited a keyboard player Darryl De Vore and were determined to have a final fling. The tragic story of The Charlatans, probably one of San Francisco's most talented bands, that of a group taken for a ride by its record company, was sadly typical of this era. (taken from "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers")
Their album (Philips PHS 600-309 / 1969) was a bit disappointing if you compare it with their earlier works but it's not a "mediocre affair" as it described in "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers". They did a competent version of Van Dyke Park's "High Coin" and "Time To Get Straight" is a fine folk rocker. Also notable is the last song "When The Movies Are Over", which is a weird and trippy number.
Tracklist: - High Coin - Easy When I'm Dead - Ain't Got The Time - Folsom Prison Blues - The Blues Ain’t Nothin' - Time To Get Straight - When I Go Sailin' By - Doubtful Waltz - Wabash Cannonball - Alabama Bound - When The Movies Are Over Personnel: Georger Hunter (vcls, harp) [ABC] Mike Wilhelm (gtr) [ABD] Mike Ferguson (piano) [AB] Sam Linde (drms) [AB] Dan Hicks (gtr, vcls) [BC] Richard Olsen (bs) [ABCD] (Lynn Hughes (guest vcls) [B]) Darryl de Vore (keybd’s) [D] Terry Wilson (drms) [CD] Patrick Bogerty (piano) [C] Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)
From New Jersey, their album (ABC ABCS 666 / 1969) was a "Super K" production by Kasenetz-Katz, with a psychedelic side and a bubblegum side. Among its better tracks are 4th Dimension and Seance, and overall it's worth hearing. One of the tracks, The Seance started when Jeff Katz came into the studio whilst the engineer was trying to get a volume and EQ level. As usual, the band were goofin-off - playing dissonant jibberish to irritate and annoy the engineer, but Jeff thought that THAT SOUND was' just what he was looking for ' to finish the album... One track from the album, Mysterious Martha has been compiled on Psychosis From The 13th Dimension. (taken from "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers")
Tracklist: - Where Are We Goin' To - 4th Dimension - Gypsy Lady - I Got Troubles (You Got Trouble) - The Seance - Mysterious Martha Garoo - The Book - Land Of The Krepus - Mrs Fortune Teller - Everybody's Got A Song To Sing Personnel: Jimmie Jersie (vcls, perc) Joe Ribaudo (gtr) Drew Troeder (bs, vcls) Guy Rigano (drms) Band origin: Garfield (New Jersey/US)
Discographie: Albums: 1. The Mystical Powers Of Roving Tarot Gamble (ABC ABCS 666) 1969
45's: 1. I Got Troubles/Gypsy Lady (ABC Paramount 11172) 1969
From Upper Hutt/New Zealand The Fourmyula were the most successful sixties act in their homeland. They had seven top ten hits as well as some top thirty entrees. Their first album was well received and they recorded up to 1970 three more longplayers. Most of their material is pretty much in the pop-psych vein best compared with UK band like "Wizard Of Oz" or "Toby Twirl". This twenty track compilation was released by EMI New Zealand (EMI 7243 5219242 7 / 1999).
Tracklist: - Come With Me - Alice Is There - Mr. Whippy - Start By Giving To Me - Forever - Turn Your Back On The Wind - Make Me Happy - I'll Sing You A Song - I Know Why - Nature - Have You Heard The News - Toffee Apple Sunday - Orphan - Lady Scorpio - Otaki - Home - Lullaby - Mill Stream - Tell Me No Lie - Blessbury Road Personnel: Martin Hope (lead gtr, vcls) [ABC] Wayne Mason (gtr, organ, vcls) [AB] Alistair Richardson (bs, vcls) [ABC] Chris Parry (drms) [ABC] Carl Evenson (lead vcls) [BC] Paul Pryde (gtr, organ) [C] Band origin: Upper Hutt (New Zealand)
Discographie: Albums: 1. The Fourmyula (HMV CSDM 6283) 1968 2. Green B. Holiday (HMV CSDM 6296) 1969 3. Creation (HMV CSDM 6309) 1970 4. Fourmyula and Shane: Alive! (HMV CSDM 6313) 1970
45's: 1. Honey Chile/Come With Me (HMV HR 331) 1968 2. Alice Is There/I Dig Your Act (HMV HR 334) 1968 3. I Know Why/It's Only Make Believe (HMV HR 335) 1968 4. Start By Giving To Me/If I Had The Time (HMV HR 340) 1968 5. Home/Tell Me No Lies (HMV HR 342) 1968 6. Forever/Mr. Whippy (HMV HR 368) 1969 7. Lady Scorpio/She's A ? (Columbia DNZ 118) 1969 8. I'll Sing You A Song/Mill Stream (HMV HR 374) 1969 9. Nature/Home (HMV HR 380) 1969 10. Make Me Happy/Lord, I'm Coming There (HMV HR 390) 1970 11. Otaki/Which Way Did She Go (HMV HR 405) 1970 12. Turn Your Back On The Wind/Believe In Love (HMV HR 421) 1971 13. Lullaby/Molly (HMV HR 455) 1971
E.P.'s: 1. Four Hits Of The Fourmyula (GESM 6138) 1969
John Bromley was a songwriter who Polydor encouraged to put his songs on vinyl. The album was a collection of 45s with extra tracks added. The Fleur de Lys were called in to provide the backing on some, including So Many Things, which can also be heard on Rubble Vol. 16: Glass Orchid Aftermath (LP) and Rubble Vol. 9 (CD). Despite this added dimension the album didn't sell well. He'd been with The Three People in 1966/67. He wrote Come On Down for Jackie De Shannon and This World's An Apple for the Ace Kefford Stand. (taken from "Tapestry Of Delights")
I've got this rip from another source and tried to erase the clicks and crackles as best as possible. Originally released on Polydor (Polydor 583048 / 1969) this one should have deserved a re-issue. John Bromley was from Manchester and his work can be best compared with Bill Fay's two early seventies albums (if that helps). Often a bit too heavily orchestrated but always charming. "If You Are There With Me" was compiled on Fading Yellow #4 and "Sugar Love" find its way on Pop-in #2.
Tracklist: 1. Only Foolish People 2. Melody Fayre 3. So Many Things 4. If You Are There With Me 5. Sugar Love 6. Old Time Mover 7. What Do You Think Of Me 8. What A Woman Does 9. Weather Man 10. I'm Gonna Love You Till I Die 11. Natural Born Loser 12. And The Feeling Goes Personnel: John Bromley (vcls, gtr)
Additional musicians on Tracks 2/3/5-8/10 [Fleur de Lys]: Bryn Haworth (gtr) Malcolm "Tago" Byers (bs) Keith Guster (drms) Origin: Manchester (Greater Manchester/UK)
Discographie: Albums: 1. Sing (Polydor 583048) 1969
45's: 1. What A Woman Does/My My (Polydor 56224) 1968 2. And The Feeling Goes/Sweet Little Princess (Polydor 56287) 1968 3. Melody Fayre/Sugar Love (Polydor 56305) 1969 4. Hold Me Woman/Weather Man (Polydor 56340) 1969 5. Kick A Tin Can/Wonderland Avenue USA (Atlantic 584289) 1969
Please were formed by Peter Dunton and Bernie Jinks in late 1967. They had just returned to Britain from Germany where they had played with Neon Pearl, which also included their third member Jurgen Ermisch. The fourth original member Adrian Gurvitz later co-founded Gun. Unfortunately this line-up left no vinyl legacy or unreleased recordings that have been located behind it. They disbanded in May 1968 when Peter Dunton joined The Flies for whom he wrote both sides of their Magic Train 45. When The Flies split up at the end of 1968, Dunton reformed the band (line-up 'B'). Rob Hunt had also been in The Flies. They recorded all the cuts compiled on this album. Please split again in April 1969 when Peter Dunton joined Gun. The remaining members recruited a new drummer and renamed themselves Bulldog Breed. They later cut the Made In England album. In the Autumn of 1969, Peter Dunton quit Gun to reform Please with Bernie Jinks and Nick Spenser (ex-Neon Pearl). This incarnation was relatively short-lived as they had difficulty recruiting a suitable keyboard player. In early 1970 Dunton, Jinks and a later Bulldog Breed member Keith Cross joined forces to form T2, who were responsible for the excellent It'll All Work Out In Boomland album. One of T2's tracks, No More White Horses also crops up in a radically different form on Please's 1968/69 retrospective. (taken from "Tapestry Of Delights")
The keyboards are a bit too much in front at times on this album full of dreamy psychedelic music where "Before" is the track that catches the ear. This is their second release of unreleased material on Acme (Acme Deluxe ADLP 1028 / 2000). You find their first album on theProg Not Frogblogspot.
Tracklist: - Seeing Stars - Words To Say - Before - Time Goes By - The Road - Rise & Shine - Still Dreaming - Secrets - Who You Know - But - Steal Your Dreams Personnel: Peter Dunton (vcls, drms, organ) [ABC] Bernie Jinks (bs) [ABC] Jurgen Ermisch (organ) [A] Adrian Gurvitz (gtr) [A] Robin Hunt (flute, vcls) [B] Rod Harrison (gtr) [B] Nick Spenser (gtr) [BC] Band origin: London (UK)
From Los Angeles/California, this group made a pretty good laid back Rock record at the end of the decade that was re-issued in the '90s (Eight Little Indians CD 3027 / 1998). The critics are divided in their opinion about the privately pressed album. They differ from "Lost gem" to "mostly loungy (in the wrong sense) psychrock/AOR with offkey vocals and unimpressive songwriting" to "A strange one that’s gotten more attention than it deserves, but if you don’t get your hopes up too high you might enjoy it". I like it and I think it's pretty adventurous although they lose the direction sometimes. You better make up your own mind.
LATEST UPDATE: It turned out that Jungle was previously known as The Knight Riders from Belmont/California who had the track "I" on the San Francisco Roots compilation. Bass player Rodney Pearce and drummer Mike Lentos were replaced by John Dawson and Delbert Lang. They recorded their eponymous album at Allegro Sound Studios, New York City 1969.
Tracklist: - House Of Rooms - Somewhere Sweet Memories - Gray Picnic - Changes I'm Going Through - Early Morning Rising - Slave Ship Personnel: Jay Mierly (vcls) James Ryan Clark (lead gtr) Virgil "Butch" Daniels (gtr) John Dawson Delbert Lang Band origin: Belmont (California/US)
Discographie: Albums: 1. Jungle (no label CO 3027) 1969
This is a pretty good folk/psych effort that I've received lately (and that I have searched for a long time). Sadly it was no artwork attached and the sound quality was not really in mint condition. I've cleaned it up so it is finally what I think an enjoyable listen. Don Beckman (lead guitar, vocals) and David Rea (lead vocals, guitar) were based in Denver/Colorado and released at least three 45's and one album (Stylist SA-600 /1969) as "Sage And Seer".
Folk-pop-psych is one label that's applied by dealers and collectors to this duo on the few occasions that their releases have surfaced. Recorded in Denver, Colorado, their medium-rare LP is appealing folkish pop with orchestration and a few tape effects. The front cover is more psychedelic than the music and it was issued with a poster insert. (taken from "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers")
Unusual item for a private press as it's an ambitious and elaborate lyte-psych effort that would have fit well on Epic or ABC. Influences are mainly British with obvious nods to 1967 Donovan and the Beatles. Arrangements bring in chamber music orchestrations and a baroque feel that has made for Left Banke comparisons, although I was more reminded of a second-tier Fredric. (Patrick The Lama in "The Acid Archives")
Cool album cover and lots of dealer hype make this one easy to mistake for a lost pop/psych masterpiece. In reality, though, it's a mainstream 60s pop album with lots of strings and horns (where'd these guys ever get such a big recording budget?). It starts and ends well: "Pictures Through A Sunday Afternoon" is a gorgeous baroque pop song that ends in a wash of psychedelic effects, and the closing "Farewell St. John" is a slightly lesser variation on the same musical theme. The rest is kind of a mixed bag, with a few nice soft rock songs and a few that are more forgettable. (Aaron Milenski in "The Acid Archives")
Tracklist: - Pictures Through A Sunday Afternoon - She Died Again - Candle - I've Cried - Time Has Come Between Us - Be Still When You Cry - Clarissa - I Want You To Know - All Those Yesterdays - No - Blue, Blue And Blue - Farewell St. John Personnel: Don Beckman (lead gtr, vcls) David Rea (lead vcls, gtr) Band origin: Denver (Colorado)
Discographie: Albums: 1. Sage And Seer (Stylist SA-600) 1969
45's: 1. I Can't Take You Home/Calling (Stylist 45-600) 1969 2. Pictures Through A Sunday Afternoon/Clarissa (Stylist 45-601) 1969 3. She Died Again/Candle (Stylist 45-602) 1969
Rare, original and hard to get music is the demand of that blog here. If a record is still available through mailorders I won't post it (but I make exceptions if I get the feeling the dealers force up the prices). Enjoy the music and... ...leave comments (or leave me alone).
A harmony-pop outfit from London, they started as The West Coast Consortium. With their high-pitched falsetto vocals they are nothing for the hard-psych connoisseur. Their first single didn't make any impression and for some reason they changed their name for the second 45 to Robbie (maybe to establish their lead singer Robbie Fair as a solo act). Again success eluded them, although it was quite good. The follow-up "Colour Sergeant Lilywhite" was perhaps their most psychedelic and one of their best outings. Soon after they added organist Bill Mangham to their line-up and shortened their name to Consortium. The first record they did under the new moniker was "All The Love In The World". It was their only hit, reaching #22 in the UK charts. Not a bad song, but the backings are totally annoying. They released five more singles, all in the same style. Particularly "Day The Train Never Came", "I Don't Want Her Any More" and "The House Upon The Hill" are well worth hearing. They finally split around 1975 after RCA cancelled a record deal for an LP. At this time only Robbie Fair, now Robbie Legat, was the only remaining original member. The recordings were finally released as "Rebirth" on Angel Air in 2006 and more or less in the Pop-Rock vein. In 2003 Castle (Castle Music CMRCD 786) released "Looking Back", a 27 track CD, including all the singles (except the last) plus 11 unreleased tracks. There's another CD on Wooden Hill called "Mr. Umbrella Man" with more unreleased stuff.
