British Mod Pop, Freakbeat, R'n'B, Blue Eyed Soul: The Primitives - Maladjusted 1964-1967 (2001 Castle Music)

After having done a fantastic job with the Sorrows (fellow Pye signing who eventually found success in Italy), Sequel did a similarly magnificent job with the Primitives, who uncannily enough followed an identical career path. Maladjusted's 28 cuts gather everything the Primitives recorded between 1964-1967, including second singer Mal Ryder's pre-Primitives 45s, a rare French EP, and the entire Italian Blow Up album. The CD succinctly charts the band's progression from Pretty Things-styled R&B through mod-tinged freakbeat and raucous blue-eyed soul. Due to the Rolling Stones and the Beatles wowing the world bands such as the Primitives, who sprang up during the height of the "big two," were unfortunately left by the wayside. Until now, the Primitives have been relocated to the annals of cult freakbeat; hopefully this concise collection should raise the profile of this fabulous mid-'60s act. (Jon Mills, allmusic.com)

 Maladjusted rounds up their work during this 1964-67 period, featuring everything from those previously-mentioned releases plus an alternate version of the French EP's lead track, 'Oh Mary', the entire Blow Up album and a couple of related solo 45s from the group's long-term frontman Mal Ryder who, along with early fan John Taylor, has provided invaluable help in piecing together the legend of the band.

The Primitives evolved in 1964 out of British beat boom hopefuls The Cornflakes (previously known as The Rising Sons), whose typically cheesy post-Beatles handle didn't prevent them building up a sizeable fan base on the Oxford live circuit. As the Cornflakes, they won the Plaza Cinema beat group contest in Northampton, a competition that proved to be of twofold importance in their embryonic career: the contest's first prize was a two-year contract with the Pye label, while Cyd Cipin, who ran the local Plaza, was so impressed by the group that, in conjunction with his brother Mayer and their associate Leslie Jaffa, he became their manager.

A namechange to The Primitives gave a more accurate indication of the group's brand of long- haired , Pretty Things-styled driving R&B under their new name, they signed to Pye in autumn 1964. At this juncture, The Primitives' line-up consisted of lead vocalist Jay Roberts (real name Jeffrey Farthing), Geoff Eaton (aka Geoff Tindall) on lead guitar, the curiously-named John E. Soul (rhythm guitar, harmonica), RogerJames (bass) and Mike Wilding (drums). (David Wells, theprimitives.com)

 The band played fine R'n'B, blue eyed soul, freakbeat and mod pop style music. Jay Roberts had a great voice and often pushed the songs to their limit. Marvelous band. Enjoy.(Frank)

Flac 

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