Psychedelic Pop, Pop Rock, Mersey Beat, Byrdsian Jangle Folk Rock: the 23rd turnoff - the dream of michaelangelo 1965-67 (2004 RPM, Bam Caruso)

The Kirkbys were a Liverpool quintet originally called "the Tuxedos," formed and led by guitarist Jimmy Campbell, who was also one of Liverpool's better undiscovered songwriters of the period. He, drummer Kenny Goodlass, guitarist John Lloyd, bassist Alby Power, and vocalist Gerry Savage (soon succeeded by Joe Marooth) were the core lineup of the original band, which had a very accessible pop/rock sound. 

Their harmonies were solid and Campbell and Marooth collaborated on some very pleasant originals together. What's more, they could grow into new sounds as they came along: their 1965-vintage "Don't You Want Me No More" offers chiming guitars and Byrds-like harmonies in the best early folk-rock mold, while their slightly later "Dreaming" could pass for a Herman's Hermits outtake. Goodlass left the group to join the somewhat more successful band the Escorts (whose members included Terry Sylvester) and was succeeded by Mervyn Sharpe. He was back in the Kirkbys' lineup following Sharpe's exit, and the group endured until the early part of the psychedelic era. Their recorded legacy includes a 1966 RCA single, "It's a Crime" b/w "I've Never Been So Much in Love," and two songs on Unearthed Merseybeat.

The 23rd Turnoff's name was an in-joke, referring to the exit off the M-6   that led to Liverpool, whence they came. Their history was a bit like that of   the Tremeloes or, closer to home, the Beatles, in that their musical lineage   went back to the end of the 1950s. With guitarist/composer Jimmy   Campbell  as their leader, they went through a long (and musically credible)   stint as the Kirkbys, before evolving into the 23rd Turnoff, embracing flower-power and psychedelia in the process. Their magnum opus was "Michaelangelo," a gorgeous if somewhat downbeat single that should've fit right in with pieces like "Nights in White Satin," among other melancholic hits. It didn't make the charts, and eventually the group split up and Campbell teamed up with Billy Kinsley to form Rockin' Horse. (Bruce Eder, allmusic.com)

Although this 21-track compilation is credited to the 23rd Turnoff, in fact it's a combination of recordings by the Kirkbys, the mid-'60s Merseybeat group led by Jimmy Campbell, and the 23rd Turnoff, the more psychedelic band they evolved into in 1967. It reveals Campbell as perhaps the most unheralded talent to come out of the Liverpool '60s rock scene, as he was a songwriter capable of both spinning out engaging Merseybeat and -- unlike almost every other artist from the city, with the notable exception of the Beatles -- making the transition to quality, dreamy psychedelia. Both sides of all three of the Kirkbys' 1965-1966 singles are here, as well as a bunch of unreleased recordings and outtakes by the group, all written or co-written by Campbell. 

While there's no obvious hit among them, they're catchy, Beatles-influenced tracks, showing some folk-rock and Revolver influence on the later efforts. The 23rd Turnoff material (much of it previously unissued) is more adventurous, though still retaining Campbell's knack for solid vocal harmony-driven melodies, with "Flowers Are Flowering" sounding very much like Roger McGuinn singing something off Revolver. "Michael Angelo," the A-side of the sole 23rd Turnoff single, is certainly the highlight, and indeed a highlight of 1967 British psychedelia as a whole in its hazy bittersweet swirl; you also get not one, but two unreleased studio versions of the same tune as well. It seems as if Campbell needed just a bit more encouragement, and his groups just a little more studio time, to develop into a notable British psychedelic group that could combine solid pop melodies, sophisticated lyrics and arrangements, and touches of English whimsy. Unfortunately they didn't get that chance, but what's here is satisfying on its own terms, bolstered by thorough liner notes explaining the complicated Campbell/Kirkbys/23rd Turnoff saga.(Richie Unterberger, allmusic.com)

Flac (zippy)                                                                Flac (M)

mp3 (zippy)                                                                mp3 (M)                                                          

                                  pass: SB1

'60s Psychedelic Pop: The End - Introspection 1969 (2005 Decca, UK, Limited Edition) 2 Bonus Tracks

 

Although Introspection bombed due to a belated release, collectors have since heralded it as one of the finest albums from the brief British psychedelic wave. Produced by Rolling Stone Bill Wyman in early 1968, the spirit of the era (or maybe that of the previous summer) is sonically created, with sumptuous results. 

Giffin and Graham's gentle harmony vocals tread a similar path to Odessey and Oracle-era Zombies, while sessionman Nicky Hopkins' harpsichord, a pumping Hammond, Terry Taylor's searing Cream-like fuzztone guitar leads, psychedelic duel-ragas, and floating Mellotron recreate the colors of a rainbow. The overall effect is psych-pop rather than acid-inspired mayhem, although the drifting ambience of the production,

 lyricism, and instrumentation could not be anything else than a product of psychedelia. A majority of the numbers were clearly influenced by the Satanic Majesties' Request sessions that Wyman had been undertaking -- and indeed Wyman co-wrote two songs -- although the the End's more commercial pop edge forges a sound distant from the Rolling Stones. With an abundance of moods, tones, and a gloriously over the top production, Introspection is a superb period piece, and rightfully deserves it's near-classic status. (John Mills, allmusic)

Of course, the album with its (rather poppy) sound came too late in the changing market. Meanwhile, since the Beatles released "Sergeant Pepper", more and more albums entered the charts, but of course other musicians were also involved. Bands like King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Pink Floyd, to name but three, entered the charts in the early seventies. 'The End' had been a single band until then and had released an 'EP'. The band came out with their album two years too late, in my opinion. Nevertheless, the album is a great pop album. If you love psychedelic pop of the sixties, you will want to add this album to your collection. Enjoy!(Frank)

Flac (zippy)                                                       Flac (M)

mp3 (zippy)                                                       mp3 (M)

                              pass: SB1

South African ? Pop/Pop Rock/Bubblegum from 1969: Rabbitt - Rabbitt 1 (1969 Bell Records) Vinyl

Some information about the album: It was produced by Lee Hazlewood and Larry Marks, who also arranged the songs. Most of the songs were written by Toni and Larry Marks. One song was contributed by Lee Hazlewood, who also published almost all the songs in his music publishing company. One song was co-written by John Carter, one of the most successful pop composers, who was hugely successful with countless projects. All this leads me to the conclusion that it was recorded by studio musicians. I have also read other things on the net, for example that it is supposed to be the South African 70s band Rabbitt. Among others, Duncan Faure and Trevor Rabin played in the formation. I find this hard to believe, because Faure would have been only 13 years old at the time of the recordings. Anyway, the album offers catchy pop music, as it was probably played on the radio in the early seventies. I wish everyone a lot of fun.(Frank)

Flac (zippy)                                                                    Flac (M)

mp3 (zippy)                                                                    mp3 (M)

                                      pass: SB1

😃😃😃😃😃 ...Part V...old links, new links, expired links...

 Hello Folks,

the last few days have been a bit chaotic for me and I hope that I haven't lost the overview. These should be the expired links, which I have now renewed. I will publish a list with renewed links from time to time. I hope everything will work without problems 😉.

the 23rd turnoff - the dream of michaelangelo 1965-67 (2004 RPM, Bam Caruso), 

The End - Introspection 1969 (2005 Decca, UK, Limited Edition) 2 Bonus Tracks, 

Rabbitt - Rabbitt 1 (1969 Bell Records) Vinyl 

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Companion 1960-71, 

The Asteroid No4 - Collide, 

Emitt Rhodes - The Emitt Rhodes Recordings 1969-73, 

The Tremeloes - Boxed (2000 BR Music) 4 Disc

Die Anderen/Apocalypse - Kannibal Komix 1968

The National Gallery - Performing Musical Interpretations Of The Paintings Of Paul Klee

The New Piccadillys - Introducing... The New Piccadillys

The Olivia Tremor Control - Music From The Unrealized Film Script 'Dusk At Cubist Castle'

The Paramounts - At Abbey Road

The Poor - The Poor

The Professionals - The Professionals

The Souls Of Inspyration - The Souls Of Inspyration

The Sounds Of Modification - The Sounds Of Modification

The Stained Glass - A Scene In Between

The Sundowners - Captain Nemo

The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go

The Tremblers - Twice Nightly

The Uniques - Absolutely The Best

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Volume 3 - A Child's Guide To Good And Evil

Toby Twirl - Toby Twirl

Toni Vescoli - Information

Trevor McNamara - Yeah Captain

Tuesday's Children - Strange Light From the East

Twinkle - Golden Lights

Twinn Connexion - Twinn Connexion

Uzi & The Styles - Friends

Vagrants - I Can't Make A Friend

Van Duren - Idiot Optimism

Van Duren - Resonance Road

West Coast Consortium - Looking Back - The Pye Anthology 1967-1971

Wild Silk - (Visions In A) Plaster Sky (Complete Recordings 1968-1969)

Wonderland - The Best Of

Zuider Zee - Zeenith

The Chords - So Far Away & 11 Bonus tracks 1979/1980

Bobby Freeman - C'mon And S-W-I-M (2000 Ace Records)

Green Seagull - Scarlet Fever (2018 Mega Dodo Records)

The Ventures - Superpsychedelics + $1,000,000 Weekend

Sixties Texas Garage Rock: Zakary Thaks - Form The Habit 1966-69 (BeatRocket, Sundazed) Mono

 

Hailing from Corpus Christi, Texas, Zakary Thaks were one of the city's most popular bands between 1966 and 1969. Originally known as The Marauders, they soon changed their name to The Riptides and played mostly surf music. As British bands like the Kinks and the Stones became more influential, they changed their name again in March 1966 to The Zakary Thaks and signed with Carl Becker's J-Beck label. Chris Gerniottis was just 15 years old at the time, while the other members were 17.

Bad Girl, their first 45 record, was a strong punk song with a snappy guitar introduction. It was picked up by Mercury for nationwide distribution, but was believed to sell more records in South Texas, where they developed a strong following. The follow-up album also sold quite well locally, reaching #1 in Austin and San Antonio.  Zakary Thaks opened for most of the touring bands performing in Corpus Christi at the time, including The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Animals, Beach Boys, Yardbirds and The 13th Floor Elevators.

The 2001 album was one of the best reissues of '60s garage bands, with songwriting and musicianship on a much higher level than most '60s garage bands, and with just as much youthful insouciance. From the punk of "Bad Girl" and the stunning fuzz guitar of "Face to Face" to the Beatles pop of "Please". (excerpt from mza-garage)

When I fell out of bed this morning, I needed some music with the appropriate ''wake up drive and sound'' and that's how I came across 'Zakary Thaks'. I decided to go with BeatRocket's , Sundazed release in mono.  The original recordings of Carl Becker's songs are, in my humble opinion, closer to the band sound and also closer to a live feel than, for example, the 2015 Big Beat release 'It's The End - The Definitive Collection'. In this case I definitely lean towards 2001 release of BeatRocket/Sundazed, even if it has seven songs less. Anyway, hope you will Enjoy!(Frank)

Flac (zippy)                                                        Flac (M)

mp3 (zippy)                                                        mp3 (M)

                             pass: SB1

At Request: Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost (2011 True Panther)

This is probably the longest text about an album that I've posted here (and it's already shortened a bit), but it's perhaps the most apt description of an album ever here.

Very briefly my opinion about this second album of ''Girls'': For me it is perhaps the best album of the last ,at least, ten years in the field of pop music. I think the album has an emotional depth in the songs that you rarely hear in its entirety over almost an entire album. One should not, but one must listen to the album several times. A real 'wow' album. Enjoy.(Frank)

Christopher Owens

Review by Zachary Houle, popmatters.com

Owens and his band mate Chet “JR” White have utterly surpassed themselves with the cosmic Father, Son, Holy Ghost. By and large, the duo sets its sights now not so much on the sun-drenched druggy ‘60s, but at the pomp and bombast of the ’70s, which, with all of the advances in musicianship and studio trickery (let’s ignore the contribution of punk for a moment, shall we?), might just emerge as the most interesting decade in pop music. There are moments on this new album that point backwards to not only glam rock but the progressive sounds of monster ‘70s groups, the most notable and noticeable being that of Pink Floyd somewhere between Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. And yet, there are zig-zaggy detours into something forlorn and spacious, such as in the case of the bluntly-titled “Die”, which starts out as a replica of something in the Sweet or Badfinger catalog and gradually transforms into a Mellotron drenched mediation that is as soft and gentle as dew on a sunflower. “Forgiveness” crosses acoustic rock with the bombast of ‘70s prog-cum-classical music stage acts like Electric Light Orchestra. There are dips as well into Eagles-style country rock in the form of “Saying I Love You” just to rattle the cage.

Still, despite the infatuation with all things out of the Me Decade, there are still hints of the ‘60s to be found on Father, Son, Holy Ghost, most notably on the rollicking surf-rock-derived opening track “Honey Bunny” (a nod to Pulp Fiction, perhaps?), which merges Beach Boys-style melodies (in fact, the verses of the song sound suspiciously a lot like the verses to “Fun, Fun, Fun”) with a careening reverb-heavy Dick Dale-like guitar sound that embodies the thick timbre of someone playing a Les Paul made out of a telephone pole. “Just a Song”, meanwhile, reaches back eons with its lovely minor key classical guitar theatrics that gradually blossoms into a lush orchestrated stab at ‘60s baroque pop before backtracking to the song’s original Spanish roots with strings adorned in the last third.

The beauty of Father, Son, Holy Ghost is largely found in its soft underbelly: a mid-section selection of songs that almost makes the hairs on the back of your neck bristle. Starting with “My Ma”, the fifth song on the record, the vibe turns utterly stoner rock: it’s the sort of slow jam that you’d want to take a mushroom trip to with its touch of George Harrison inspired slide guitar and soulful backing female vocals cooing as though they’ve been teleported in from the bag of tricks conjured up by a couple of Britons who go by the names Roger Waters and David Gilmour. The unfortunately titled, but stark “Vomit” continues even further in that vein — another gradual crawl of a ballad that is full of theatrical prog rock touches. The aforementioned “Just a Song” completes this loose trilogy of middle-of-the-record ballad wizardry, though it could be argued that the gorgeous “Forgiveness”, which follows a scant two songs later, could be loosely considered a part of this trifecta.

Father, Son, Holy Ghost is a record about not being able to profess desire to the one you admire, the feeling of letting down those who are close to you, and begging for redemption from those that you have. It’s as though Owens has locked himself in a darkly lit room to emote his particular yearning. “How I can I say I love you? / Now that you’ve said I love you?” intones Owens on “Saying I Love You”, following that up later with “There goes my everything” at his in inability to articulate a basic tenement of being in a relationship, while the guitars in the solo do exactly that: articulate themselves in the literal musical terminology sense in the form of gently plucked staccato notes. The irony. A song later, Owens exhaustively muses “Oh God, I’m tired / My heart is broken / … I’m so lost / I’m out here in darkness”. It’s as though Owens is carrying a heavy bag on his shoulders, and just when you think the bleakness is about to break, things only get starker from there. “Vomit” carries the weightiness of “Nights I spend alone / I spend them running around looking for you, baby” — a sentiment that he has to repeat twice in the verse, which reoccurs as the de facto statement of fact throughout the song, as though Owens is in a state of perpetual confusion and can’t believe the state of loneliness he’s finally achieved. By “Just a Song”, Owens swirls even darker into despair: “It just feels like it’s gone, oh it’s gone, gone away / Seems that nobody’s happy now / Feels like nobody’s happy now”.

However, things are bright, shiny and new by the time the next song, “Magic”, rolls around, opening with the sunny, “Just a look was all it took / Suddenly I’m on the hook / It’s magic / … I feel like starting anew”. By the time you get to “Forgiveness” there’s a lingering sense of deliverance in the proceedings: “Nothing’s gonna get any better / If you don’t have a little hope / If you don’t have a little love / In your soul”. Ultimately, there’s a thematic underpinning to the whole of Father, Son, Holy Ghost that provides a richly dark and brooding emotional heft that eventually coalesces into something hopeful and transcendent, before plunging back into lovelorn depths of despair for final song “Jamie Marie”, another ode to falling back out of love. Seemingly, the songs are so unified, you walk away from the record wondering if it was written in order.

Unlike past Girls’ outings, Father, Son, Holy Ghost is bracingly immediate, a collection of songs that don’t have to grow on you — songs that are fully realized and lovable at first blush. While the album’s second half doesn’t really reach the dizzying heights set by the first seven or so songs — the group delivers a bit of a dud with the treacly doo-wop meets ‘60s soul of “Love, Like a River” as the penultimate statement and final ballad “Jamie Marie” is a bit underwhelming in addition, making the case that the album, at 11 cuts, is maybe two songs too long — the record is generally consistent, engaging and hauntingly beautiful. 

With Album, the Broken Dreams Club EP and now Father, Son, Holy Ghost, the band has delivered their own version of a Holy Trinity: two albums and an extended play that merit constant attention and examination. With this long player (and long player is an apt description as it runs about an hour in length), Girls have delivered a reflective, pensive and low-key love letter to styles and genres that have long since fallen by the wayside, but are apt for rediscovery and admiration. Given that the group is only a few albums into their discography, the following sentiment might be a little premature in the making, but this latest disc really seems to cement the notion that the collective combination of the songsmiths Owens and White simply cannot do no wrong, that all of that time spent kept away from the pleasures of modern music, at least in one member’s case, has simply fostered an entity that is bemused and bedazzled with the charms of the past’s reflective prism.

Flac (zippy)                                                         Flac (M)

mp3 (zippy)                                                         mp3 (M)

                                pass: SB1

'60s Easy Listening, Vocal, Bubblegum: Salt Water Taffy - Finder Keepers (1968-69 Buddah) (2009 Rev-Ola)

 

Digitally re-mastered and expanded edition of this 1968 album from the Bubblegum Pop outfit. Led by Rod McBrien, Salt Water Taffy were originally conceived as a white version of the 5th Dimension... when Bubblegum started to hit however, they reconfigured to a more poppy sound, and signed a deal with Buddah Records, spiritual home of Bubblegum. Arranged by Meco Monardo (later to have a monster hit with a Discofied Star Wars Theme), 'Finders Keepers' was a perfect Bubblegum hit: childish yet knowing. The album followed, with 12 perfect slices of New York radio-tastic Pop, dancey and hooky as hell! Perfect vocal harmonies met infectious beats, as Salt Water Taffy took it to the bridge! If you like a bit of sugar on your Superpop, you'll love this! With a bonus of the original mono mixes of their as rare as anything Buddah single, this is a Bubbletastic feast! (Rev-Ola)

Flac (zippy)                                                                        Flac (M)

 mp3 (zippy)                                                                       mp3 (M)

                                     pass: SB1

Rock, Pop Rock, Power Pop: Richard Orange - Big Orange Sun (2005 Orange Stone Recordings, Wizzard In Vinyl)

 

Haaving been at least somewhere on the scene, for no less than thirty years or so, it’s strange for a Beatlemaniacal fan (which is a category I count myself in) not to have heard about Mr. Orange. Anyway, I guess it’s better whenever than never, so here I am, tasting the “Orange” for the first time. Though captured on the legendary Memphis’ Sun vintage studio equipment, the sound here has a rather moderndaze flavour, offering another example of an imaginary Beatles record, had they continued throughout the post-1970 future.

So, nothing too innovative here, but it’s always an inexhaustible source to draw from, also offering a possibility for artist to throw in some of his own creativity whenever he feels like, and it seems that Richard Orange feels so, quite often. In Richard’s vision, it seems that it’s Paul who’d taken over most of the song writing in the mentioned imaginary future,

 since there are much more Wings-alike rawk-outs, taking you into different directions like the Ska Macca-ronies of the opening Mental Dentist, or All The Way To China (Hole In My Heart) that could’ve been another one of those collaborations with Costello.

After some arranging adjustments Someday Darkness could be the next smash for Oasis and there’s also the one that will Absolutely Positively take you into the smokey Cavern atmosphere. Fall Off The World (Mimi’s Song) and the title tune sound as if John and Paul had actually sat down to write together in the late ‘60s, while Ballad Of Captain Morgan is a popsike number “for the benefit of Mr. Lennon”.

At the end of the CD there’s no less than 22 minutes of bonus material, made of three titles that seem like various studio sketches/outtakes of which the first one is called Beatlesque, though the title is MUCH more suitable for the second one, Yuppie Pie/No.5, while Girls Dance With Girls is another one with funky “wings”. (Garwood Pickjon, popdiggers.com)

Richard Orange war schon immer ein Bewunderer der ''Fab Four'' und das hört man seinem musikalischen Wirken auch sehr oft an. Bereits 1975 bewies er mit ''Zuider Zee'' sein Faible für Beatles beeinflusste Popmusik. Und das ist auf diesem Album auch zu hören. Ich wünsche Euch viel Spaß.(Frank)

  Flac (zippy)                                                                                   Flac (M)

 mp3 (zippy)                                                                                    mp3 (M)

                                    pass: SB1

😀😀😀 Part IV... Old links, new links, expired links 😀😀😀

 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

This are the Albums with new fixed links. I hope everything works fine and all interested people will enjoy. More will follow.

The National Gallery - Performing Musical Interpretations Of The Paintings Of Paul Klee

The New Piccadillys - Introducing... The New Piccadillys

The Olivia Tremor Control - Music From The Unrealized Film Script 'Dusk At Cubist Castle'

The Paramounts - At Abbey Road

The Poor - The Poor

The Professionals - The Professionals

The Souls Of Inspyration - The Souls Of Inspyration

The Sounds Of Modification - The Sounds Of Modification

The Stained Glass - A Scene In Between

The Sundowners - Captain Nemo

The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go

The Tremblers - Twice Nightly

The Uniques - Absolutely The Best

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Volume 3 - A Child's Guide To Good And Evil

Toby Twirl - Toby Twirl

Toni Vescoli - Information

Trevor McNamara - Yeah Captain

Tuesday's Children - Strange Light From the East

Twinkle - Golden Lights

Twinn Connexion - Twinn Connexion

Uzi & The Styles - Friends

Vagrants - I Can't Make A Friend

Van Duren - Idiot Optimism

Van Duren - Resonance Road

West Coast Consortium - Looking Back - The Pye Anthology 1967-1971

Wild Silk - (Visions In A) Plaster Sky (Complete Recordings 1968-1969)

Wonderland - The Best Of

Zuider Zee - Zeenith

The Chords - So Far Away & 11 Bonus tracks 1979/1980

Bobby Freeman - C'mon And S-W-I-M (2000 Ace Records)

Green Seagull - Scarlet Fever (2018 Mega Dodo Records)

The National Gallery - Performing Musical Interpretations Of The Paintings Of Paul Klee 1968

The Essex Green - Hardly Electronic (2018 Merge Records)

The Allisons - The Allisons, 

The Asteroid No. 4 - King Richard's Collectibles, 

The Barbarians - The Barbarians,                                          

The Bards - The Moses Lake Recordings, 

The Brigade - Last Laugh, 

The Buoys - Golden Classics, 

The Essex Green - The Long Goodbye, 

The Factory - Path Through the Forest, 

The Feminine Complex - Livin' Love (1969), 

The Flamin' Groovies - Jumpin' In The Night (1979), 

The Flamin Groovies - Now, 

The Forum - The River Is Wide, 

The Forum Quorum - The Forum Quorum, 

The Fredric - Phases And Faces The Complete Recordings, 

The Free Design - Cosmic Peekaboo, 

The Galileo 7 - Tear Your Minds Wide Open!, 

The Game - It's Shocking What They Call Us (1965-1968, 1996),

The Gants - I Wonder

The Gremlins - The Coming Generation - The Complete Recordings 1965-1968

The Griffin - The World's Filled With Love,.

The Guess Who - This Time Long Ago. 

The Higher State - Darker By The Day, 

The Hobbits - Men And Doors (The Hobbits Communicate), 

The Honeycombs - All Systems Go!, 

The Humblebums - Open Up The Door, 

The John Schroeder Orchestra Featuring Sounds Orchestral - Space Age Soul, 

The Kinks - The Singles Collection, 

The Kwyet Kings - Cherrypie,.

The Lea Riders Group - Singles 1966-1968, 

The Lee Kings - The Lee Kings (The Best Of), 

The Lemon Twigs - What We Know, 

The Liverbirds - More Of The Liverbirds, 

The Love Exchange - The Love Exchange, 

The Lovetones - Be What You Want, 

The Lovetones - The Dimensions, 

The Luv'd Ones - Truth Gotta Stand, 

The Match - A New Light, 

The Matchmakers - Bubblegum A GoGo, 

The Merseybeats - I Think Of You - The Complete Recordings 1963-1965, 

The Merseys - A & B Sides, Rarities & More 1964-1968, 

The Mojo Men - There Goes My Mind, 

The Montanas - You've Got To Be Loved, 

The Motions - Impressions Of Wonderful, 

The Motors - Approved By The Motors, 

49th Parallel - Forty Ninth Parallel

Angel Pavement - Maybe Tomorrow

Arcadium - Breathe Awhile

Beachheads - Beachheads

Beagle Hat - Magical Hat

Beaulieu Porch - Beaulieu Porch

Bon Scott - The Early Years

Buzz Linhart And Eyes Of Blue - Buzzy

Church Of The Cosmic Skull - Science Fiction

Churchill's - Churchill's 68-69 & Jericho Jones - Junkies Monkeys & Donkeys

Circus Maximus - Circus Maximus & Neverland Revisited

Clifford T. Ward - No More Rock'n' Roll

Cowboy - 5’ll Getcha Ten

Crabby Appleton - Crabby Appleton

Cross Country - Cross Country

Crystal Syphon - Family Evil

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - Boxed!

Dave Waite And Marianne Segal - Paper Flowers

Davie Allan And The Arrows - The Wild Angels And Other Themes, Music From The Original Soundtrack

Denny Doherty - Waiting For A Song

Denny Doherty - Watcha Gonna Do

Denny Gerrard - Sinister Morning

Denny Laine - A Tribute To Paul McCartney & Wings

Dino Desi And Billy - I'm A Fool & Our Time's Coming

Doris - Did You Give the World Some Love Today Baby

Doug Powell ‎– The Lost Chord

Earth Island - We Must Survive

Fancey - Love Mirage

Five Day Rain - Five Day Rain

Ford Theatre - Time Changes

Gene And Debbe - Playboy

Gonn - Gonn For Good - The Best Of Gonn

Graham Gouldman - Play Nicely And Share

Harpers Bizarre - Harpers Bizarre 4

Improved Sound Limited - Improved Sound Limited

Improved Sound Limited - The Final Foreword

Jerry Lee Lewis - Another Place Another Time & She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye

Joey Molland - This Way Up

Johnny Young & Kompany - Step Back

Justin Heathcliff - Justin Heathcliff

Les Sauterelles - The Columbia Recordings

Liverpool Five - Arrive & Out Of Sight

Lone Star - Vuelve El Rock

Lonnie Mack - The Hills Of Indiana

Los Bravos - Bring A Little Lovin'

Los Mockers - Complete Recordings 1965-1967

Mac Gayden - Skyboat & Hymn To The Seeker

Marc Bolan & T. Rex - T. Rex

Mason Williams - The Mason Williams Phonograph Record

Mercy - Love Can Make You Happy

Mike Viola And The Candy Butchers - Falling Into Place

Moby Grape - Truly Fine Citizen

Neil Ford & The Fanatics - Good Men

Northern Uproar - Northern Uproar

Notes From The Underground - Notes From The Underground

Orphan Egg - Orphan Egg

Penny Arkade - Not The Freeze

Pete Brown & Piblokto! - Thousands On A Raft

Phil Sawyer - Childhood's End

Pugwash - Singles 2005-2008

Roger James Cooke - Study

Saint Steven - Over The Hills & The Bastich

Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs - The MGM Singles

Sapphire Thinkers - From Within

Shaun Harris - Shaun Harris

Silk - Smooth As Raw

Simon & Garfunkel - Old Friends

Skip Bifferty - The Story Of Skip Bifferty 1966-1969

Sneakers - In The Red

Sneakers - Sneakers EP

Stamford Bridge - Come Up and See Us Sometime - The First Day of Your Life

Steve & The Board - ...And The Giggle Eyed Goo

Tages - Tages 1964-1968

The A'dam Sykles - Out Of The Circle Game

Pete Dello - Into Your Ears 1971

Girls - Album (2009 Fantasy)

Design - Design 1970 & Tomorrow Is So Far Away 1972

The Pleasure Fair - The Pleasure Fair 1967

Athanor - Flashback (2013 Guerssen)

Elli - Elli (Sweet Beat From The Sixties) 1965-70 (1999 Dig The Fuzz, Spain)

Sixties Orchestral Pop with light psychedelia: The Young Idea - With A Little Help From My Friends 1967-68 (2009 Rev-Ola)

 

This UK duo featured Tony Cox (b. 10 November 1945, London, England) and Douglas Ugo Granville Allesandro MacRae-Brown (b. 17 April 1947, Florence, Italy). MacRae-Brown, a contemporary of Jonathan King at Charterhouse Public School, met Cox at university. The duo then forged a songwriting partnership and, having committed several demos to tape, hawked the finished product around London’s Denmark Street-based publishers. Their talent secured a management and recording contract and the duo made their debut as the Young Idea in June 1966. They completed several singles before achieving a UK Top 10 hit the following year with a reading of the Beatles’ song ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’. The pair achieved a higher profile with non-original material, including the Hollies’ ‘A Peculiar Situation’ and several poppy creations by Les Reed and Barry Mason. However, the Young Idea were unable to repeat the success of their lone chart entry. (allmusic.com)

Single Cover

Originally released in 1968, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS is the debut studio album by the British pop duo known as the Young Idea. In addition to a fine cover of the Fab Four’s title track, the English act, consisting of Tony Cox and Douglas MacRea-Brown, offers up other excellent orchestral-pop numbers making it a kindred spirit to the contemporary group Chad & Jeremy. (Eric Schneider, allmusic.com)

The two were accused of how unnecessary it was to cover the Beatles. But that seemed to be related to the success of the single, because it was very common at that time to cover every new Beatles song as soon as possible. However, there are a few songs on the album that are worth listening the album. Enjoy!(Frank)

Flac (zippy)                                         Flac (M)

mp3@320 (zippy)                               mp3@320 (M)

                                   pass: SB1

Psychedelic Pop/Rock: The Nickel Bag - The Nickel Bag Doing Their Love Thing (1968 Kama Sutra) Vinyl

 

I lack the right words to describe this album, simply because so many musical influences can be heard. This is not a commercial album and you should listen to the album more than once. You hear orchestral sounds, poppy melodies, jazzy interjections, easy listening choirs, soulful rhythms and everything flows together. Literary heavyweights such as Elizabeth Browning, Rudyard Kipling, Emily Bronte, William Wordsworth, and William Shakespeare connect the songs. Truly a colorful affair, this album. Enjoy. (Frank)

Flac (zippy)                                                   Flac (M)

mp3@320 (zippy)                                        mp3@320 (M)

                                      pass: SB1