THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,796) John Kongos — “Confusions About a Goldfish”
From South Africa to Swinging London to . . . fishbowls? Today’s “excellent” (David Wells, liner notes to the CD comp Lavender Popcorn 1966-1969) song asks the timely questions “Does the goldfish in the bowl celebrate Thanksgiving and can he see me?”, which Richie Unterberger calls “[h]eavy musings indeed!” (https://www.allmusic.com/album/confusions-about-a-goldfish-mw0000839143) Well, I’ve been asking those question for years and am glad that JK validated me.
Unterberger adds that Kongos is “sometimes prone to the more excessively over-straining lyricism of the late ’60s, as in [“Confusions”]”. I bet RU wasn’t that dismissive about Pink Floyd musing about lost souls and fishbowls!
Unterberger writes of Confusions About a Goldfish — the LP:
In the late ’60s, a school of performers was emerging in Britain that combined early singer/songwriter rock with pop, and weren’t rooted much in the folk-rock that many early singer/songwriters claimed as their early inspiration. Some of the best-known of those artists were Elton John [see #175, 1,598]; David Bowie [see #9, 75, 464]; and Cat Stevens [see #1,458] there were others who weren’t nearly as famous, such as John Kongos . . . . And there’s some reason for that: as heard on Confusions About a Goldfish (the South African native’s first album after his move to Britain), he wasn’t nearly as distinctive as the aforementioned names. He essays mild, introspective singer/songwriter stuff just this side of wimpy . . . . others are prone to dainty, dated orchestrations that can put this as close to sentimental pop as serious singer/songwriting. It’s closer to early John early Bowie . . . .
https://www.allmusic.com/album/confusions-about-a-goldfish-mw0000839143
Andy Kellman gives some history:
Before scoring a handful of minor hits in the U.K. in the late ’60s and early ’70s, John Kongos had been the leader behind Johnny Kongos and the G-Men, a prolific beat group from Johannesburg, South Africa that frequently appeared on that country’s charts during the first half of the ’60s. In 1966, Kongos and a number of his associates relocated to London and cut a 1967 single as Floribunda Rose for Piccadilly. [It] eventually morphed into Scrugg [see #1,596] a psychedelic pop band that released a trio of singles for Pye prior to their 1969 breakup. “I Wish I Was Five,” [see #1,596] a 1968 B-side, gained the most attention. Upon Scrugg’s split, Kongos went solo and released a handful of records, including the albums Confusions About a Goldfish, John Kongos, and Tokoloshe Man. The 1971 single “He’s Gonna Step on You Again” registered on the charts in the U.K. and the U.S.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-kongos-mn0000232679#biography
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 — now over 1,200 songs. 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😊 