Monthly Archives: November 2021

244) Chamaeleon Church — “Blueberry Pie” The Church was a short-lived Boston pop psych group that formed in ’67, released an album in ‘68 and disbanded after a brief tour. Two of its members then joined Ultimate Spinach. Oh, and the Church’s drummer was Chevy Chase. Yes, the “I’m Chevy Chase and you’re not”/SNL/Clark GriswoldContinue reading “Chamaeleon Church — “Blueberry Pie”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 10, 2021”

243) James Carr — “Pouring Water on a Drowning Man” A ‘66 single and track from his debut album, “Pouring Water” reached #85 in November ’66 (#23 R&B). Steve Huey says in All Music Guide that: One of the greatest pure vocalists that deep Southern soul ever produced, James Carr is often mentioned in theContinue reading “James Carr — “Pouring Water on a Drowning Man”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 9, 2021”

240) Kate — “Strange Girl” This ’68 A-side was one of three singles by the London based group. Vernon Joynson says the song is “rather ordinary.” That is nuts. This haunting song was chosen to lead off the first volume of the fabled Fading Yellow comps, and it was a perfect choice. 241) Neil SedakaContinue reading “Girl, Uninterrupted Special Edition: Kate/Neil Sedaka/The July Four: Kate — “Strange Girl”, Neil Sedaka — “Cold Girl”, The July Four — “Frightened Little Girl”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 8, 2021″

239) Headstone Circus — “I Love the Wind” Another selection from the Headstone Circus. Singer Glenn Faria — who was in Bill Clinton’s class at Georgetown University — recalls that the Circus “was a fun band and we had some wild times during the late sixties. It was a great time to be alive, toContinue reading “Headstone Circus — “I Love the Wind”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 7, 2021”

238) Chicken Shack — “Some Other Time” The Chicken Shack was the Perfect band, until it wasn’t. The Shack was a British blues-rock band that rivaled Fleetwood Mac in popularity for a time and featured Christine Perfect on keyboards. But then, as Richie Unterberger says in All Music Guide: [S]he quit the music business toContinue reading “Chicken Shack — “Some Other Time”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 6, 2021”

237) Thoughts and Words — “Morning Sky” From Pandamonium comes . . . deep, calming Thoughts and Words. As Vernon Joynson says, “[Martin] Curtis and [Bob] Ponton had been the founders and mainstays of Pandamonium but, tired of record company inteference, resolved in 1969 to proceed as a stripped-down duo.” Bob Ponton himself recollects (inContinue reading “Thoughts and Words — “Morning Sky” Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 5, 2021″

236) Sandy Coast — “Back to the City” ‘69 B-side from Voorburg’s own Sandy Coast Skiffle Group, no make that Sandy Coast Five, no make that Sandy Coast Rockers, jeez, just call them the Sandy Coast. Of course, the Coast is most remembered for the time that Washington Redskins running back John Riggins told itContinue reading “Sandy Coast — “Back to the City”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 4, 2021”

235) Merrell Fankhauser & H.M.S. Bounty — “Things (Goin’ Round in My Mind)” Another selection (and single) from Merrell Fankhauser’s classic ‘68 album. I know it’s classic, because Merrell himself says it is “one of the rare, lost psychedelic gems of the late 60’s” (CD reissue liner notes). As Psychedelicbabymag.com reports: [The singles unfortunately] receivedContinue reading “Merrell Fankhauser & H.M.S. Bounty — “Things (Goin’ Round in My Mind)”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 3, 2021″

233) Bob Seger and the Last Heard — “East Side Story” 234) Bob Seger and the Last Heard — “Persecution Smith” Bob Seger was writing and performing garage rock classics in the mid-sixties? Who knew?! Well, if you lived in Detroit at the time, you knew. And offering a spot-on impersonation of Bruce Springsteen —Continue reading “Bob Seger and the Last Heard Special Edition: “East Side Story”, “Persecution Smith”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 2, 2021”

232) Paul and Ritchie and the Cryin’ Shames — “Come on Back”  The [Decca] Freakbeat Scene comp calls this ’66 B-side “one of the most exhilarating British records of the mid-to-late 1960s, a riot of manic vocals, frenzied guitar and florid organ playing.” Yup. The Real Life Permanent Dreams comp says it has a “magnificently neuroticContinue reading “Paul and Ritchie and the Cryin’ Shames — “Come on Back”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — November 1, 2021”