Various "The British Psychedelic Trip Vol. 2 1966-1969" 1986 (comp)****

I had, until recently, ignored Netflix series The Crown. The news is always full of gossip regarding the British royal family, but I avoid reading about it. Now that queen Elizabeth is gone though, the series has a different character for me: a biographical drama about a dead historical personality is something I might be interested in. So we were watching it with my girlfriend the other night, when I came across a name I wasn't expecting to see: I knew of Chinese-Trinidadian actress/dancer Jacqui Chan as a guest vocalist on 60's hit single "Kites" by Simon Dupree & The Big Sound. Then she appeared as a character in The Crown; in what is the most explicit scene in the series so far, she is portrayed having sex with photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, love interest and future husband to princess Margaret. So that prompted me to get the CD out and give it a spin, thinking I'd present it for my blog. Then I realized I had already presented it here. Undaunted, I remembered it also featured on an excellent vinyl compilation of mine. So here it is: as promised, I present you British Psychedelic Trip vol. 2.

Looking at the track-listing now, it seems to contain more mainstream artists than other psychedelic compilations which focus on the rare and unknown. But then, you have to make allowances for the time this was released: in 1986, many of the original albums here remained out of print; it's only thanks to the dominance of CD's as a medium during the 90's and 00's that almost all things 60's have become available again. Tomorrow open the LP with "My White Bicycle", one of the greatest psychedelic singles, ever. Like Barrett-era Pink Floyd, they combined catchy melodies with psychedelic effects (sitar, phased/double-tracked guitars etc) and whimsical lyrics. Apparently The Beatles were present at the recording and nicked a few ideas for their Sgt. Peppers LP. Conversely, Tomorrow cover here The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" - nice, but unnecessary. Tomorrow didn't get too far, but guitarist Steve Howe found fame in the 70's with prog superstars Yes.

   

Likewise, Idle Race guitarist Jeff Lynne would find fame later as leader of ELO. Singer Roy Wood would also have a successful career, both solo and member of The Move. They are represented here with the whimsical (that word again, but it can't be avoided when one's dealing with British pop circa '67) music hall-style "Skeleton And The Roundabout" and more typically psychedelic "Worn Red Carpet". Love Sculpture's "In The Land Of The Few" is another excellent composition. Closer to pop and psychedelia than their customary blues, with a brilliant guitar solo by Dave Edmunds, they are followed by the aforementioned "Kites", a gorgeous psychedelic ballad by Simon Dupree And The Big Sound, soon to morph into prog stars Gentle Giant. Actress Jacqui Chan adds some sensual Chinese spoken vocal. Locomotive's "Mr Armageddan" is a heavier piece with wah wah guitar and organ, while the vocals and sax give it a soul tone. "You've Got A Habit Of Leaving" was recorded in 1965, and is consequently more garage/R&B than psychedelic. Produced by Who producer Shel Talmy, and obviously influenced by them, the single wasn't a success, prompting singer Davy Jones to change style, as well as his stage name - to David Bowie. Tomorrow's Keith West sings on "Excerpt From A Teenage Opera" based on an idea by producer Mark Wirtz. It's a heavily orchestrated piece featuring a children's choir. Despite its success, the record company didn't approve the recording of a whole "Teenage Opera" album, and the idea was abandoned. Kinks-y follow-up single "On A Saturday" did not chart at all, and West fell into obscurity. Kippington Lodge, featuring later pub rock stars Nick Lowe and Brinsley Schwarz, offer two light and pleasant singles "Rumours" and "Lady On A Bicycle".

 

Lemon Tree's "It's So Nice To Come Home" is another heavily orchestrated pop single, followed by the refreshingly heavy "Real Love Guaranteed". Keyboardist Ken Hensley and drummer Lee Kerslake would later find fame with Uriah Heep, bassist John Glascock with Jethro Tull. Their cover of The Beatles' "Hey Bulldog" closes this compilation. The Moles are apparently Simon Dupree And The Big Sound in disguise. "We Are The Moles (Part 1)" is a much more experimental piece, yet very listenable. Chanted vocals, haunted organ, distorted guitar make for a great single that wouldn't sound out of place in a new wave 80's album. July is now considered a psychedelic classic, but back when this comp was released it was completely forgotten. "Friendly Man" and "I See" are British 60's psychedelia in its best: with trippy effects, sitar, and fuzz guitar, they combine melody and psychedelic weirdness in the manner of early Pink Floyd. Which brings us to the last group here. Formerly R&B tough guys The Pretty Things unexpectedly turned psychedelic in 1968, producing arguably the first concept album/rock opera S.F. Sorrow. From that rock cornerstone we get "S.F. Sorrow Is Born" and "She Says Good Morning". Those who want more details on any of the recordings/groups here only have to read the liner notes on the back cover. It has slightly fewer words than War And Peace, but that's all the info you'll need. Provided you can decipher those tiny letters; I can't now, and could hardly do so when I bought it 3 decades ago. As a whole, and despite the absence of obvious scene leaders like The Beatles and Pink Floyd, this compilation makes for one of the best single LP showcases of British psychedelic pop I've ever heard. Containing both classic and rare tracks, and offering a chance to hear the early works of future favorites, it's most highly recommended. For those who prefer CD's there's an expanded CD edition called The Great British Psychedelic Trip, Vol. 3.

 

 ***** for My White Bicycle (Tomorrow), Kites (Simon Dupree And The Big Sound), Real Love Guaranteed (The Gods), We Are The Moles Part 1 (The Moles), S.F. Sorrow Is Born (The Pretty Things)

**** for Skeleton And The Roundabout (Idle Race), In The Land Of The Few (Love Sculpture), Mr Armageddan (Locomotive), You've Got A Habit Of Leaving (Davy Jones And The Lower Third), Friendly Man (July), I See (July), Worn Red Carpet (Idle Race), She Says Good Morning(The Pretty Things), Hey Bulldog (The Gods)

*** for Excerpt From "A Teenage Opera" (Keith West), Rumours (Kippington Lodge), It's So Nice To Come Home (The Lemon Tree), Lady On A Bicycle (Kippington Lodge), On A Saturday (Keith West), 

Strawberry Fields Forever (Tomorrow)

Various Artists "Psychedelia at Abbey Road: 1965-1969" 1998(comp)****

According to the album liner notes "the sound and atmosphere (of psychedelia) is something peculiarly English, with light, whimsical melodies, child-like or surreal images, and production techniques bubbling with innovation". As a definition this leaves a lot be desired (let's start with the fact that psychedelic rock was mainly an American phenomenon), but as a description of the music in this CD, it's spot-on. The compilation wisely gathers both famous and unknown psychedelic gems recorded at London's Abbey Road studios between 1965 and 1969. The most famous bands that would fit the description (The Beatles and Pink Floyd) are absent, though we do get a solo recording by Syd Barrett (the fragile ballad "Golden Hair") and a proto-prog cover of The Fab Four's "Hey Bulldog" by The Gods (featuring future members of Uriah Heep). Among the best known tracks here are Donovan's folk/sunshine pop masterpieces "Sunshine Superman" and "Sunny South Kensington" (and they say that England is a rainy place!). The Hollies are the second big name here, and from them we get the psych-pop single "King Midas in Reverse" with bright harmonies and Sgt.Pepper-like instrumentation, as well the lesser known sitar ballad "The Maker". Tomorrow were a more convincingly psychedelic band of the time."My White Bicycle" a song similar to early Floyd singles in its mix of pop melody and weird psychedelic effects, as well as a previously unreleased cover of The Byrds' "Why" featuring a great solo by future Yes guitarist Steve Howe. Post break-up, Tomorrow's rhythm section Twink and Junior released single "10,000 Words On A Cardboard Box". It was suitably psychedelic, if somewhat overproduced by Mark Wirtz who also appears here leading his own band on "Weatherman". "10,000 Years Behind My Mind" by the Focus Three has a soul lead vocal and a chorus straight from the musical "Hair" - speaking of musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber produced 1967 single "Monday Morning" by the Tales Of Justine, a nice piece of acid-folk. Generally the compilation focuses on the lighter/orchestral side of psychedelia which I'd find less interesting if it wasn't for small details like the fast harpsichord solo on The Fingers' "Circus with a Female Clown". Even bona-fide rock bands like The Pretty Things are represented by their poppier songs of the era. "Mr. Armegeddon" (Locomotive) and "Strange Walking Man" (Mandrake Paddlesteamer) are the most interesting (and most experimental) of the rarities, while The N'Betweens' previously unreleased "Delighted to See You" is notable mainly because the band would go on to become 70's hitmakers Slade. Simon Dupree & the Big Sound's "Kites" is the height of orchestral psychedelia, featuring mellotron and romantic vocals as well as spoken word interlude by actress Jacqui Chan in Chinese. The Big Sound's Shulman brothers would go on to form prog band Gentle Giant, though not before releasing a single (included here) mixing psychedelic guitars and effects with folk shanties under the moniker of The Moles. At 22 tracks and 77 minutes, this CD offers a good mix of British pop psychedelic sounds, including classics and rarities. I realise now that many of the tracks also feature on an LP I have called "The British Psychedelic Trip vol.2". Probably a more interesting proposition for those who love psychedelia. I hope I'll get around to present that one, too, in time...

***** for Sunshine Superman (Donovan), My White Bicycle (Tomorrow), King Midas in Reverse (The Hollies), Kites (Simon Dupree & the Big Sound), Hey Bulldog (The Gods)

**** for Sunny South Kensington (Donovan), Circus with a Female Clown (Fingers), Why (Tomorrow), Maker (The Hollies), Walking Through My Dreams (The Pretty Things), 10,000 Words in a Cardboard Box (Aquarian Age), We Are the Moles Pt. 1 (The Moles), Mr. Armegeddon (Locomotive), Strange Walking Man  (Mandrake Paddlesteamer), Golden Hair (Syd Barrett)

*** for Delighted to See You (N'Between), 10,000 Years Behind My Mind (Focus 3), Monday Morning (Tales of Justine), Talkin' About the Good Times (The Pretty Things) , Carpet Man (The Nocturnes), Barricades (The Koobas)

** for [He's Our Dear Old] Weatherman (Mark Wirtz)