"Deep In The Woods: Pastoral Psychedelia & Funky Folk 1968-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Fat Mattress, Knocker Jungle, Duffy Power, Meic Stevens, Paul Brett, Open Road, The Woods Band, Dando Shaft, Arrival, Jade Warrior, Linda Hoyle, Bridget St. John, Mellow Candle, Amber, Fuchsia, Miller Anderson, Heron, Sunforest, Friends, The Occasional Word, Alan James Eastwood, Wizz Jones, Zior, Yvonne Elliman, Linda Lewis, Bill Nelson, Jade, The Occasional Word and more (November 2022 UK Strawberry 3CD 54-Track Compilation with Simon Murphy Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deep-Woods-Pastoral-Psychedelia-1968-1975/dp/B0BF5NJDG1?crid=1NQBDENV2Q1UZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U-YBbh7a7O7TW8WYehcMOw.0IX1kgqVN2ANIyYUlRhtOCYT4MrXzWj-B2y5f63-XaY&dib_tag=se&keywords=5013929431232&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731778247&sprefix=5013929431232%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS%3AUK_IHI_3M_AUTOMATED&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=8260194879da4284cd640b86b18179c2&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

RATINGS 

Overall **** to *****

Presentation ***

Audio **** to *****

"...Face From The Past..."

Despite a lot of gushing 5-star reviews everywhere you look on the Net - I've had to dig in deep to actually like this themed mishmash from UK reissue label Strawberry (part of the Cherry Red label roster). It's more of a 4-star experience for me. 

I kept replaying "Deep In The Woods..." because it's been collated by compilation-forming genius JOHN REED – a man of major pressed-trousers class who knows his onions like only a handful of others in the UK would do (John literally formed the first Record Collector Rare Records Price Guides back in the 90s day - all entries). John's knowledge is legend and Reed knows what collectors crave (John ran Sanctuary Records, formed probably in excess of 150 compilations from their vast catalogue, did liner notes, licensing, photos, unearthed unreleased etc). So you expect brilliance, and more often than not, thankfully, that's what you get. 

But it took me time to hear it and I suspect others of my dotage may feel the same. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of unknown and forgotten brilliance on "Deep In The Woods: Pastoral Psychedelia & Funky Folk 1968-1975" for sure, but there's also evidence as to why many of these artists remained obscure. And the clumsy-to-touch dull-looking fold-out DigiPak-packaging with its strangely underwhelming lesser booklet is not doing "Deep In The Woods..." any favours either. 

This thing looks and feels clunky when it should ooze reissue-class like any number of 3CD Clamshell Box Sets from Grapefruit or Esoteric or Universal that I have reviewed and loved this last decade or so. Still, the Audio is uniformly great for such a disparate number of sources and there are tremendous discoveries worth owing - the kind of compilation that will inform and send you down paths you didn't know or have ignored. 

There's a lot to unpack, so here's to the Funky Folks, the Faces from the Past, the Wooden Ships that pass in the smoke-swirling night and your common-as-muck Sitar-driven right-on Faerie Lore...

UK released 18 November 2022 - "Deep In The Woods: Pastoral Psychedelia & Funky Folk 1968-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Strawberry CRJAM012T (Barcode 5013929431232) is a 3CD 54-Track Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (I've provided release dates and catalogue numbers, not in the book):

CD1 (78:08 minutes):

1. Lady Jane - FAT MATTRESS (from their second and last album "Fat Mattress II", UK released October 1970 on Polydor 2383 025)

2. Not Even A Letter - KNOCKER JUNGLE (from the 1970 UK LP "Knocker Jungle" on Ember NR 5042)

3. I Need You - DUFFY POWER (from the 1973 UK LP "Duffy Power" on Spark SRLM 2205)

4. Face From The Past - MIKE HURST [ex The Springfields with Dusty Springfield] (from his debut solo LP "Home", US released 1969 on Capitol ST 619)

5. I Wanna Stay Here - RAY FENWICK (from the July 1971 UK LP "Keep America Beautiful, Get A Haircut" on Decca SKL 5090)

6. Natural Gas - HARDIN & YORK [Eddie Hardin and Peter York] (from the July 1971 UK LP "For The World" on Decca SKL 5095)

7. Mother Earth - OPEN ROAD [Donovan's Backing Band] (from the August 1971 UK LP "Windy Daze" on The Greenwich Gramophone Company Records GSLP 1001)

8. Motherless Child On A Merry-Go-Round - PAUL BRETT (from his 1973 debut album "Paul Brett" on Bradley's Records BRADL 1001)

9. Noisey Johnny - THE WOODS BAND (from the December 1971 UK Debut LP "The Woods Band" on Greenwich Gramophone Company Records GSLP 1004 - featuring Gay and Terry Woods - Terry later with The Pogues, Gay with Auto Da Fe - and Tony Reeves of Colosseum and Greenslade)

10. Yorric - MEIC STEVENS (from the June 1970 UK Debut LP "Outlander" on Warner Brothers WS 3005)

11. You Just Can't Believe What You See - MARC ELLINGTON (from the July 1975 UK LP "Marc Time" on XTRA Records XTRA 1154)

12. Crystal Blue - ALAN JAMES EASTWOOD (from the 1971 UK LP "Seeds" on President PTLS 1037)

13. La Virra - ARRIVAL (from their debut LP "Arrival", UK released August 1970 on Decca SLK 5055)

14. Cold Wind - DANDO SHAFT (from their July 1970 UK Debut LP "An Evening With Dando Shaft" on Young Blood SSYB 6)

15. Hymn To Valerie Solanas - LINDA HOYLE [of Affinity] (from her November 1971 UK Debut Solo LP "Pieces Of Me" on Vertigo 6360 060)

16. Nova Sketch - NIRVANA (from the February 1972 UK LP "Songs Of Love And Praise" on Philips 6308 089)

17. Castle Sand - BRIAN DAVISON'S EVERY WHICH WAY [ex The Nice] (from the October 1970 UK Debut LP "Brian Davison's Every Which Way" on Charisma CAS 1021 - band featured singer Graham Bell, ex Skip Bifferty)

18. Yellow Eyes - JADE WARRIOR (from the December 1971 UK LP "Released" on Vertigo 6360 062)

19. Buffalo - WRITING ON THE WALL (June 1973 UK 45-single on Pye 7N 45251, Non-LP B-side of "Man Of Renown")

CD2 (77:36 minutes):

1. Wooden Ships - CHRIS (Christine) HARWOOD (from the March 1973 Debut (and only) LP "Nice To Meet Miss Christine" on Birth Records RAB 1 - a Buffalo Springfield cover version - features Dave Lambert of Strawbs, Roger Sutton of Jody Grind, Tommy Eyre of Joe Cocker's Grease Band and more)

2. Fly High - BRIDGET ST. JOHN (from the June 1972 third album "Thank You For..." on Dandelion/Polydor 2310 193 - John Martyn guests on treated electric guitar)

3. Rain - DANDO SHAFT (from their July 1970 UK Debut LP "An Evening With Dando Shaft" on Young Blood SSYB 6 featuring Polly Bolton, Martin Jenkins and Dave Cooper)

4. Lord And Master - HERON (from their November 1970 UK Debut LP "Heron" on Dawn Records DNLS 3010 featuring guitarist Gerald Moore later of G.T. Moore & The Reggae Guitars)

5. Silversong - MELLOW CANDLE (from the April 1972 UK Debut LP "Swaddling Songs" on Deram SDL 7 featuring Clodagh Simonds, Alison and David Williams, Frank Boylan and William Murray - "Silversong" was also on a UK 7" single in February 1972 on Deram DM 357, the B-side of "Dan The Wing") 

6. Murdoch - TREES (from their February 1971 UK Second and Last Studio Album on CBS Records S 64168 - featuring Celia Humphris, David Costa, Tobias 'Bias' Boshell, Barry Clarke and (Stephen) Unwin Brown)

7. Foothills - KEITH CHRISTMAS (from his October 1974 Fourth UK LP "Brighter Day" on Manticore Records K 53503 - featuring Ian McDonald of King Crimson on Keyboards, Pete Solley of Paladin on Synths with Production by Greg Lake of ELP)

8. Morning Way - TRADER HORNE (from the March 1970 UK Debut LP on Dawn Records DNLS 3004 - featuring Jackie McAuley of Them and Judy Dyble of Fairport Convention with Guests Ray Elliott of Them and John Godfrey

9. Shadows 'Cross My Wall - MILLER ANDERSON (from the June 1971 UK Debut LP "Bright City" on Deram SDL 3 (Anderson was later with The Keef Hartley Band) - featuring Guitarist Neil Hubbard of The Grease Band and Juicy Lucy, Lyn Dobson on Flute with String Arrangements by Junior Campbell of Marmalade)

10. Time Is My Enemy - THE GHOST (from the 1970 UK Debut (and only) LP "When You're Dead - One Second" on Gemini Records GME 1004 - featuring Paul Eastment of Velvet Fogg, Terry Guy of The John Bull Breed and Jazz Vocalist Shirley Kent) 

11. Flowering Cherry - KEVIN COYNE (September 1972 UK 45-single on Dandelion 2001-357, Non-LP B-side of "Cheat Me")

12. Hangin' On An Eyelid - SECOND HAND (from their April 1971 UK Debut LP "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" on Mushroom Records 200 MR 6 - featuring Ken Elliott and Kieran O’Connor later with Seventh Wave)

13. Shoes And Ships - FUCHSIA (from their November 1971 UK Debut LP "Fuchsia" on Pegasus Records PEG 8 - featuring Tony Durant of Punchin' Judy and Madeline Brand)

14. Place In The Country - MIKE HURST (from his June 1971 UK Second LP "In My Time" on Capitol ST 21819 featuring Ray Fenwick of Quiver)

15. Swan In The Evening - AMBER (1971 UK recording issued 2000 on the Limited Edition 10" LP "Pearls Of Amber" on Shagrat Records ENT 008 - featuring Ray Cooper of Elton John's Band, Julian McAllister, Mac MacLeod of B.B. Brothers with Keith Relf Producing)

16. The Inevitable Fate Of Ms. Danya Sox - GLOBAL VILLAGE TRUCKING COMPANY (from the March 1975 UK Debut (and only) LP "Global Village Trucking Company" on Caroline Records C 1516 featuring James Lascelles and Jon Owen)

17. Jug Of Love - MIGHTY BABY (from their second and final studio album "A Jug Of Love" - released October 1971 in the UK on Blue Horizon Records 2931 001 - Produced by Mike Vernon - band featured Ian Whiteman, Martin Stone, Alan 'Bam' King (later with Ace), Michael Evans and Roger Powell)

CD3 (76:24 minutes):

1. Magician In The Mountain - SUNFOREST (from the Debut (and only) LP "Sound Of Sunforest" released January 1970 on Deram Nova DN 7 (Mono) and SDN 7 (Stereo) - Stereo Mix Used)

2. Crying To Be Heard - CHRISTINE HARWOOD (from the March 1973 Debut (and only) LP "Nice To Meet Miss Christine" on Birth Records RAB 1 - a Traffic/Dave Mason cover - features Dave Lambert of Strawbs, Mike Maran, Peter Banks, Ian McDonald of King Crimson, Jeff Matthews of Design, Peter York of Hardin & York)

3. City Of The Angels - WIZZ JONES (from his June 1972 UK fourth LP "Right Time" on CBS Records S 64809 - featuring Pete Berryman of Famous Jug Band, Andy Fernbach and John Renbourn of Pentangle)

4. Lady Of The Lake – JADE WARRIOR (from the December 1972 UK Third LP "Last Autumn's Dream" on Vertigo 6360 079)

5. Oh To Be Free – KNOCKER JUNGLE (from the 1970 UK LP "Knocker Jungle" on Ember NR 5042)

6. Silver Coin – BRIDGET ST. JOHN (from her June 1972 third album "Thank You For..." on Dandelion/Polydor 2310 193 - written by Terry Hiscock of Hunter Muskett - Gordon Huntley of Matthews Southern Comfort plays Pedal Steel Guitar)

7. In The Morning – FRIENDS (1972 recording originally only on a commercially unreleased Acetate Album called "Fragile" – finally CD issued 2005 on Acme ACLN1007CD – band featured Bill Aitken, Peter Howell and John Ferdinado)

8. Lotus Child – ALAN JAMES EASTWOOD (from his 1971 UK Debut LP "Seeds" on President Records PTLS 1037 – issued as "Alan James Eastwood" in the USA on Bang Records BLPS 225)

9. Bun – THE DEVIANTS (from the June 1968 UK Debut LP "Ptooff!" on Impresarios IMP 1 – featuring Mick Farren)

10. Amongst Anenomies – JADE (from the August 1970 UK Debut (and only) LP "Fly On Strangewings" on DJM Records DJLPS 407 – featuring Marianne Segal and Dave Waite, James Litherland of Colosseum, Pete Seers (later with Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship) with Terry Cox of Pentangle)

11. The Death Of Don Quixote – PRINCIPAL EDWARDS MAGIC THEATRE (from their August 1969 UK Debut LP "Soundtrack" on Dandelion Records S 63752)

12. Hawaii – YVONNE ELLIMAN (from her November 1973 UK LP "Food Of Love" on Purple Records TPS 3504 - Produced by RUPERT HINE - guest musicians included Pete Townshend of The Who, Mick Grabham of Bandit and Cochise, Simon Jeffes of The Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Caleb Quaye and Ray Cooper of Hookfoot and Elton John's Band, Peter Robinson of Quatermass and Brand X, Ann Odell of Blue Mink, Chopyn and Roger Glover's Band with Rupert Hine of Quantum Jump)

13. The Evil Venus Tree – THE OCCASIONAL WORD (from the 1969 UK Debut (and only) LP "The Year Of The Great Leap Sideways" on Dandelion Records S 63753)

14. Goblets And Elms – IAN A. ANDERSON (from the November 1970 UK LP "Royal York Crescent" on The Village Thing Records VTS 3)

15. Rejoice – BILL NELSON (later Be-Bop Deluxe) (from his November 1971 UK Debut Solo LP "Northern Dream" on Smile Records LAF 2182)

16. Time Is The Reason – ZIOR (from their early 1973 German LP "Every Inch A Man" on Global/Interchord Records 26009-1 – had been called Monument and their debut LP "The First Monument" was released October 1971 in the UK on Beacon Records BEAS 15)

17. New Horizon – CURTIS KNIGHT with ZEUS (from their 1973 Debut (and only) German LP "Sea Of Time" on Philips 6305 208)

18. Reach For The Truth – LINDA LEWIS (from her October 1972 UK Second LP "Lark" on Reprise Records K 44208)

Co-ordinated and Project-Managed by JOHN REED and RICHARD NORRIS - the 28-page booklet nestles in the left flap and has photos of the artists and bands that have always hovered around all-things Folk-Rock, Acid-Folk, Funky-Folk, Pastoral-Psych and so on. Not surprisingly the three to four-figure album names are here – Mellow Candle (an advert for their lone Deram LP on Page 4), Trader Horne and their "Morning Way" album on Dawn, an orange-label CBS original of "Right Now" by Wizz Jones. There is a scene-setting preamble by RICHARD NORRIS (written August 2022) that recalls CND marches, LSD popping, getting it together in the country in children-of-the-soil-communes, the London UFO club, the cultural explosion that started in 1967 with the Flower-Power Summer Of Love and all that Transcendental Meditation searching for meaning in an increasingly violent world.

Beginning on Page 9, Norris then does artist-by-artist paragraphs as they appear on the compilation (it can mean that when there are two tracks by bands like say Dando Shaft, Bridget St. John, Knocker Jungle and more - you must flick back to the details which is a bit of a pain). Every entry though has some kind of representation of the artist - a photo woven alongside the text – the Duffy Power album by promo photos of say Tim Renwick or Paul Brett or Welsh folky Meic Stevens. There’s a collage two-page spread in the centre pages that shows you stuff like a Hastings Pier gig for Global Village Trucking Company or the rare Euro LP artwork for the Curtis Knight with Zeus LP. Although some will no doubt say this is perfectly acceptable - I still think unfortunately that Strawberry should avoid using this DigiPak Card Flap format for future releases because it feels naff and flimsy when the effort involved warranted something more akin to a Clamshell Box Set with three individually pictured card sleeves. The Audio by SIMON MURPHY – a name very familiar to us that buy these things – is shockingly good given the disparate sources. To the tunes…

CD1 kicks off with the Noel Reading Polydor Records vehicle Fat Mattress talking about wearing no shoes and walking down leafy lanes where he stumbles upon a girl with a ribbon in her hair (top class audio). The Acoustic Folk-Funk starts proper with the Knocker Jungle LP from 1970 on Ember Records – their "Not Even A Letter" full of strangulated vocals and lingering flute. Uptempo a notch with Duffy Power – great audio on his by-my-side "I Need You" – but the plinking-plonking clavinet pastoral stop-and-start Mike Hurst is trying to be groovy and just about getting there (lyrics from it title this review). The compilation then throws up its first real gem in my books - "I Wanna Stay Here" by Ray Fenwick of The Spencer Davis Group and Quiver (later with The Sutherland Brothers) – the acoustic strums lining you up for a cool flanged chorus – sort of like Terry Reid on a six-string tip. 

Time to rightly Funk things up with Hardin & York (Eddie Hardin and Peter York) searching for "Natural Gas" – a very sexy and cool groove – gonna make it on one of Funky-Funky CD comps with a bullet. Continuing a slightly Santana-does-Latin vibe – the backing band for Donovan called Open Road give us "Mother Earth" – a call-to-arms for a planet hurting – environmental sun sinking down into the sea. Guitarist Paul Brett (worked with Strawbs, Al Stewart, Roy Harper and many more) utilizes Mike Piggott on Violin (good track rather a great one) while a huge array of acoustic instruments fill your living room for The Woods Band instrumental "Noisey Johnny" – gorgeous audio. Time to go Sitar, Tabla and Flute tripping-out with what has to be one of the musical prizes offered on "Deep In The Woods…" – Welsh folky Meic Stevens and his highly sought-after "Outlander" on Warner Brothers – his "Yorric" sounding astonishingly contemporary a full 54-years after the event. More gorgeous guitar and even better production values for Marc Ellington sounding uncannily like Mark Knopfler in 1975 (American Ellington living in the UK at the time was a backing vocalist on the Fairport Convention album "Unhalfbricking"). His "You Just Can't Believe What You See" is surely another highlight on this 3CD set.

Compiler Norris cleverly slows things down with the lovely acoustic-funky jaunt of "Crystal Blue" by Alan James Eastwood [ex Brumbeats and Exception] – the first of two tracks from his sought-after "Seeds" LP of 1971 on President Records. Finally we get proper Pastoral-Prog meets The Nice with the Arrival instrumental "La Virra" -a jagged brute that comes complete with Beefheart jerky beats and yes – a Bass solo. Huge audio for the first of two superb Dando Shaft tracks – the first being "Cold Wind" – that signature acoustic sound they made courtesy of Martin Jenkins with vocals from Kevin Kempsey and Dave cooper (Jenkins would later duet and work with Bert Jansch on the "Avocet" album from 1978). Great stuff. Taking no prisoners either lyrically or musically – Linda Hoyle of Affinity takes on all-comers with her men-out-to-trap-you funk-boogie track "Hymn To Valerie Solanos" – a wee beastie of a song dedicated to the leader of SCUM (The Society For Cutting Up Men) – and in a business dominated by dogy men – you can so hear why Linda dug the rage in this song. 

The run of CD1 ends with some very cool inclusions – first up being a 1:50 minute Piano-and-Tabla funky instrumental by "Nirvana" called "Nova Sketch". Post their Island Records full-on hippy albums, this dinky insert features members of Jade Warrior so is more Trippy-Prog. Next up is Brian Davison and his band Every Which Way (ex The Nice) who managed one LP on Charisma Records in 1970. Sounding not unlike Traffic getting their harmony-vocals together in a Sussex cottage – the flute and guitars play off each other as the tune-amble heads towards six minutes. Back to pretty Prog-Pastoral (complete with gorgeous audio) – Jade Warrior give us more Flute and Acoustic in their "Yellow Eyes". CD1 closes with a huge band on the scene – Writing On The Wall – and their obscure 1973 B-side they did called "Buffalo". All doom-laden Mellotron and Tambourine backbeat – the bass booms before the echoed vocals start – but good as it is – beware - it's very hissy and sounds like it's been dubbed off a well-used record. 

CD3 improves over CD1 and 2 immediately. The very epitome of Funky-Folk - "Magician In The Mountain" by the Vic Smith produced Sunforest turned up on the May 2008 Decca/Deram 3CD Clamshell Box Set "Strange Pleasures: Further Sounds Of The Decca Underground" as an overlooked gem (see separate review for that excellent box). You can so hear why the Christine Harwood album "Nice To Meet Miss Christine" is sought after - a very cool trippy blend of layered Rotary Connection-type voices over a Funky Sax and Piano groove that you might hear in a hip West End cafe bar then rush to the counter wanting to know where this Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and The Trinity track has been all your life. Superb third-track follow-up comes in the brilliant six-minute shape of Wizz Jones (produced by Pentangle's ace guitarist John Renbourn) on how his lady-chasing trip to Los Angeles went while sounding like a Funky-Acoustic guitar showcase version of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with Graham Nash singing lead. Fantastic stuff.

Track 4 on CD3 then goes Prog-mellow with strummed and treated guitars floating over a Tabla beat and a hippie-swirling flanged vocal for "Lady Of The Lake" from Vertigo darlings Jade Warrior. I kinda like the Mungo Jerry-ish 'oh to be free to do what I want to do' vibe in Knocker Jungle's "Oh To Be Free" (a good discovery for me) but it's whomped by the genuine beauty of a second Bridget St. John contribution to the compilation - "Silver Coin" - an aching ballad about words and good men written by Terry Hiscock of Hunter Muskett with Gordon Huntley of Matthews Southern Comfort playing Pedal Steel to her Nico-voice. Rare and taken from a Remastered Acetate - the Friends track "In The Morning" lets the side down a tad – a forgotten song lost to time for a reason. But then an immediate pick-up in the strings-and-acoustic-acid feel to "Lotus Child" by Alan James Eastwood – our Al getting all Eastern mysticism on our Western Tabla-toned asses. CD3 winds down towards Soulful types like Yvonne Elliman and the ever-popular Folk-Soul of Linda Lewis and her "Lark" album right through to early Prog Rock soundscapes of Bill Nelson pre-Be-Bop Deluxe.

I initially struggled a little with "Deep In The Woods: Pastoral Psychedelia & Funky Folk 1968-1975" - but on repeated listens - the battle very definitely paid off. There is so much to discover here and I'm glad I persevered. Nice one boys - but next time - go for the pride of a Clamshell Box Set because this much effort deserves it…

"Natural Born Bugie: The Immediate Anthology" by HUMBLE PIE (October 2000 Sanctuary/Castle Music 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...A Nifty Little Number..."

I've had this truly fantastic HUMBLE PIE twofer-CD set for over 15 years now and meant to review it many times. Well, no time like July 2017.

Fronted by the mighty Steve Marriott (fresh from the Small Faces) and The Herd's lead singer Peter Frampton - over in the USA especially HUMBLE PIE achieved stadium-filling Rock legend but initially remained something of a subdued force back in their native Blighty.

And that’s where "Natural Born Bugie: The Immediate Anthology" comes rollicking in. This October 2000 Sanctuary Records/Castle Music 2CD reissue features their initial two albums with Andrew Loog Oldham's ill-fated 'Immediate Records' - both issued in the heady days of 1969 - "As Safe As Yesterday Is" in July 1969 and "Town And Country" in late November. Original drummer Jerry Shirley got involved in this reissue helping with the new remixes from original tapes and reminiscences for the liner notes. The set also offers both sides of a stand-alone 7" single (the titular "Natural Born Bugie" backed with the delightfully monikered "Wrist Job") and eleven other stragglers - a very tasty Nine Previously Unreleased Tracks with two further outtakes first issued on a German CD in 1992 (Tracks 7 and 8 on Disc 2). It's a big ole slice of forgotten Pie - so let's get to the many-headed details...

UK released 30 October 2000 (November 2000 in the USA) - "Natural Born Bugie: The Immediate Anthology" by HUMBLE PIE on Sanctuary/Castle Music CMDDD 054 (Barcode 5050159105427) is a 2CD 34-Track Set of Remasters that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (74:00 minutes):

1. Natural Born Bugie

2. Wrist Job

Tracks 1 and 2 are the non-album A&B-sides of their debut UK 7" single released July 1969 on Immediate IM 082

3. Desperation [Side 1]

4. Stick Shift

5. Buttermilk Boy

6. Growing Closer

7. As Safe As Yesterday Is

8. Bang! [Side 2]

9. Alabama '69

10. I'll Go Alone

11. A Nifty Little Number Like You

12. What You Will

Tracks 3 to 12 are their debut studio album "As Safe As Yesterday Is" - released July 1969 in the UK on Immediate Records IMSP 025 and December 1969 in the USA on Immediate IMOCS 101 with the Ian McLagan track "Growing Closer" on Side 1 replaced with the single "Natural Born Bugie". It peaked at No. 34 in the UK, didn't chart USA.

13. Take Me Back [Side 1]

14. The Sad Bag Of Shakey Jake

15. The Light Of Love

16. Cold Lady

17. Down Home Again

18. Ollie Ollie

Tracks 13 to 18 are Side 1 of their 2nd studio album "Town And Country" - released November 1969 in the UK on Immediate Records IMSP 027 (No USA Release). It didn't chart in the UK

Disc 2 (70:34 minutes):

1. Every Mother's Son

2. Heartbeat

3. Only You Can See

4. Silver Tongue

5. Home And Away

Tracks 1 to 5 are Side 2 of their 2nd studio album "Town And Country" - released November 1969 in the UK on Immediate Records IMSP 027 (No USA Release). It didn't chart in the UK

6. I'll Drown In My Own Tears

7. 79th Street Blues

8. Greg's Song (Backing Track)

9. Hello Grass (No Regrets)

10. Road To Ride

11. BTMG's (Instrumental)

12. Zeptoe Through The Tulips

13. Leave No Turn Unstoned (alias Just A Riff) - Instrumental

14. Every Mother's Son (alias Jesse Hardin) ('Drunk Intro' Version)

15. The Sad Bag Of Shaky Jake

16. For Your Love (Studio Jam)

Tracks 6 and 9 to 16 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Tracks 7 and 8 first appeared on the 1992 German CD reissue of "Town And Country" on Repertoire REP 4231-WY (Barcode 4009910423127)

HUMBLE PIE was:

STEVE MARRIOTT - Lead Vocals, Guitars and Keyboards

PETER FRAMPTON - Lead Vocals, Guitars and Keyboards

GREG RIDLEY - Bass and Vocals

JERRY SHIRLEY - Drums and Percussion

Compiled by a name trusted by collectors JOHN REED - almost all of the Sanctuary/Castle Music CD reissues of the period favoured a fold-out inlay which is not only a tasty treat visually but an in-depth and knowledgeable read too. With liner notes from ROGER DOPSON, JOHN HOLLIER and JERRY SHIRLEY, the text is peppered with rare Euro 45 picture sleeves ("The Sad Bag Of Shaky Jake"), Immediate Records trade adverts and even the photograph of the brown-parcel artwork that featured on the "As Safe As Yesterday Is" sleeve. They've repro'd the rear covers of both LPs, an NME issue that featured HP on the front cover, black and white and colour snaps of the English rockers in full flight on varying stages and an A-Label demo of the band's lone British single on immediate - "Natural Born Bugie" that peaked at No. 4 on the UK singles charts in September 1969.

But the great news is quality sources for the Audio - 'Immediate Remasters' by Sound Recording Technology at St. Ives, mix downs for the previously unreleased material by Jerry Shirley and Andy Jackson at Dave Gilmour's Studios and the whole set Remastered by NICK WATSON at SRT. The first album is essentially a Rocker - whilst the poor-selling No. 2 LP was largely an Acoustic Folky affair - and both sound suitably brill to me – muscle and details galore. To the music...

Marriott wrote both sides of the "Natural Born Bugie" single where some copies credited the track as "Natural Born Woman" after the actual chorus lyric. It's a simple guitar and piano good-time Rock 'n' Roller with that fantastic Bluesy organ sound on "Wrist Job" being my preferred poison. The debut album opens with a storming Steppenwolf cover version - "Desperation" - just one of the John Kay-written highlights on their January 1968 "Steppenwolf" debut LP on ABC/Dunhill Records. By the way both Marriott and Frampton play and sing - you could be forgiven for thinking Humble Pie are a British version of that American juggernaut of a band - a style call I'll take any day of the week. Frampton gets his first credit with the slide guitar of "Stick Shift" whilst also contributing "I'll Be Alone" and a co-write with Marriott on the LP's superb title track "As Safe As Yesterday Is". Things kick into boogie mode with "Buttermilk Boy" where a country boy finds himself at the eager hands of an amorous city gal (this strapping lad will be needing a big breakfast come the morning). Ian McLagan's lone contribution to the LP "Growing Closer" is the kind of Small Faces-sounding harmonica rocker from the "Autumn Stone" period that I love - with Side 1 ending on the epic six-minute title track where Humble Pie's musicality comes to full fruition - what a tune and what a sound they made – minstrel of the night indeed.

The band had left for the USA, Immediate didn't promote the new record with a British single and were themselves weeks away from financial ruin anyway. Also unlike its rocking predecessor - the new album’s direction seemed more Folk than Natural Born Bugie. So when the 2nd Humble Pie album "Town And Country" appeared in late November 1969 – critics were baffled and the public either didn't know of its existence or worse - didn't care (it failed to chart in the UK and wasn't given an equivalent US release). Poor sales and disinterest are born out with my own decades of experience. I worked as a Rarities Buyer in Reckless Records in Islington and Soho for nearly 20 years (one of the best and busiest second-hand record shops in London) and while the A&M Humble Pie albums (especially the popular doubles "Performance" and "Eat It") would regularly show in people's record collections – the first two Immediate albums never did – especially the second "Town And Country".

But I've always loved it – even bought the 2008 Japanese SHM-CD reissue. Re-listening to the genius Sitar shimmy of "The Light Of Love" (could be a 1967 Summer of Love classic) or the Terry Reid cool keyboard groove of "Cold Lady" or the Sticky Fingers "Wild Horses" country-acoustic of "Every Mother's Son" or Frampton's fantastic vocal on "Only You Can See" – and I'm loving this wonderfully accomplished LP all over again. Hell I even like the 'rawk' cover of Buddy Holly's "Heartbeat" that HP make sound like a Small Faces outtake from a particularly boozy night out...

Both 1970's "Humble Pie" and 1971's "Rock On" – their opening gambits on A&M Records – are gems too – and equally difficult to find on original vinyl or for that matter reissue CD (outside of Japan that is). But I dig them all so much. Like so many great bands of the period - Humble Pie made a sound that is 'so' British Rock 'n' Roll and like the Faces and The Stones – engender an affection that is actually warranted and has lasted (now nearly into five decades).

"Natural Born Bugie..." is a brill little twofer-CD that's still available for about eight quid or less and it’s safe to say I’ll be returning to this set of 1969 yesterdays for years to come. Great stuff...

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"Call My Name: Selected Recordings 1964-1970" by JAMES ROYAL and The Hawks (June 2017 RPM Records CD Compilation - Simon Murphy Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...He's About A Mover..."

London's Jimmy Nairn has been an underground white Soul-boy phenomenon for decades amidst Mod-mad stylists and Northern Soul dancefloor fiends.

Never a musical household name in any sense of the word – James Royal (his stage name) nonetheless clocked up a staggering 18 seven-inch singles on Parlophone and CBS Records between 1964 and 1970 in the UK alone – as well as a straggler track on a rare 1964 Decca compilation. Royal even managed a British debut album of his own on CBS in 1969 named after this compilation - "Call My Name" (9 of its 13 tracks are accounted for here).

Musically this CD is pure Soul-Boy dancing candy where James Royal swoons Jackie Wilson style about heartache, suffering, pain or dying (or all four if you're really lucky) - and you can literally see and feel those sassily-clad British dancers getting lost in the cross-armed drama of it all as they slide about in 45-induced rapture on runways of talcum powder. You can also hear the improvement in his vocal delivery as the years went on - to a point where his stunning 1969 cover of The Rascals "You Better Run" (an exclusive to the 1969 "Call My Name" LP) is virtually indistinguishable from Steve Marriott between late Small Faces and early Humble Pie (high praise indeed). On the evidence of this track alone – JR's legend is more than justified.

And that's where this hip-gyrating 2017 CD from the collectors specialist reissue label 'RPM Records' comes shimmying in. Here are the ravers and movers...

UK released 23 June 2017 (30 June 2017 in the USA) - "Call My Name: Selected Recordings 1964-1970" by JAMES ROYAL on RPM Records RETRO 989 (Barcode 5013929599895) is a 25-Track CD compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (69:26 minutes):

1. She's About A Mover

2. Black Cloud

(Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of a June 1965 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5290)

3. Work Song

4. I Can't Stand It

(Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of a November 1965 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5383)

5. I'm Leaving You

(From the November 1964 UK Various Artists LP "Ready, Steady - Win!" on Decca LK 4634

6. Call My Name

7. When It Comes To My Baby

(Tracks 6 and 7 are the A&B-sides of a January 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 202525)

8. Green Days

(Track 8 is the B-side of "It's All In The Game", a May 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 2739. The A-side "It's All In The Game" is not on this compilation)

9. Hey Little Boy

(Track 9 is the A-side of a May 1968 UK 7" single on CBS Records 3450. The B-side is "Thru' The Love" is Track 12 on this compilation)

10. I've Lost You

11. Send Out Love

(Tracks 11 and 10 are the A&B-sides of an August 1969 UK 7" single on CBS Records 4463)

12. Thru' The Love

(Track 12 is the B-side of "Hey Little Boy", a May 1968 UK 7" single on CBS Records 3450 and Track 9 on this compilation)

13. A Woman Called Sorrow

(Track 13 is the A-side of an August 1968 UK 7" single on CBS Records 3624. The B-side "Fire" is not on this compilation)

14. Time Hangs On My Mind

(Track 14 is the A-side of a November 1968 UK 7" single on CBS Records 3797. The B-side "Anna Lee" is not on this compilation)

15. I've Something Bad On My Mind

16. She's Independent

(Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of an April 1969 UK 7" single on CBS Records 4139)

17. You'd Better Run

(Track 17 is from his 1969 UK debut LP "Call My Name" on CBS Records S 63780)

18. A Little Bit Of Rain

19. I Can't Stand It

(Tracks 19 and 18 are the A&B-sides of an August 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 2959)

20. House Of Jack

(Track 20 is the A-side of a June 1969 UK 7" single on CBS Records 3915. The B-side is "Which Way To Nowhere" - Track 24 on this compilation)

21. Little Red Wagon

(Track 21 is from his September 1969 UK debut LP "Call My Name" on CBS Records S 63780)

22. I'm Going Home

23. And Soon The Darkness

(Tracks 23 and 22 are the A&B-sides of a June 1970 UK 7" single on CBS Records 5032)

24. Which Way To Nowhere

(Track 20 is the B-side of a June 1969 UK 7" single on CBS Records 3915. The A-side is "House Of Jack" - Track 20 on this compilation)

25. Sitting In The Station

(Track 25 is the B-side of "Take Me Like I Am", a January 1968 UK 7" single on CBS Records 3232)

All tracks credit to JAMES ROYAL except 1 and 2 credited JAMES ROYAL and THE HAWKS and 5 credited to JIMMY ROYAL and THE HAWKS

Eight tracks of the 12-song September 1969 UK LP "Call My Name" on CBS Records S 63780 can be sequenced from this 2017 CD as follows:

Side 1:

1. Call My Name [Track 6]

2. Something Bad On My Mind [Track 15]

3. He'll Have To Go

4. Little Red Wagon [Track 21]

5. She's Independent [Track 16]

6. A Woman Called Sorrow [Track 13]

7. Fire (Keep Away From My Heart)

Side 2:

1. House Of Jack [Track 20]

2. It's All In The Game

3. When It Comes To My Baby [Track 7]

4. Forget To Remember

5. You'd Better Run [Track 17]

6. Send Out Love [Track 11]

I know RPM have carefully and honestly entitled the compilation 'Selected Recordings...' – but we should also highlight what's 'not' here. As you can see from the LP's track-list provided above and bearing in mind this CD has a total playing time of 69:26 minutes - the four missing songs from the 1969 debut album could and should have been included here. The two B-sides "Fire..." and "Anna Lee" and the A-side "It's All In The Game" are also missing too and you can't help but think there was room on this disc for all seven no shows. Having said that - let's deal with what we do have...

Project-managed by JOHN REED and MARK STRATFORD for RPM Records - the 16-page booklet has a superb essay on Royal's early career by IAN GRINHAM (dated April 2017) that clearly has had input from the great man himself. Trade and publicity photos of the West London slugger pepper the text - there's a colour repro of the rare 1964 "Ready, Steady - Win!" LP sleeve on Decca where Royal had an exclusive track - repro's of British Parlophone and CBS 45 demos - adverts for The Ealing Club in 1964 where James Royal and The Hawks twisted on Thursday while some no-mark bunch of ne’er-do-wells played R&B on Saturdays - The Rolling Stones. There are some side-profile colour photos of JR as we approach 1969 and an intriguing 1968 snap of our British hero with two other American heroes and influences - Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. It's very nicely done and the text is hugely informative throughout - going into details on every song that fans will love ("I Can't Stand It" and I’ve Something Bad On My Mind" were hits for The Soul Sisters and Timi Yuro - that kind of stuff).

SIMON MURPHY over at Another Planet Music has done the mastering and the Mono and Stereo recordings vary from very good to amazing - but always clean and full of that 45-punch collectors love.

The music is one long play of dancers and smoochers - opening with the fab Doug Sahm groover "She's About A Mover" - Royal's debut 7" single on Parlophone in June 1965 with the equally wicked "Black Cloud" on the flipside. The Smokey McAllister winner "I Can't Stand It" that he penned for The Soul Sisters back in 1964 on Sue Records is presented here in two forms - a 1965 first stab on Parlophone and a 1967 re-cut on CBS Records in 1967. Both are great as is the so Northern Style vibes and strings of "And Soon The Darkness" written by Laurie Johnson and former Animals stalwart Alan Price.

Speaking of superb songwriters - an unsung hero here is the Canadian tunesmith Ralph Murphy who joined the James Royal camp in 1967 when he first signed to CBS. His name is either sole or co-writer on 10 of the 25 here - and the man had a knack for penning a white man's version of a Motown groove that white kids could dig and dance too. His compositions "Green Day", "Thru' The Love" and "A Woman Called Sorrow" are fantastic Northern Soul thumpers and alongside "Send Out Love" by Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett are obvious choice-cuts amidst many other classy covers. Royal's tremendous version of Van McCoy's "I've Lost You" (made famous by Jackie Wilson) is another toe-tapper as is the Ashford & Simpson song "When It Comes To My Baby" - originally a hit for Ronnie Milsap. Even the slightly sappy version of Jimmy Webb’s "Which Way To Nowhere" sees JR put in storming vocals amidst the strings and girly backing singers.

Music is a funny old world and that England’s James Royal never tasted British chart success is some kind of special criminal neglect.

Despite the fact that I feel RPM could have bolstered up "Call My Name..." with the LP tracks - what you do get here is solid five-star grooviness. Icing on a very tasty CD cake indeed. And I for one am down with that. Well done to all involved...

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"Let's Go Down And Blow Our Minds: The British Psychedelic Sound Of 1967" (October 2016 UK Grapefruit 3CD Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Magic In The Air..."

The Summer of Love's 50th Anniversary has arrived in the Summer Of 2017. Well tickle my pink sideburns and stroke my soggy petunia - let's all run through fields with dandelion-stalks in our mouths toward the chocolate-bar trees with our crocheted doughnuts dangling in the wind while Granny takes a trip on the lysergic love-boat to Lewisham. Yeah baby...

England's 'Grapefruit' label is part of Cherry Red's pantheon of reissue companies and they're dedication to all things Psych, Hard Rock and hairy-bottomed Avant Garde has taken the collector's market by storm. I recently raved about their "I'm A Freak, Baby..." 3CD Box Set from July 2016 that offered up an amazing array of Heavy Psych and Hard Rock from the British Underground Scene between 1968 and 1972. A stone-to-the-bone five-star release if ever there was one – it comes housed in a beautifully presented clamshell box with a chunky booklet and great audio too (see review).

My point is that it was always going to be joined by an equally lunatic but worthy digital sibling. "Let's Go Down And Blow Our Minds..." is that spiritually connected follow-up but this time concentrating on just one pivotal year – 1967. Taking its name from lyrics in the song "Toyland" by The Alan Bown - Grapefruit have even managed to locate a Previously Unissued recording from the darlings of Mega-Money Psych 'Tintern Abbey' - a name that can make some collectors spontaneously genuflect and chant "I am so clearly not worthy..." a worrying number of times.

With a whopping 80-tracks to shake my ageing geranium at - there's a huge amount of detail to wade through. So once more my trippy-hippy paisley-pants wearing friends unto the LSD larynxes, lava lamps and love truncheons of barking-mad Blighty (and that's just Disc 1)...

UK released 20 October 2016 (27 October 2016 in the USA) - "Let's Go Down And Blow Our Minds: The Psychedelic Sounds Of 1967" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Cherry Red/Grapefruit CRSEGBOX033 (Barcode 5013929183308) is an 80-Track 3CD Compilation of Remasters housed in a Mini Clamshell Box Set that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (77:56 minutes):

1. Toyland - THE ALAN BOWN (October 1967 UK 7" single on MGM Records MGM 1355, A-side)

2. Magic In The Air - THE ATTACK (Not originally issued, recorded late 1967)

3. Sunway (Smokey Pokey World) - THE TICKLE (November 1967 UK 7" single on Regal Zonophone RZ 3004, A-side)

4. I Can See Through You - EPISODE SIX (October 1967 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17376, A-side. Featured Ian Gillan and Roger Glover of Deep Purple)

5. The Madman Running Through The Fields - DANTALIAN'S CHARIOT (September 1967 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 8260, A-side. Features Zoot Money)

6. Dogs In Baskets - GERANIUM POND (Not original issued, recorded October 1967)

7. Eiderdown Clown - THE SCOTS OF ST. JAMES (September 1967 UK 7" single on Spot Records JW 1, B-side of "Timothy". Bassist Alan Gorrie later formed Average White Band)

8. Dear Delilah - GEORGE ALEXANDER (Previously unissued, recorded circa August 1967, pre Grapefruit Demo)

9. Pink Purple Yellow And Red - THE SORROWS (June 1967 UK 7" single on Piccadilly 7N 35385, A-side)

10. Lazy Man - THE MIRAGE (Not originally issued alternate version, recorded mid-1967)

11. Give Him A Flower - THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN (September 1967 UK 7" single on Track 604008, B-side of "Devil's Grip")

12. Tanya - TINTERN ABBEY (Previously unissued, recorded November 1967)

13. Prodigal Son - FLUER-DE-LYS (September 1967 UK 7" single on Polydor 56200, A-side. Featured Guitarist Bryn Haworth)

14. See The People - THE LOMAX ALLIANCE (May 1967 UK 7" single CBS Records 2729, B-side of "Try As You May". Featured Jackie Lomax)

15. Time To Start Loving You - THE MICKEY FINN (December 1967 UK 7" single on Direction 58-3086, B-side of "Garden Of My Mind". The A-side is on the "I'm A Freak, Baby..." 3CD Box Set from July 2016 also on Grapefruit)

16. I Hear The Sun - THE FINGERS (Not originally issued, recorded June 1967. Featured Singer and Guitarist Richard Mills who formed CDR on Track 17) 

17. Nice - CROCHETED DOUGHNUT RING (October 1967 UK 7" single on Polydor 56204, A-side)

18. My House Is Burning - THE GOOD THING BRIGADE (Not originally issued, recorded late 1967)

19. Ice Woman - THE MOTIVES (October 1967 Dutch-Only EP "The World Is A Trapezium" on Telstar Special Products LP 1021, 120 copies only)

20. Look At The Sun - LOUISE (Not originally issued, recorded late 1967). Featured Tony Durrant of Fuchsia and Chris Cutler of Henry Cow)

21. I Won't Hurt You - NEO MAYA (September 1967 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17371, A-side. A cover of a West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band song)

22. Path Through The Forest - CLIFF WARD (Not originally issued, recorded March 1967. Later had hits "Gaye" and "Wherewithal" as Clifford T. Ward)

23. Sanity Inspector (Single Version) - THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP (December 1967 UK 7" single on United Artists UP 1203, B-side of "Mr. Second Class")

24. 'Cos It's Over - THE SUMMER SET (October 1967 US 7" single on Roulette R-4766, B-side of "Let's Go To San Francisco")

25. Try Me On For Size - THOSE FADIN' COLOURS (Not originally issued, recorded May 1967. An Electric Prunes cover)

26. Silver Tree Top School For Boys - THE SLENDER PLENTY (September 1967 UK 7" single on Polydor 56189, A-side. An original David Bowie song)

27. Evil Woman - GUY DARRELL (September 1967 UK 7" single on Piccadilly 7N 35408, A-side. A Larry Weiss song also later covered by The Troggs, Canned Heat and Spooky Tooth)

Disc 2 (79:12 minutes):

1. Flames - ELMER GANTRY'S VELVET OPERA (November 1967 UK 7" single on Direction 58-3083, A-side)

2. Double Sight - ONE IN A MILLION (December 1967 UK 7" single on MGM Records 1370, B-side of "Fredereek Hernando")

3. Keep It Out Of Sight - PAUL and BARRY RYAN (February 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12567, A-side. Written by Cat Stevens)

4. Defecting Grey - THE PRETTY THINGS (not originally issued full-length version, recorded October 1967. The November 1967 UK 7" single of "Deflecting Grey" ran to 4:28 minutes, here it's extended to 5:12 minutes)

5. Desdemona - JOHN'S CHILDREN (May 1967 UK 7" single on Track 604003, A-side. Featured Marc Bolan of T. Rex)

6. Smokeytime Springtime - THE DOVES (Not originally issued, recorded October 1967)

7. Flowers In Your Hair - JOHN WILLIAMS (August 1967 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 8251, A-side)

8. All So Long Ago - SWEET FEELING (May 1967 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 8195, A-side)

9. Reflections Of Charles Brown - RUPERT'S PEOPLE (July 1967 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 8226, A-side)

10. Toy Soldier - THE RIOT SQUAD featuring David Bowie (Not originally issued, recorded April 1967)

11. The Rise And Fall Of Bernie Gripplestone - THE RATS (Not originally issued, recorded late 1967. Featured Mick Ronson later with Bowie)

12. Something To Write About - CIRCUS (Not originally issued, recorded 1967)

13. Funny Face - DAVE DAVIES (from the September 1967 UK LP "Something Else By The Kinks" on Pye NSPL 18193)

14. Village Green - THE BROOD (Not originally issued, recorded circa September 1967. Produced by Keith Moon and John Entwistle of The Who)

15. Mr. Sun - TONY RIVERS & THE CASTAWAYS (Not originally issued, recorded 1967)

16. Your Servant, Stephen - THE PEEP SHOW (October 1967 UK 7" single on Polydor 56196, A-side)

17. And The Squire Blew His Horn - THE UGLYS (August 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 2933, A-side. Written by Steve Gibbons and Jimmie O'Neill)

18. Vote For Me - THE MOVE (Not originally issued, recorded August 1967)

19. A Day In My Mind's Mind - THE HUMAN INSTINCT (December 1967 UK 7" single on Deram DM 167, A-side)

20. She Was Perfection - MURRAY HEAD (May 1967 UK 7" single on Immediate IM 053, A-side)

21. Little Girl Lost And Found - PETER & THE WOLVES (October 1967 UK 7" single on MGM Records MGM 1352, A-side. A cover of The Garden Club hit)

22. Flower Power - BIG JIM SULLIVAN (from the September 1967 US LP "Sitar Beat" on Mercury SR-61137)

23. Kaleidoscope - PROCOL HARUM (Not originally issued Stereo version, recorded July 1967)

24. Crazy Dreams - THE SEARCHERS (November 1967 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17424, B-side of "Secondhand Dealer")

25. In The Deep End - THE ARTWOODS (April 1967 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5590, B-side of "What Shall I Do". Featured Keef Hartley, Art Wood (brother of Ronnie) and Jon Lord of Deep Purple)

Disc 3 (76:01 minutes):

1. Finding it Rough - HAT & TIE (January 1967 UK 7" single on President PT 122, B-side to "Bread To Spend" (re-issued April 1967 with sides reversed). Features Patrick Campbell-Lyons (later with England's Nirvana) and Chris Thomas of The Second Thoughts (The White Album and The Sex Pistols)

2. Fashion Conscious - THE FRESH WINDOWS (June 1967 UK 7" single on Fontana TF 839, B-side of "Summer Sun Shines". Written by Brian Barrett - not Syd Barrett as some have claimed)

3. The Addicted Man - THE GAME (January 1967 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 5553, A-side. Withdrawn due to lyrical content)

4. Meditations - FELIUS ANDROMEDA (November 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12694, A-side)

5. Delighted To See Me - THE HONEYBUS (Not originally issued Demo Version, recorded April 1967)

6. So Many Times - ICE (October 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12680, B-side of "Anniversary (Of Love)". Later became Vertigo Prog rockers Affinity)

7. A Walk In The Sky - THE FLOWER POT MEN (November 1967 UK 7" single on Deram DM 160, A-side)

8. Friends And Mirrors - FIVE'S COMPANY (Not originally issued, recorded May 1967)

9. Family Tree - THE LATE (Not originally issued, recorded late 1967)

10. I Think I Need The Cash - THE SECRETS (June 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 2818, B-side of "I Intend To Please". Featured Clifford T. Ward)

11. Schizoid Revolution - SKIP BIFFERTY (Not originally issued, recorded early 1967. Written by Newcastle's Alan Hull later of Lindisfarne)

12. Granny Takes A Trip - THE PURPLE GANG (April 1967 UK 7" single on Transatlantic/Big T Records BIG 101, A-side)

13. Emily Small (The Huge World Thereof) - THE PICADILLY LINE (September 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 2958, A-side. Band name deliberately misspelt with one 'c' instead of two to avoid a clash with London Transport)

14. Help Me Please - THE OUTER LIMITS (April 1967 UK 7" single on Deram DM 125, B-side of "Just One More Chance")

15. 'Cept Me - FOCAL POINT (Not originally issued, recorded June 1967. First signings to The Beatles Apple label)

16. Great Shadowy Strange - JADE HEXAGRAM (Not originally issued, recorded November 1967)

17. Busker Bill - THE TRUTH (Not originally issued, recorded mid-1967)

18. Life's Not Life - THE MOODY BLUES (January 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12543, A-side. Written by Denny Laine and Michael Pinder)

19. I Can't Get Away From You - DON CRAINE'S NEW DOWNLINERS (February 1967 UK 7" single on Pye 7N 17261, A-side. Cover version of a song by the American Garage Band The Remains from 1965)

20. Again - THE SYMBOLS (December 1967 UK 7" single on President PT 173, B-side of "(The Best Part Of) Breaking Up")

21. Odd Man Out - THE HI-FI'S (from the June 1967 German LP "Snakes And Hi-FI's" on Star Club 138 035 STY)

22. Laughing Man - THE MARMALADE (August 1967 UK 7" single on CBS Records 2948, B-side of "I See The Rain". Written by William 'Junior' Campbell who would have several hits in the early Seventies on Deram as a solo artist)

23. Ginger - T.J. ASSEMBLY (from the November 1967 UK LP "Travellin' Round" on House Of Sound HOS 007. Private Pressing, 25 Copies Only)

24. Michelangelo - THE 23rd TURNOFF (Not originally issued Demo Version, recorded July 1967)

25. Supporters - Support Us - THE Q.P.R. SUPPORTERS (March 1967 UK 7" single on Eyemark EMS 1008, A-side)

26. Listen To The Sky - SANDS (September 1967 UK 7" single on Reaction 591017, B-side of the Bee Gees cover "Mrs Gillespie's Refrigerator")

Throughout the fantastic 42-page booklet - the text references and pictures epicentres of the Underground and Mod Scene of 1967 London - the UFO Club on Tottenham Court Road, the Middle Earth in Covent Garden's King Street and the Marquee in the capitol’s main thoroughfare - Oxford Street. Aside over 60 rare 7" single labels, picture sleeve repro's and acetate photos - you get wads of memorabilia, buttons, flyers, trade adverts, psych artwork and gig posters crammed onto every page. There's even a W.H. Smith advert in evocative Day-Glo lettering advertising their 'Psych Sounds '67' with cartoon butterflies emerging from a flower-power gramophone (as they do). As you can imagine - it's a feast and my fanboy hat goes off to DAVID WELLS and JOHN REED for the Liner Notes and Project Management - two names collectors both admire and trust. SIMON MURPHY did the Mastering over at Another Planet Music and given the disparate sources - the Audio is uniformly solid. Even when some of the unreleased stuff is sounding rough - it has air around it and feels in your face in all the right ways. A nice job done. To the music...

Disc 1 - you know you're in good company when the quote on Page 1 of the text reads "Straight to Heaven in '67!" It was EMI advertising The Pink Floyd's "See Emily Play" and although conspicuous by their absence (licensing rights I'd imagine) - the first instalment opens on a cutesy period piece - "Toyland" by The Alan Bown in its Mono Single Mix glory. The box set title comes at us in the lyrics as we're told we must go down and blow our minds where Teddy Bear has the scene all sewn up and there's honey and buttercups (whatever you say mate). Moving on from whimsy we get a more hard-edged guitar with the suitably named The Attack who assure us there's "Magic In The Air". Dreaming no doubt of "Space Oddity" by David Bowie - guitarist Mick Wayne of The Tickle would end up playing on that groundbreaking song - but in the meantime he'd some peace 'n' love to dispense to a girl on his below-the-ground "Subway (Smokey Pokey World)". Colours abound in the 'it's gonna blow' mean-guitar of "Pink Purple Yellow And Red". And if it's not rainbows and spectrums of colour then many songs are fixated on flowers. The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown's incredibly witty "Give Him A Flower" offers up the right balance of nettles vs. roses in its observations on the whole hippy movement (why isn't this slice of quotable genius on the radio every day to cheer commuters up). "Tanya" by the legendary Tintern Abbey speaks of a young lady leaving her land of cherry blossoms for revelations in Soho's Wardour Street that don’t quite expand her mind but do deplete her purse.

For sure the brutally crude audio that accompanies "Time To Start Loving You" by one of the big bands for collectors The Mickey Finn - isn't going to win any Living Stereo awards right soon - but the track still rocks (neither is Cliff Ward's "Path Through The Forest" for that matter). There's amazing musicality to "Prodigal Son" from Fleur-De-Lys - Bryn Haworth's wonderful way with melody already showing (see my review for his first two solo albums on Island Records in 1974 and 1975 - "Let The Days Go By" and "Sunny Side Of The Street" reissued by Gott Discs a few years back). The heavy Psych guitar of Guy Darrell's "Evil Woman" combined with its cool organ groove proved to have amazing legs because a plethora of artists latched onto it as a cover version they could almost call their own song - The Troggs, Spooky Tooth and Canned Heat amongst them. Nice way to end Disc 1 too...

Disc 2 - apparently taken aback by The Pink Floyd when they played support to those wild Psych boys in March 1967 - Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera infused their previous R&B driving beat with fuzzed-up guitars and came up with the fabulous raver "Flames" in November of that year. That hybrid R&B/Psych sound continues on the musically excellent "Double Sight" by One In A Million and you can almost justify its staggering £1000 price tag in the 2018 Edition of the Record Collector Rare Records Price Guide. The genuine quality continues on the classy "Keep It Out Of Sight" where Paul & Barry Ryan make the most of the excellent dancer gifted to them by a young Steven Georgiou (Cat Stevens). The Pretty Things bring up the whimsy front initially on "Defecting Grey" but then win our hearts by lashing into a stunning phased Sitar break that is quickly followed by driving fuzz-guitar. "Defecting Grey" is the kind of tune that seems to offer up more musical brilliance in its 5:12 minute duration than most bands can manage in an entire album.

The familiar but cherubic face over to the far right of the rare picture sleeve for "Desdemona" by John's Children is of course Marc Bolan - whose distinctive warble would soon be seeking out prophets, seers and sages with Tyrannosaurus Rex before making the world "Get It On" with T. Rex in 1971. Others winners on CD2 include the shockingly soulful "Reflections Of Charles Brown" by Rupert's People - an organ bluesy number with more than a hint of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" in its sound and pace. Not nearly so flowers and peace - Prime Minister Harold Wilson took major legal action and MI5 stalking revenge on Roy Wood and Co. for defaming his name on the huge hit "Flowers In The Rain". The clearly angry and anti-establishment "Vote For Me" song by The Move thereafter got quietly buried in the vaults – a rather good 'it seems my clothes are a drag' rocker that at last stands tall here on Disc 2. 

Disc 3 - Jukebox Jury got all morally righteous on the ass of what they thought was the celebratory "Addicted Man" by The Game – a call to arms in favour of more drug-taking and less crew cuts/bowler hats. Predictably the British tabloids got their collective tights in a tangle (have they ever been any other way) and Columbia fired their A&R man and withdrew the single. Underground pirate stations though took their revenge on uptight establishment by playing the buggery out of the 'message to the kids' tune - but the joke was ultimately on the South London band who had written it as an 'anti' drugs song only to have their pleadings misconstrued. It was withdrawn and no one got a penny (cracking tune btw). B-sides lost in time include "So Many Times" by Ice - a band that contained Keyboardist Lynton Naiff and Drummer Grant Serpell who along with Linda Hoyle and Mike Jopp would form the much-revered Vertigo Prog rockers Affinity in 1970. Another is the readies-strapped "I Think I Need The Cash" by Kidderminster's The Secrets which included one Cliff Ward who would finally emerge out of the musical shadows on Charisma Records as Clifford T. Ward in 1973 with the deeply beautiful melodies "Gaye" and Wherewithal" (from his album "Home Thoughts From Abroad").

Rarities on Disc 3 include a genuine coup in "Schizoid Revolution" by darlings of the Psych Scene Skip Bifferty. Cut as a demo in the spring of 1967 at Impulse Studios in Wallsend - the song was written by their pal and then psychiatric nurse - Newcastle's Alan Hull who would of course later form the much-loved Lindisfarne. Both Hull, Skip Bifferty Keyboardist Mickey Gallagher and Drummer Tommy Jackman had played as The Chosen Few over on Pye Records. And we will all be forever in debt to the King's Road Boutique at No. 499 called "Granny Takes A Trip" for the song of the same name - a zeitgeist moment of a song adopted as their anthem by the hippest of the hip at Joe Boyd's 'UFO Club' in Tottenham Court Road. Even now it's 'of the moment' words, sound and feel transport me back. And I've never seen the picture sleeve to The Symbols B-side "Again" on President Records (shown on Page 36) or the German Hi Fi's album from their stint at Hamburg's Star Club in all my years of rarity buying at Reckless in Berwick Street.

Plug In, Turn On and Freak Out people - you know it makes sense. Or doesn't make sense. And isn't that why "Let's Go Down And Blow Our Minds..." is such a joy. 

All joking aside - hats off to everyone involved in getting this forgotten music back out there in such triumphant style...

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