THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,550) Victor Brady — “Brown Rain”
This “[h]eavy psych funk fuzz eruption” is the “[b]est track [on the LP] by this outer space psychedelic psteel drummer. (happening45, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPVHAyvVi48, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1eqvcatY6A) “The combination of fuzz psych and steel drums sounds terrible on paper, but really works well” (happening45, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1eqvcatY6A), a “[w]ild combination of steeldrums with really cranked fuzzed guitar”. (lyrkoss, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/victor-brady/brown-rain/) “You’ll never hear another album like this one — seriously heavy rock with the lead instrument being steel drums.” (Aaron Milenski, The Acid Archives, 2nd Ed.)
I’ll add hypnotic and intoxicating. More steel drum!
If 11:32 is too long for you, check out the 2:45 single version below!
As to the LP, Ashratom warns you to take it in small doses! —
While doing music research, I sure do run across some weirdo albums, and this has to rank among the top tier for that. At its core, New York City based Brady has created a seriously heavy psych album, with non stop fuzz and plenty of ranting ala Frankie Dymon or Gil Scott-Heron. Some of the material is more pop oriented, but still maintains the heavy fuzz throughout. But we haven’t got to the weird part yet. The lead instrument? Caribbean steel drums! Unfortunately after awhile, it begins to sound more like a gimmick rather than as accompaniment. Perhaps it’s the association of the instrument with island vacations, but it’s disorienting when compared with the rest of the instrumentation and atmosphere. I mean, I wouldn’t want to hear someone wailing on harmonica through a similar set of tunes either. One has to take on a different mindset to appreciate this album. It’s quite a find and definitely recommended. Take it in small doses though.
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/victor-brady/brown-rain/
Aaron Milenski is dubious:
Brady’s band is really hot, and for a song or two this unlikely combination of sounds is exhilarating. A full listen to the LP, though, show’s that it doesn’t really work; it clashes and seems more like a novelty than a really good idea, especially on a few long jams. Recommended to the brave among you.
The Acid Archives, 2nd Ed.
Who was Victor Brady? Progarchives tells us:
Victor Brady hails from St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. He moved to mainland USA sometime in the 60’s, and established himself as a popular and influential performer of the steel drum, performing in Central Park on a regular basis. Brady himself doesn’t quite like the notion of coining his instrument of choice a steel drum – for him that is a cruder instrument consisting of a large 55 gallon steel barrel. Brady prefers to call the more refined instrument he plays a steel piano. Anyhow, his steel drum performances were popular, and he soon became something of a tutor of the instrument – many performers of steel drums today can thank Brady or one of his students from the 60’s and 70’s for their skills in performing on the instrument. Although mostly performing live outdoors or in special events, Brady got the chance to see his work issued on albums as well. . . . [A] talent scout from Polydor . . . offer[ed] him a record deal. The result was the album Brown Rain, released in 1970. On this effort his steel piano was blended with a psychedelic form of heavy progressive rock . . . . In 1976 he would release another album . . . . Classic Soul . . . . [His] take on the classical works covered on this album to be a fascinating sonic experience.
Jason adds:
He was a sensation in Harlem, the Borscht Belt, The Village and on the streets of NYC during a period of more than 25 years. Many of you saw him playing everything from calypso to pop to rock to Gershwin to Mozart on his “steel piano” while he jingled the bells on his stamping boots around town. He knew a lot of the heavies from that whole period. He is often credited with having created the modern street music scene in the village and with having been responsible for Central Park’s being traffic free on weekends.
https://danaherbert.blogspot.com/2009/04/village-interviews-victor-brady.html
Oh, and Historian tells us:
“Superman” Victor Brady, who was the main headliner at the Cafe Wha, is the one who got Jimi [Hendrix] on the stage, and it is through Brady’s band that Chas Chandler eventually discovered Hendrix at the Wha. Additionally, there was no group called the “Blue Flames” at the time that Jimi went to the Cafe Wha as an unknown performer, begging for a chance at the stage.
https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2009/08/cafe-wha-whys-wheres-whos-and-hows.html
Oh, and Victor himself (I think) wrote in 2009 that:
“I changed Central park and I changed the streets of NY, creating a cultural Renaissance that has continued to this day.” I was looking at the television this morning, and noticed they blocked off 42nd street and made it a pedestrian mall. It is all part of the great chain of events which has taken place since the first day I ventured into Central Park, and the streets of NY. My experience in Central Park, drew such large crowds that eventually, Mayor Lindsay turned Central Park on weekends, from automobile traffic to pedestrian mall.
http://danaherbert.blogspot.com/2009/04/village-interviews-victor-brady.html?m=1
Here is the single version:
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