THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,240) The Orange Machine — “Real Live Permanent Dream”
Welcome to the machine. The Irish band’s ‘68 single reached #14 in Ireland by taking on two of Tomorrow’s (see #72) pop psych classics and outclassing the originals. Not just my opinion. Big Tom says “IMO the Orange Machine version [of “Real Life”] is far better than the original by the band Tomorrow. . . . With the exception of The Movement[‘]s “Tell Her” the Orange Machine singles were the best records to come out of Ireland during the 60s.” (bigtom, https://www.45cat.com/record/7n17559)
And David Wells writes:
[The Machine] were evidently heavily influenced by Tomorrow. In addition to playing “My White Bicycle” during live gigs, their debut single comprised covers of “Real Life Permanent Dream” and the Disney-on-acid aural cartoon “Three Jolly Little Dwarfs” . . . . both of which had recently appeared on Tomorrow’s debut album. Impressively, the Orange Machine’s vigorous, guitar-led treatment of both songs improved upon the originals, and the coupling gave them a Top 20 hit in their native land.
liner notes to the CD comp Real Life Permanent Dreams
As to the Machine, Irish Showbands says:
Their single “Three Jolly Little Dwarfs” was one of the best Irish “psychedelic” singles and reached No.14 in the Irish charts. It and its follow-up “You Can All Join In” are keenly sought by collectors worldwide. Ernie Durkin later joined Gentry, Tommy Kinsella joined the Cotton Mill Boys and drummer Jimmy Greally became a successful radio broadcaster. Lead guitarist was Robin Crowley.
[Ernie Durkin]: I think the Orange Machine was a great group. We had some original songs that did not get recorded because of the break-up of the group, we were all very young and did not know what we really had. What we needed was a good manager to keep us on the right track and give us some direction – then maybe the group could have stayed together and made some more recordings. We could have been one of Irelands top original groups. We had a really original sound, and everyone complemented each other.”
Here is Tomorrow:
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