THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,362) The Barrier — “Dawn Breaks Through”
This ’68 “[B]-side of The Barrier’s debut single on the independent Eyemark label is . . . essential to check out . . . a[] high octane pop psych gem, unfortunately buried on the flip of the very forgettable “Georgie Brown’”. (Cosmic Minds at Play, https://cosmicmindatplay.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/classic-singles-103-the-barrier-uh-spot-the-lights-1968/) The song is riveting, the harmonies to die for. Lead singer Eric Francis commented on YouTube a few years ago “Very proud of this 50 years on” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylmTf9kwzgQ),”Funny how popular this is now compared to 52 years ago when we made it” (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AV3VMwuMTvk&pp=ygUfdGhlIGJhcnJpZXIgZGF3biBicmVha3MgdGhyb3VnaA%3D%3D), and “Who wrote this? If I didn’t know better I’d say we were on drugs or mad”!!!!! (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ylmTf9kwzgQ&pp=ygUfdGhlIGJhcnJpZXIgZGF3biBicmVha3MgdGhyb3VnaA%3D%3D)
Top Sounds Records tells us about “Dawn”:
[B]y the end of 1967, professional finished recordings of “Shapes And Sounds” and “Dawn Breaks Through” . . . were ready for release. Work got underway for a 45 issue, two sets of different colour labels were designed and proofs printed but for reasons unclear the record never progressed beyond acetate . . . . “Dawn Breaks Through” eventually was relegated to the B’ side of the first Barrier 45 “Georgie Brown” and was basically the same version as that intended for the Purple Barrier single . . . .
All Music Guide tells us about the Barrier:
60s UK blues/psych rock group Barrier comprised Alan Brooks (drums), Alan Francis (bass), Eric Francis (vocals/organ) and Del Dwyer (guitar). Formed in Fulham, south London, England, their debut single, “Georgie Brown”/”Dawn Breaks Through”, was released for the independent blues label Eyemark Records in 1968. The b-side was also recorded by the Purple Barrier (the group’s “psychedelic” alter ego) for the same label. It led to a contract with Philips Records, and two further 1968 singles. Both “Tide Is Turning” and “Spot The Lights” were good examples of garage pop, but neither made much impression outside south London. . . . Alan Brooks went on to join Punching Judy.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-barrier-mn0000037295#biography
As does the British Music Archive:
Formed circa 1966 in Fulham, London. Signed to Eyemark records and Philips records. All three record releases appeared in 1968. “Tomorrow Of Yesterday” was the band’s debut demo recording which was performed as The Purple Barrier . . . . The song was recorded again with a full production and harpsichord (played by Eric Francis) and re-titled as “Shapes and Sounds”. The term “Purple” was dropped from the name so as to avoid any confusion with the band, Deep Purple. Eyemark records issued their debut single in 1967. The group were then signed by Philips records and handled by the Howard/Blaikley songwriting team . . . . The Barrier were popular in Europe in the late 1960s and more renowned than in their UK homeland. After returning home from a European tour, the band were surprised to hear that they had a new single available by Philips. They were unaware of the songs themselves and couldn’t remember ever recording them. The band’s management had arranged for session musicians to perform and record another Howard/Blaikley song which unbeknown to The Barrier, would be their second single! . . .
Here is the demo:
Here is the acetate:
Here is a 2002 version by the Embrooks:
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