Blu-Erebus — “Willowgreen”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 16, 2025

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

1,816) Blue-erebus — “Willowgreen”

From ’67’s killer garage of “Thoughts of a Madman” (see #1,268) to ’68’s gentle and whimsical pop psych of “Willowgreen” — what a difference a year made in 1960s’ Mount Airy, North Carolina!

The Nomads’ line-up consisted of “Larry Deatherage (vocals), Bruce Evans (lead guitar and vocals), Gary Beeson (rhythm guitar and keyboards), Jerry Martin (bass and vocals) and Mike Badgett (drums)”. (Bayard, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/the-nomads/thoughts-of-a-madman-from-zero-down/) “By 1968 the band had changed name to Blu-Erebus and, in keeping with the times, put out a more psychedelic single ‘Willowgreen/Plastic Year’”. (Cosmic Mind at Play, https://cosmicmindatplay.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/classic-singles-15-the-nomads-thoughts-of-a-madman-from-zero-down-1966/) On the Flip-Side notes that “the boys scattered to the usual spots — college and Vietnam”. (On the Flip-Side, https://ontheflip-side.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-south-spotlight-nomads-thoughts-of.html?m=1)

Larry Deatherage tells us that “Willowgreen” is “[a] somewhat psychedelic song Bruce and I wrote with a great musical intro created by our drummer Mike Badgett.” (Larrydeatherage-de4vo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFEQzrkGCS0)

Talking of Mount Airy:

[The] rural town [of Mount Airy] is perhaps best known for being the home to one Mr. Andy Griffith. The town even claims that Mount Airy was the inspiration for Griffith’s fictional town, Mayberry. That may be, but Aunt Bee and Floyd The Barber never rocked like th[is] primal band . . . .

http://ontheflip-side.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-south-spotlight-nomads-thoughts-of.html?m=1

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