THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,969) The Aquarians — “The Aquarians”
The Beatles weren’t the only ones to shout “Yeah, yeah, yeah”! Here is primo hippie Latin jazz, “Californian hippie sunshine zodiac jazz pop-psych” (L0K3, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHLTBUXcIn0), from an LP of “beautiful bossa/latin jazz . . . with psych pop elements and superb female/male vocal harmonies . . . [with] a groovy hippy vibe with fantastic piano, vibraphone and flute solos, [and] percussion breaks” (Popsike.com, https://www.popsike.com/php/detaildata.php?itemnr=4019883664/) Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!
Dusty Grooves says:
[The LP — Jungle Grass — is] a groovy batch of bouncy, jumpy cuts[,] one of the best groovers to come out of the late 60’s LA studio scene. It’s Latiny, it’s jazzy, and it’s got some nice Now Sound moments, like cool vocal choruses and groovy vibes (played by Bobby Hutcherson). The great Vladmir Vasiliev put this project together.
https://www.dustygroove.com/item/7226/Aquarians:Jungle-Grass
Brian Whitener tells us of the Aquarians:
Part of the strange California zodiac pop funk scene, the Aquarians took astrology rock in several interesting and generally unexplored directions. While primarily the brainchild of composer, arranger, and pianist Vladimir Vassilieff, the Aquarians were actually a supergroup of talented jazz musicians. Featuring Stan Gilbert, a much in-demand bassist at the time, and the incomparable Afro-Cuban percussion of Francisco Aguabella, the Aquarians blended a one love hippie philosophy with smooth, Latin-tinged jazz. Their first, and only, album, Jungle Grass sounds close to related astrology rockers Friends of Distinction (which also featured Stan Gilbert) and the 5th Dimension. While evidencing a nominal interest in astrology, the tracks on Jungle Grass are, at the core, jazz with a heavy Afro-Cuban (evident in the percussion), and possibly a Brazilian Tropicalia (evident in the vocals), influence. On an album packed with talent, there are few solos and no showboating — the performance of each member is subservient to the groove.
Gerard Cerdan (“Mightygroove”) adds:
[The Aquarians were] mastermined by pianist, composer, Latin Music performer Vladimir Vassilieff Born in Belgium to Russian parents, Mr. Vassilieff moved with his family to Canada in 1958 and later came to the United States. Vassilieff appeared with such entertainers as Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Pete Fountain, Ramsey Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Rudy Vallee and Charo. The Aquarians are: Joe Pass (Guitar), Dave MacKay (Vocals), Francisco Aguabella (Conga drums & Percussion), Stanley Gilbert (Bass), Carl Lott (Drums), Joe Roccisano (flute, alto flute & sax (Alto), Vladimir Vassilieff (Piano), The Gemini Twins-(vocal) Vicky Hamilton (voice) Lynn Blessing (vibes); Stan Gilbert, Al Mckibbon (bass), featuring Bobby Hutcherson (vibes).
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