SAGITTARIUS - HOTEL INDISCREET / VIRGO, AUGUST 1967

I picked this one up mainly for the Gary Usher instrumental flip 'Virgo', but the single version of 'Hotel Indiscreet' is a creature all of it's own.  This was the follow up single to the masterful all time fave 'My World Fell Down', and in similar fashion the 45 single version contains a bizarre midway passage of spoken word and noise rendering it useless in the commercial world.  The album version of 'Hotel Indiscreet' would omit this segment (performed in part with then recent Columbia signees The Firesign Theater) which leaves you with a perfect pop nugget featuring the glimmering voice of Curt Boettcher.  I prefer the album version, but the single is entertaining nonetheless.  You can hear both sides of this 45 in their original mono glory on my OPTICAL SOUND podcast.

THE BYRDS - PREFLYTE (TOGETHER RECORDS)

Preflyte has been released in many incarnations over the years, but the original Together Records release from 1969 is a special occasion.  In fact, this post is just as much highlighting the label as the music within.

Together Records was formed in the early months of 1969 by Gary Usher, Curt Boettcher and Keith Olsen.  Gary Usher had just been fired from his position at Columbia Records and was looking to start a 'boutique' label where he and a select group of friends could exercise complete artistic freedom.  Although the label folded rather quickly they started off on the right track with a few first rate releases.  First of all just look at that beautiful label!  The unique design which was an original drawing by artist Keita Colten is worth the price of admission alone.

Preflyte was the first album released on Together in the summer of 1969, a time when Roger McGuinn was the only original member left in The Byrds.  It featured 11 tracks recorded at World Pacific Studios in 1964 by the original lineup, the majority of them being Gene Clark originals.  The groups early folk leanings really radiate on such notable tracks as 'You Showed Me' which became a big hit for the Turtles in 1969.  Early recordings of favorites like 'You Won't Have To Cry' and 'I Knew I'd Want You' shine a new light upon the greatness of their final polished incarnations.  Although they were still finding their definitive sound this set of songs creates a cohesive statement which is enjoyable all the way through.  Above I have included an excerpt from liner notes written by Billy James, a publicist who wrote the sleeve notes for the Mr. Tambourine Man album.  Choice words indeed...

Billboard Ad August 23, 1969

THE PEANUT BUTTER CONSPIRACY - THE PEANUT BUTTER CONSPIRACY IS SPREADING, APRIL 1967

'LOVE IS THE GROOVIEST THING UP 'TILL NOW IN THE WORLD'

Instead of chiming in with my own unorganized thoughts about this fabulous record I have transcribed the 'custom' liner notes handwritten on the inner sleeve of my unique copy by a previous unknown owner.  The Peanut Butter Conspiracy's debut album was released in March of 1967, produced by the great Gary Usher and is most definitely A HAPPENING THING.

YA WANT FLOWER POWER?  HERE IT IS, FROM 1967!!!

What I’m surprised by is that all the stuff, even the big hit single is ORIGINAL material.  While I cringe at the word “GROOVY” (the word long went the way of ‘Daddy-O’) this group can rock out and then sing it pretty too… one nice trademark of flower power bands was that they had a soft lyrical side too.  So while “It’s Happening” blasts off, “Then Came Love” is reminiscent of softer Mama’s and The Papa’s type material.  Songs like “Twice Is Life” sort of echo the Byrds… So really, this band fits right in with the Byrds, We Five, Jefferson Airplane, and perhaps even Sweetwater (before Sweetwater’s lead singers accident, that is)…  Well, OK, “Second Hand Man” was written by someone not in the band… It’s a friendly little folkie toe-tapper.  Back when this LP came out, record companies were signing up everyone… and from what I can tell, a lot of bands had a ‘folk’ influence before things got really heavy…  Good album coordination too… Lots of variety.  “You Can’t Be Found” rips out, sorta like the Seeds “Pushin Too Hard”… really, this album is a real period piece.  Sure this was a LESSER band but this record is nothing to be ashamed of, and is probably how a LOT of bands in that area sounded like way back when.  Folk, British invasion, and even some country were all interwoven by bands of that time.  “Why Did I Get So High” is very British in approach, with a cute little Jane… and she is “high” on Love by the way… Maybe this album tries a bit hard to be ‘hip’ but this WAS the climate way back when.  “Dark On You Now” is a smooth fast-paced number, while “Market Place” is weird in vocal and lyrical approach (hey, the hippies gathered in the market place didn’t they?)  So this song must be a direct reflection of the times?  “You Should Know” almost sounds like the Seekers turned up a notch… and it then shifts tempo for a bit of Jazzy guitar – so this is a fairly talented band!  Also the chick doesn’t sing ‘lead’ on every song.  “The Most Up Till Now” for instance, so the group can change and weave their sound.  This album is much more real than I thought it would be – I’m pleasantly surprised… and “You Took Too Much” closes the album harmoniously.  Not bad, not bad. And ‘tasty’ too.  They don’t ‘spread’ it on ‘too thick’ (groan!)
6/09/01

SAGITTARIUS - MY WORLD FELL DOWN, MAY 1967

'WISH I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WINTER'

THE BYRDS - YOUNGER THAN YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 1967

I recently rescued this copy of the critical BYRDS album Younger Than Yesterday from one of the local scrap bins, reason being it's the MONO version which I had never heard in its entirety.  With a little cleaning up it sounds pretty remarkable considering the vinyl looks like it was stored in between two pieces of fine grit sandpaper.  Currently it finds itself glued to my turntable.