THE OPTICAL SOUND #2: SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE SINGLES (1967-69)

TRACKLIST:
01 "THAT SAME OLD FAT MAN" SMASH 2117 / SEPT '67
02 "I FEEL LOVED" SMASH 2117 / SEPT '67
03 "FAIRY TALES CAN COME TRUE (HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT LUCY)" SMASH 2157 / JUNE '68
04 "SU SU" SMASH 2157 / JUNE '68
05 "THE MARCH OF THE JINGLE JANGLE PEOPLE" SMASH 2179 / AUG '68
06 "BRING ME BACK A LITTLE WATER" SMASH 2179 / AUG '68
07 "SOPHIA" SMASH 2203 / JAN '69
08 "HOLD THE NIGHT" SMASH 2203 / JAN '69
09 "THE DAY LORRAINE CAME DOWN" SMASH 2218 / APRIL '69
10 "EVERYBODY LAUGHED" SMASH 2218 / APRIL '69

THE OPTICAL SOUND: EPISODE 1

 

TRACKLIST:
01 THE CRYAN' SHAMES  "SUGAR AND SPICE" (JUN '66 A-SIDE SINGLE)
02 THE CRYAN' SHAMES  "BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANAC" (JUN '66 B-SIDE SINGLE)
03 SAGITTARIUS "VIRGO" (AUG '67 B-SIDE SINGLE)
04 SAGITTARIUS "HOTEL INDISCREET" (AUG '67 A-SIDE SINGLE)
05 JEFFERSON AIRPLANE "RUNNIN' ROUND THIS WORLD" (FEB '66 B-SIDE SINGLE)
06 JEFFERSON AIRPLANE "IT'S NO SECRET" (FEB '66 A-SIDE SINGLE)
07 SAN FRANSISCO EARTHQUAKE "SOPHIA" (JAN '69 A-SIDE SINGLE)
08 SAN FRANSISCO EARTHQUAKE "HOLD THE NIGHT" (JAN '69 B-SIDE SINGLE)
09 NEIGHB'RHOOD CHILDR'N "I WANT ACTION" (JUL '68 B-SIDE SINGLE)
10 NEIGHB'RHOOD CHILDR'N "BEHOLD THE LILIES" (JUL '68 A-SIDE SINGLE)
11 GENE CLARK "I THINK I'M GONNA FEEL BETTER" (JAN '67 MONO LP) 
12 THE APPLETREE THEATRE "HIGHTOWER SQUARE" (NOV '67 A-SIDE SINGLE)
13 THE APPLETREE THEATRE "WHO DO I THINK I AM" (NOV '67 B-SIDE SINGLE)

SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE - FAIRY TALES CAN COME TRUE (HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT LUCY) / SU SU, JUNE 1968

Here we have another delightful single from Kenny Young's 'tinkertoying' San Francisco Earthquake.  'Fairytales Can Come True' is a lightweight bouncy pop ditty which is worthy enough to have had a compilation named after it.  The lyrics are fairly disposable, but it's a nicely arranged tune with multiple parts and variety of instrumentation to keep things interesting.

The flip 'Su Su' evokes a sort of spoken word dictation from Mr. Young concerning a fascination with one Su Su.  Once again the lyrics can be less than impressive, but another nicely arranged backing track with some nice bits of lead flute and other assorted implements make this one a keeper.

I especially enjoy the odd pink promo label on my copy which compliments the music quite nicely...  Both tunes will be featured in an upcoming Drifting Radio Broadcast.

SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE - MARCH OF THE JINGLE JANGLE PEOPLE / BRING ME BACK A LITTLE WATER, AUGUST 1968

Yesterday marked the beginning of August, and things started off rather splendid for me with an extremely fruitful trip to the record shop.  I picked up a handful of gems for a nice price, among them was this 45 by the San Francisco Earthquake.

The San Francisco Earthquake released several 45's on Smash from late 1967 and into '69 that don't seem to get much attention.  Apparently songwriter Kenny Young was the band, and it's assumed he was backed with some session musicians while crafting these pop-psych delights.  Kenny Young is a man with a vast musical career and can be most easily recognized as co-writer of 'Under The Boardwalk' .  Check out a brief interview with him here.

As for the record at hand, 'March Of The Jingle Jangle People' is one of those tunes where it only takes 5 seconds into the song to realize you've got a winner.  The flute and sitar intro leads into an eastern flavored guitar line and lyrics describing a 'happy finger cymbal snappin' day'.  Fan-fuckin'-tastic.  The song is a 'two-thirty punchbowl' filled to the brim with what seems to be every damn thing they had laying around in the studio.  It's the sound of all of the coolest pop song implements leftover from '67 that's for sure.  I can't believe this tune isn't more well known.

The flip side, 'Bring Me Back A Little Water', is an acoustic guitar based song that is not quite as happening, but it's still a nice listen with some interesting percussion and a slight country vibe.