SIDEWALK SKIPPER BAND - STRAWBERRY TUESDAY / CYNTHIA AT THE GARDEN, MARCH 1968

Here are two slices of top shelf pop-psych that I'm very happy to have in my record stash.  As previously mentioned the Sidewalk Skipper Band hailed from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and cut two 45's for capitol in early 1968, this being the first released in March of that year.  The hard driving 'Strawberry Tuesday' is absolutely killer and has been featured in a few compilations over the years.  I have to mention the explosive drumming in the song as being standout for me among the rest of the extremely well crafted arrangement.  'Cynthia At The Garden' is another terrific piece of pop song craft with more fantastic drumming, great vocals and a nice touch of harpsichord.  The image below was taken from the liner notes of the Now Sounds Book A Trip CD, a resumé of sorts for the SSB.  Pure gold!

SIDEWALK SKIPPER BAND - SEVENTEENTH SUMMER / (WOULD YOU BELIEVE) IT'S RAINING FLOWERS IN MY HOUSE, MAY 1968

This record by Milwaukee, Wisconsin natives The Sidewalk Skipper Band was released in May 1968, a few months after their first Capitol Single, the terrific 'Strawberry Tuesday' b/w 'Cynthia At The Garden'.  Although not as good as the aforementioned release it is still quite charming.  'Seventeenth Summer' is a tasteful psych-free vocal number complete with 'seagull and shore' sound effects.  Apparently The Lettermen were interested in recording the song, but the Sidewalk Skipper's refused and released the single themselves.  '(Would You Believe) It's Raining Flowers In My House' is as goofy as it sounds, and is quite the counterpart to the 'mature' sounding 'Seventeenth Summer'.  Goofy it may be, but it is quite a fun and catchy pop song.  Both of the Sidewalk Skipper band's Capitol singles can be found on the previously mentioned Book A Trip compilation (they used the previously unreleased stereo mixes of 'Seventeenth Summer' and 'It's Raining Flowers').