THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,106) Ora — “The Seagull and the Sailor”
On the road to Byzantium, ravishing UK folk-rock, “[s]o beautiful” (purrr88, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvWW3QOzWgY), yes, so beautiful. From an album of the same, “nominally a psych-folk set but . . . actually quite more. . . . an appealing, effectively lo-fi, baroque-folk mélange” (Joe Marchese, https://theseconddisc.com/2021/02/11/high-time-cherry-red-grapefruit-collects-u-k-band-byzantium-on-halfway-dreaming-anthology-1969-75/), “an album of incredible beauty, recorded by some talented young artists . . . . a most unique mixture of folk, jazz and pop sounds . . . one of the most beautiful LPs coming from the UK in 1969″ (Isabelbc, http://prognotfrog.blogspot.com/2006/11/ora-ora-uk-1969-prog-folk-psych-160_05.html?m=1), “effectively a collection of demos . . . a mixture of pleasant, whimsical and haunting songs plus a frenzied piece of psychedelia . . . . a good album of beautiful songs. . . . [with n]ot many copies . . . pressed, ensuring its status as an ultra-rarity.” (Vernon Joynson, The Tapestry of Delights Revisited)
As to Ora, the group and the album, Steve Pilkington says:
[A] pre-Byzantium band featuring the writing, playing and singing talents of Jamie Rubinstein, who would walk out of the door after the album’s release just as his future Byzantium colleagues were walking in, though he would be back for good before the first Byzantium record proper came out. . . . The Ora album, originally on the small Tangerine label, is certainly formative, and clearly date-stamped ‘late ’60s’ in its often whimsical psych-pop approach, yet hints of greater things crop up throughout, such as . . . The Seagull And The Sailor.
https://www.velvetthunder.co.uk/byzantium-halfway-dreaming-anthology-1969-75-cherry-red-grapefruit/
And Jazz Rock Soul tells us:
Ora was an English folk-pop band that released a self-titled album on small-press Tangerine Records in 1969. Mastermind Jamie Rubinstein later founded Byzantium, which issued two albums on A&M in 1972/73. Mark Barakan [aka Shane Fontayne] (guitar), Julian Diggle (drums), Jamie Rubinstein (vocals, guitar), Robin Sylvester (bass, keyboards, guitar), Chloe Walters (guitar), Jon Weiss (guitar). Ora coalesced at UCS Hampstead when members of two student bands formed a trio. Guitarist and singer/songwriter Jamie Rubentstein first played in The Faction with drummer Julian Diggle. Months later, they joined the band Sophie with Robin Sylvester, who played bass, guitar, and keyboards. The three formed Ora as a vehicle for Rubentstein’s material. Soon enough, Ora caught the attention of Tangerine Records boss Don White, who invited them to KPM Studios cut two demos, “Deborah” and “Fly.” As sessions commenced for an album, Ora swelled to a four-piece with guitarist Jon Weiss, a friend of Sylvester’s. Rubentstein took a holiday to contemplate the finishing touches, only to return and find (to his chagrin) that the album had already gone to press.
https://jazzrocksoul.com/artists/ora/
As to Byzantium, Joe Marchese tells us:
Byzantium emerged from the ashes of the band Ora, formed by students Robin Sylvester, Julian Diggle, and Jamie Rubinstein at University College School in Hampstead. After releasing one album with which Rubinstein was dissatisfied – as it had been assembled from unfinished demos and recordings without his consent – Ora disbanded. But its members felt a gravitational pull towards one another, and after some comings and goings, Byzantium was born with Rubinstein (primary songwriter), fellow USC Hampstead student Nico Ramsden (lead vocals/guitar/percussion/keyboards), Chaz Jankel (lead vocals/guitar/keyboards), and Stephen Corduner (drums/percussion). Robin Sylvester remained part of the band, too, but in the behind-the-scenes capacities of producer, arranger, and conductor. Rod Stewart’s manager Billy Gaff caught wind of the band and got them a deal with the U.K. arm of A&M Records. (In the U.S., their first album appeared on the Warner Bros. label.) Soon, Byzantium was on the road with Faces, Family, and Rory Gallagher, and appearing on a bill with Hawkwind, Man, and Brinsley Schwarz. . . .
https://theseconddisc.com/2021/02/11/high-time-cherry-red-grapefruit-collects-u-k-band-byzantium-on-halfway-dreaming-anthology-1969-75/
Pay to Play! The Off the Charts Spotify Playlist! + Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock Merchandise
Please consider helping to support my website/blog by contributing $6 a month for access to the Off the Charts Spotify Playlist. Using a term familiar to denizens of Capitol Hill, you pay to play! (“relating to or denoting an unethical or illicit arrangement in which payment is made by those who want certain privileges or advantages in such arenas as business, politics, sports, and entertainment” — dictionary.com).
The playlist includes all the “greatest songs of the 1960’s that no one has ever heard” that are available on Spotify. The playlist will expand each time I feature an available song.
All new subscribers will receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock magnet. New subscribers who sign up for a year will also receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock t-shirt or baseball cap. See pictures on the Pay to Play page.
When subscribing, please send me an e-mail (GMFtma1@gmail.com) or a comment on this site letting me know an e-mail address/phone number/Facebook address, etc. to which I can send instructions on accessing the playlist and a physical address to which I can sent a magnet/t-shirt/baseball cap. If choosing a t-shirt, please let me know the gender and size you prefer.
Just click on the first blue block for a month to month subscription or the second blue block for a yearly subscription.
Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! / Off the Charts: 60s Rock Revelations😊 