Summer's End Gathered In The Dampened Grass

Even further back today, with some heavy hitters from 1967 to 1969. Aretha! Beatles! Stones! Marvin! Bowie! Byrds! Monkees! Scott! Jimi! And more, much more.

 

Before I go into that though, a few words about today's photo, which was taken during a visit to Oceanogràfic València on day 2 of the recent Clan K tour. Billed as the largest aquarium in Europe, we spent a full seven or eight hours there and even that wasn't enough. I have mixed feelings about places such as these. I recognise the important conservation work and protection of endangered species. At the same, I feel utterly heartbroken that there are sentient creatures who, no matter how 'big' the space or millions of gallons of water used are still confined and caged. It was simultaneously an enlightening and enervating experience. In an ideal world, places like this wouldn't need to exist.

Back to today's selection, I originally had in mind a relaxed, acoustic heavy set but that kind of went off track as soon as I picked the delightfully unsettling Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong by Kevin Ayers as the opening song. Choosing to follow it up with Aretha Franklin's cover of I Say A Little Prayer and there was no turning back.

 

Most of these songs will be familiar by virtue of being stone cold classics but I've lobbed a few rarities in to spice things up. 

Get Behind Me is lifted from Scott 4, Mr. Engel's first album entirely featuring his own songs and one which I only heard for the first time in 2018. Very, very late to discovering this but wow, what an album.

 

Time And Time Again by The Monkees was a 'lost' song originally recorded for the album Changes but unused and unreleased until the Missing Links compilation in 1988. I first heard it tucked away on the limited edition 2CD of The Definitive Monkees, a 60-track budget price treasure trove released in 2001. Time And Time Again is essentially Davy Jones solo with a team of session musicians. Peter Tork had left at this stage and the three remaining Monkees were recording their own songs separately.

The version of Little Doll by The Stooges featured here is the original mix by John Cale featured as a compare-and-contrast re-release of their eponymous debut album in 2005. Much as a I love the original, there's a charm and grit to these alternate versions too.

 

Dandelion by The Rolling Stones was originally the B-side of We Love You. The original single version featured an outro of the latter A-side, which has been edited from most of it's subsequent compilation appearances, including the one I own. None of that detracts from the song's general brilliance, though. And a mere B-side!!

The Innocence was the studio creation of songwriters Pete Andreoli (Pete Anders) and Vini Poncia, who released a handful of singles and a self-titled album in 1967. Vini co-wrote and appeared on five of Ringo Starr's solo albums in the 1970s and co-wrote Kiss' disco-rock classic, I Was Made For Lovin' You.

The Beatles and David Bowie seemed liked obvious companions and a natural way to close this selection, which ventured way off from my original idea but hey, that was the Sixties man, go with the flow.

More attempts to fake that I have a clue what I'm doing tomorrow. Stay tuned!

 

1) Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong (Album Version By Kevin Ayers & Peter Jenner): Kevin Ayers (1969)

2) I Say A Little Prayer (Album Version By Burt Bacharach & Hal David) (Cover of Dionne Warwick): Aretha Franklin (1968)

3) Get Behind Me (Album Version By John Franz): Scott Walker (1969)

4) Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Album Version By Harvey Fuqua & Johnny Bristol): Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)

5) Time And Time Again ('Changes' Session Outtake): The Monkees (1969)

6) This Wheel's On Fire (Cover of Bob Dylan & The Band): The Byrds (1969)

7) Little Doll (Original John Cale Mix): The Stooges (1969)

8) Come On (Let The Good Times Roll): The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)

9) Dandelion (Single Version By Andrew Loog Oldham) (Edit): The Rolling Stones (1967)

10) All I Do Is Think Of You: The Innocence (1967)

11) Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (Album Version By George Martin): The Beatles (1967)

12) Memory Of A Free Festival (Album Version By Tony Visconti): David Bowie (1969)

 

1967: The Innocence: 10

1967: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: 11

1967: United: 4

1968: Aretha Now: 2 

1968: Electric Ladyland: 8

1969: Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde: 6

1969: Joy Of A Toy: 1

1969: Scott 4: 3

1969: Space Oddity: 12

1988: Missing Links: 5

2005: The Stooges (Expanded Edition): 7

2007: Rolled Gold +: The Very Best Of The Rolling Stones (Expanded Edition): 9

 

Summer's End (45:05) (KF) (Mega)

Psychedelic Sixties

Side 2 of a cassette compilation, released on the Select label in Australia in 1988. Purchased in Perth, Western Australia for a few dollars circa 1990/91.

This is the blurb from the back cover of the cassette cover:

 

It all came together around 1967 - the Gathering of the Tribes and the realisation that rock music was actually rock culture. Musicians, the Young Gods of the Age of Aquarius, identified themselves with the romantic figures of the past - poets, painters, writers, philosophers and mystics. They (and we) truly believed the world could be changed for the better with noble ideologies and free-flowing music. And from this overwhelming optimism emerged a strain of rock unlike any heard before or since; songs employing a new range of terminologies - psychedelia, transcendental meditation, inner consciousness, mind expansion. It was a time that, most certainly, will never come again.

 

Admittedly, I wasn't around for the first era of psychedelic music but even in 1988 most of the above statements were a bit hokey. I can only assume the writer was living in isolation and the sounds of Spacemen 3 and Primal Scream, to give just two examples, had not reached their ears. I'm also guessing that there was a record label edict that the sleevenotes should in no way explicitly mention drugs.

 

As I wrote when I posted Side 1 in December 2021, the track listing had some (to me) odd choices and the connection to psychedelic music seems even more tenuous on this side. 

 

Yellow Balloon by Jan & Dean was the only single released from the album Save For A Rainy Day. Whilst credited to the duo, it was in fact solely Dean Torrence's creation as partner Jan Berry was recovering from severe head injuries incurred from a car crash in April 1966. Things didn't go well for Torrence: Columbia refused to release the album and he was forced to release it on his own label in the US. The single made little impact in the UK or US. Ironically, Yellow Balloon was a greater success in the US when co-writer Gary Zekley recorded new vocals over the original backing track and released it under the band name The Yellow Balloon, scoring a Top 30 hit. A shame as it's a good song. Sunshine pop? Yes. Psychedelic pop? I'm not so sure.

It's a fun compilation though and formed part of my soundtrack to my time travelling around Australia. Nice to rekindle those happy memories during such a dull, dark and wet month in England!

1) Barabajagal: Donovan ft. The Jeff Beck Group, Lesley & Madeleine (1969)

2) Run, Run, Run: The Third Rail (1967)

3) Changes: The Zombies (1968)

4) Yellow Balloon: Jan & Dean (1967)

5) Family Way: Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde

6) Kozmic Blues: Janis Joplin (1969)

7) Renaissance Fair: The Byrds (1967)

8) 1984: Spirit (1969)

Side Two (23:31) (Box) (Mega)

Side One here

Stranger Than Known

Time for The Byrds. Although certain of their songs were the staple of the "Golden Oldie" weekend afternoon slots on Radio 1 & 2, I can't say that I really listened to their music until the late 1990s. 

My then-girlfriend introduced me to a whole raft of jangly indie music and also had a clutch of music that formed the roots and inspiration for much of this. Amongst the CDs was The Byrds Collection, a late '80s, 24-track compilation on the budget price Castle Communications label.

In 1999, I compiled a mixtape, with 16 songs culled from The Byrds Collection on one side, and David Bowie's 1960s songs on the other, again plucked from a bargain CD. I was tempted to recreate and post The Byrds collection here today but instead I've gone for a completely new 16 song selection, split into two sides for your listening pleasure. Only 4 songs appear on both track listings, so I may get around to posting my original mixtape in the future.

Listening back to this selection, I realise that I don't listen to The Byrds nearly enough. Forty five minutes in and I feel uplifted. I'm also pretty sure I cracked a smile of happiness once or twice. The power of music, eh?

Side One

1) Why (1967)

2) Jesus Is Just Alright (Cover of The Art Reynolds Singers) (1969)

3) Ballad Of Easy Rider (1969)

4) I See You (1966)

5) It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Alternate Mix) (Cover of Bob Dylan) (1969)

6) So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star (1967)

7) Hickory Wind (1968)

8) The Times They Are A-Changin' (Cover of Bob Dylan) (1965)

 

Side Two

1) Dolphins' Smile (1968)

2) Chimes Of Freedom (1965)

3) Mr. Spaceman (1966)

4) Renaissance Fair (1967)

5) The World Turns All Around Her (1966)

6) Eight Miles High (1966)

7) Mr. Tambourine Man (Cover of Bob Dylan) (1965)

8) Chestnut Mare (1970)

 

1965: Mr. Tambourine Man: B2, B7

1965: Turn! Turn! Turn!: A8, B5

1966: Fifth Dimension: A4, B3, B6

1967: Younger Than Yesterday: A1, A6, B4

1968: Sweetheart Of The Rodeo: A7

1968: The Notorious Byrd Brothers: B1

1969: Ballad Of Easy Rider: A2, A3 

1970: (Untitled): B8

2001: Sanctuary III: A5

 

Side One (22:16)

Side Two (23:11)

Lay Lady Lay (Ten Times)

In a second nod to Bob Dylan this week, following Desolation Row's inclusion in Sunday's selection, recently the shuffle option on my iPhone has been relentless in offering up Lay Lady Lady, in various incarnations. 

 

To be honest, I had no idea I had so many versions of the song but why be selfish? Here's ten of them, stitched together in one 40-odd minute sequence for your aural pleasure or sonic torture, depending on your opinion of the song to begin with.

The selection starts off with Magnet (aka Norwegian singer-songwriter Even Johansen and not to be confused with this Magnet) joined by Irish singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes on a lush, orchestral version. 

 

Along the way, you get Byrdsian gospel, Ministry's grubby come hither, a soulful take from The Isley Brothers, Melanie's rousing folk and headphone indie from David Kitt, The Flaming Lips and The Dandy Warhols. Oh, and Duran Duran's offering from their frequently teeth-grinding mid-90s tribute album.

The only way to finish of course is with Bob Dylan's original from 1969's Nashville Skyline, a #5 hit in the UK and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA.

1) Lay Lady Lay (Album Version): Magnet ft. Gemma Hayes (2004)

2) Lay Lady Lay: The Byrds (1969)

3) Lay Lady Lay: David Kitt (2007)

4) Lay Lady Lay (Album Version): Ministry (1996)

5) Lay Lady Lay: Duran Duran (1995)

6) Lay Lady Lay (Album Edit): The Isley Brothers (1971)

7) Lay Lady Lay: The Flaming Lips (2021)

8) Lay Lady Lay: Melanie (1972)

9) Lay Lady Lay: The Dandy Warhols (2008)

10) Lay Lady Lay: Bob Dylan (1969)

1969: Lay Lady Lay (7"): 2 

1969: Nashville Skyline: 10

1972: Garden In The City: 8

1976: The Best... Isley Brothers: 6

1995: Thank You: 5

1996: Filth Pig: 4

2004: On Your Side: 1

2007: Misfits Vol. 1: 3

2008: ...Earth To The Dandy Warhols... (Japan bonus tracks edition): 9

2021: Dylan Revisited (Uncut magazine promo CD): 7

Lay Lady Lay (Ten Times) (43:31) (GD) (M)

 

...and if you're a glutton for punishment, I did the same thing with Dylan's Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands last summer.

Love Is The Grooviest Thing Up To Now In The World

Wow, I've been doing this for a year now. I honestly wasn't sure that I'd keep it going but here we are with post #239. Thanks for dropping by and for leaving comments over the past 12 months, it really means a lot.

What better way to celebrate than with side 1 of Psychedelic Sixties, an obscure Australian compilation from 1988 that I picked up on cassette during my year in the land of Oz in 1990/91. I wasn't familiar with most of the songs on the album, apart from maybe Scott Mckenzie and Donovan, though I'd heard of White Rabbit, through the cover by Act (featured here previously). I'd always thought that the song was originally by Jefferson Airplane and officially it is, as their recorded version first hit the charts in 1967. However, The Great Society's live version was performed the previous year, before Grace Slick left the band (and subsequently her husband and bandmate) to join Jefferson Airplane. This earlier live version most likely ended up here for licensing rather than aesthetic reasons, but I like it.

 

I became obsessed by The Peanut Butter Conspiracy song for a while and insisted on sticking it on loads of mixtapes when I got back to the UK. Eight Miles High is probably my favourite song by The Byrds and I love the raucous cover version by Hüsker Dü. Vyt & The World were an Australian band who released four singles before disbanding in 1968. I sourced a copy when researching this post and listened to it for the first time in over a decade.

 

I loved this compilation and played it many, many, many times over the years, until I upgraded from a Walkman to a portable CD player and eventually an iPod. Today's cover is an image of the CD edition from the net, with added 'psychedelic' backdrop. I'll still have the cassette somewhere in the attic, and I'll try to dig it out when I get around to posting side 2. Advance warning: the psychedelic link is even more tenuous on the flip side, as you get Jan & Dean and Chad & Jeremy, but it's still all good.

1) San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair): Scott Mckenzie (1967)

2) Eight Miles High: The Byrds (1966)

3) It's A Happening Thing: The Peanut Butter Conspiracy (1967)

4) Flower Children: Vyt & The World (1967)

5) Omaha: Moby Grape (1967)

6) Mellow Yellow: Donovan (1967)

7) Tighter: Paul Revere & The Raiders (1967)

8) White Rabbit (Live @ The Matrix, San Francisco): The Great Society with Grace Slick (1966)

Side One (26:06) (Box) (Mega)