Refracted Candy Rainbow! A pop psych collection that will help you hear color!

"I painted the picture, and in the colors the rhythm of the music quivers. I painted the colors I saw."
...  EDVARD MUNCH

“Color provokes a psychic vibration. Color hides a power still unknown but real, which acts on every part of the human body.”
...  WASSILY KANDINSKY


1    Green • KEN NORDINE
Ken Nordine is a Lane Tech and University of Chicago graduate who was known for his distinctive voice, which permeated pop culture in tv and movie ads as well as radio commercials. He  recorded a series of spoken jazz recordings throughout the 50’s and 60’s which ranged from the sublime to the surreal. Some even bordered on disturbing, though I haven't personally experienced one of those.

In 1966, the Fuller Paint company approached Nordine to record a series of radio commercials. Utilizing his docile tones, the narrator would create a life story for an array of colors. Musician Dick Campbell (Dick Campbell Sings Where It’s At) provided the instrumental background while Nordine created the off beat, humorous stories. The results were impressive enough to coax Philips Records to release an entire LP of kaleidoscopic visions:  Colors: A Sensuous Listening Experience (1966).

Green

Watch Ken Nordine work his color magic with Levi's here



2    Vegetable Man • PINK FLOYD
Originally released in 2016 (yes, 2016!), “Vegetable Man” was recorded in early October 1967 and intended as the flip side for the band’s third single “Scream Thy Last Scream”. Likewise, the song was to appear on the second LP Saucerful of Secrets. “Apples and Oranges” was released instead.

As time slipped by, the band was apparently resistant to allowing either “Vegetable Man” or “Scream Thy Last Scream” to see the light of day. Per their former manager Peter Jenner, "I always thought they should be put out. I knew that Roger would never let them out, or Dave. They somehow felt they were a bit indecent, like putting out nude pictures of a famous actress. But I thought they were good songs and great pieces of art. They're disturbing, and not a lot of fun, but they're some of Syd's finest work – though God knows, I wouldn't wish anyone to go through what he's gone through to get to those songs. They're like Van Gogh." They did perform it on the BBC, quite impressively I might add, regrettably I have not found a nice sounding copy of that.

Pupils dilated, one can never accuse the Floyds of not practicing what they preach.

Vegetable Man

Dick Clark wants to talk about food with Pink Floyd, but not veggies here



3    Just Won’t Be That Way • GURUS
The Guru’s Are HEAR! was scheduled for release by United Artists in March of 1967 and the usual promo press hoopla preceded the forthcoming event.  Advertisements in Billboard and Cashbox heralded “The whole swingin’ world’s been talking about The Gurus’ new 67 sound!”.  Over at Hullabaloo magazine, they announced the Gurus were “a new group with a new sound that’s as modern as today’s astronautical adventures. These far-out five combine an Oriental and Middle Eastern sound with hard rock and roll. And the result is powerful pop music, the kind that makes you want to dance.” Just a few weeks before release, the suits at UA axed the project.

The Gurus was fronted by vocalist John Lieto, who brings a wonderful soul flavor to the rambunctious psych-raga proceedings. Rounding out the rest of the band are Pete ‘Blackwood’ Smith (lead guitar), Medulla Oblongata and Victor ‘Vittorio’ King (drums), and Jonathan Talbot (bass). The entire LP, plus five bonus tracks, were eventually released by Sundazed in 2003. Regrettably, nothing rose to the level of this track, which is actually a cover of the B-side of The Critters 1966 hit “Mr. Dieingly Says”.

Just Won’t Be That Way

4    Violets of Dawn • ROBBS
“Violets of Dawn” (originally just titled “Dawn”) was composed by Eric Andersen back in mid 1965. Opening with the phrase “In blindfold wonderments enchantment, you can lift my wings softly to flight” and closing with “Come watch the no-colors fade blazing into petal sprays of violets of dawn”… you can see why I categorize this as pop psych.

They began their musical career as Robby & the Robins, and as mentioned on Euphonious Voyage 6, they eventually changed their names to The Robbs and recorded a slew of singles for Mercury Records. When not appearing as the house band on Dick Clark’s Where The Action Is, they recorded as the backing group for Del Shannon, Gene Pitney, Bobby Vinton, and others. Success may have initially eluded our precocious tykes, however their later careers proved quite fruitful, producing countless platinum artists: Rod “I’m Not Even Close To Sexy” Stewart, John Cougar Mellencamp, Alice Cooper, and Steely Dan (yawn).

Channeling his inner Davy Jones, Joe Robb considers an exclusively percussive career.

Violets of Dawn

5    Gone • FACTORY
The Souvenir Badge Factory was a Surrey-based trio (Ian Oates, Bill MacLeod and Jack Brand) who would become legends for their hyper psych-charged classic “Path Through The Forest”. That MGM juggernaut, released in October ’68, was composed by Clifford T Ward and had the honor of being on John Peel’s list of all time classics. Yes, it really is that good.

John Pantry was the studio engineer who resided over the cool audio hi-jinks. In fact, there was an even more “way out” version that included trippy audio effects but the MGM overlords dismissed that version. The flip side of the highly honored single was a cover of the Paul Revere & The Raiders track “Gone” which appeared on the US group’s Revolution LP. If you find an original copy of the Factory single, hang on to it… babies are sold for less on the black market.

Gone

6    Castaway Of Captain Haze • GRAINS OF SAND
This is not the same band who put out the vibrant stomper “She Needs Me” on Valliant Records. This outfit called Pittsburgh home and committed this track to wax in 1967. Almost zero is known about the group, which most likely included Bob Wyler (composer of both sides of their American Music Makers single) and Tony Pierce. The flip-side "Passing Through the Night,” was reportedly a hit in Ontario, Canada.

Castaway Of Captain Haze

7    This Happiness Feeling • TALLIFER GROUP
From what I gather, the Tallifer Group are from Sydney, Australia  Their sole outing on Philips was the 45 "This Happiness Feeling / Fansifrea" released in October 1968. T.R. Brinstead composed both sides and production is credited to June Productions. ”This Happiness Feeling" just reached into the Top 40 in Melbourne. Then they disappeared faster than a Tasmanian devil.

This Happiness Feeling

8    Fuchsia • KEN NORDINE
Not sure what Nordine has against Fuchsia, but clearly he has an ax to grind.

Fuchsia

9    Resurrections • AEROVONS
The St. Louis quartet were huge Beatles fans, and famously rejected a Capitol records contract in hopes of being signed to Apple Records. According to album engineer Alan Parsons, “The buzz around Abbey Road was that these guys are really good. I remember thinking, 'My God, they really have a chance to be the next Beatles.' Everybody at the label thought that."

Unfortunately for the band, group tensions and personal matters caused the Aerovons to slowly fall apart. EMI was also concerned about the hefty cost of their first LP and the lack of interest expressed by DJ’s for the first single “Train”. As a result, EMI deep-sixed the album, which would remain in the can till 2003.

Concentrating deeply on where it all went wrong, the Aerovons strike a decidedly gothic tone

Resurrections

10    Grade 3 Section 2 • SASHA CARO
Caro was born in Rangoon then emigrated to the UK with the Japanese invasion of Burma. His early compositions were covered by the Graham Bond Organization and Hamilton & The Movement. In 1965, recording under the name of Rick Minas, he released a modestly painful folk rock answer song to “Eve of Destruction” titled “Well I Want No Part of It”. You won't either, I promise.

Cat Stevens then enters the picture as his producer in the Summer of Love and assists Caro with his first release “Grade 3 Section 2” (Decca Records October 1967). Far more whimsical than his folk rock outing, “Grade 3” is a joyous pop psych gem backed by another mild pop psych treat “Little Maid’s Song”. Reportedly, after his two singles on Decca failed, Caro became an accountant.

Grade 3 Section 2

11    Musical Mutiny (MOVIE PROMO)
The scene: Pirate World Amusement Park. The Director: Barry Mahon, creator of Oscar-worthy works including Fanny Hill Meets Dr. Erotico, The Diary of Knockers McCalla and Instant Orgy. The Stars: A strung out Janis Joplin wanna-be, a strung out Joan Biaz wanna-be, a strung out Jefferson Airplane wanna-be, a strung out Ginger Baker wanna-be and Iron Butterfly, who undoubtedly wanna-be anywhere else but there.

Musical Mutiny (MOVIE PROMO)

Don't be left out of the "In Thing" here



12    Yo Fui El Mejor • LOS PASOS
This is the flip side of The Pasos “Voces De Otros Mundos” single from 1968 (featured on Euphonious Voyage 5). The group was put together by French producer Alain Milhaud, then abandoned when Alain decided to work full time with Los Bravos. After recording their self-titled LP in 1967, the group seemed focused on singles, releasing almost a dozen in the following three years. At some point in 1968, they found time to appear in the movie Long Play (1968 Javier Setó).

Yo Fui El Mejor

13    One Hour Cleaners • BLUE THINGS
They were lucky enough to score producer Felton Jarvis – Elvis the Pelvis's prod guy. Jarvis stuck around for four more singles but nothing really came of it. “One Hour Cleaners” (the b-side of “Orange Rooftop of Your Mind”), brazenly steals the “Taxman” riff from the Beatles and throws in some nice sound effects here and there. Not terribly outrageous, though probably pretty out there for Kansas, where they were based. Apparently they were regulars in Lawrence Kansas, performing at The Red Dog Inn.

One Hour Cleaners

14    Deep Water • GRAPEFRUIT
They were anointed by the Fab Four, who took the citrus combo under their wing at Apple Publishing. Grapefruit was founded by Alex Young (aka George Alexander), the elder brother of George Young of The Easybeats. Their second LP Deep Water was released on RCA in 1969 and while not a blockbuster, the single did crack the German Top 10. It’s a nice example of blue-eyed soul psych.

Still gigging part-time at the King Arthur's Renaissance Faire, Ringo Starr arrives just in time to pose for a group photo with Grapefruit.

Deep Water

Right... we got it live... well, kind of. Here.



15    The Love-Ins (MOVIE PROMO)
Two super-hip university students get the boot by administration officials who are unhappy about the couple’s enterprising off campus protest paper. As an act of sympathy, professor Dr. Jonathon Barnett quits and joins the hippies. Makes sense. Eventually, the doc becomes a prominent advocate of LSD and the audience figures out this is the Timothy Leary Story. There are acid trips, assassinations, double crosses and abortions, so it’s not a complete snore. Don’t miss the jaw-dropping “Little Alice” song 38 minutes into the film… it’s got to be the inspiration for Dick Shawn’s “Love Power” in Mel Brook’s The Producers. Next up for director Arthur Dreifuss… Riot On The Sunset Strip.

The Love-Ins (MOVIE PROMO)

The trailer is here!



16    White Collar Worker • MINISTRY OF SOUND
Ministry of Sound was a mix of beat and pop psych from 1966. This was the only single they released, though they had two LP’s worth of material which would surface in 2005. Micky Keen, a prominent studio musician, is on lead vocal and Robin Shaw, who is playing the echo heavy base, ended up in The Flowerpot Men. It is also rumored Steve Priest (later of glam band Sweet)  contributed to the background vocals. It's a ballroom blitz!

White Collar Worker

17    Spring Came Early This Year • TEDDY & THE PANDAS
Early Boston Sound from Beantown. They came to the nation’s attention with the Coristine Records single “Once Upon A Time” which was picked up for national distribution by Don Costa's Musicor label. They toured as part of a Musicor package with Gene Pitney and then found themselves supporting The Dave Clark Five, Paul Revere & The Raiders and The Beach Boys.

By 1968, they were over at Tower Records, where pop psych was in full bloom. Though the band may not have been enthusiastic about the metamorphosis of their sound, which their website implies, the LP Basic Magnetism benefits from the change.

The industrious Teddy & The Pandas figured their Badminton Club yearbook picture could also be used for band promotions. A bad call.

Spring Came Early This Year

18    Puce • KEN NORDINE

Puce

19    Holdfeny ’69 • ILLÉS
The band's name was listed as Illes Zenekar on this 1968 mono single from Hungary. It failed to appear on either the 1968 LP Nehéz Az Út or 1969’s Illések És Pofonok , which is surprising as it is the a-side on the record. Definitely a chipper, pop psych treat.

Not feeling fresh, Igor decided to sit adjacent to the group on band photo day.

Holdfeny ’69

20    The Wall • NAKED TRUTH
It starts with a wonderful, ominous dreamlike quality then gestates into a catchy full throttle chorus. This treat came out in February 1969, and is a remake of the song by the South London outfit Fruit Machine. It is suggested that this is in fact Tony Burrows (who also recorded in The Flowerpot Men, Edison Lighthouse, First Class and The Pipkins). It might be. There is a relationship between the band and "The Wall" composer John Carter (who also penned the Ministry of Sound’s “White Collar Worker”).

The Wall

21    Chartreuse • KEN NORDINE

Chartreuse

22    Music • KALEIDOSCOPE
This is quite a psychedelic avalanche for Kaleidoscope with an all-out phasers blasting onslaught at the conclusion. A true psychedelic freakout. This is from their second LP Faintly Blowing. Both of their original long player releases are worth a fortune. Sunbeam put out a sweet re-release of Faintly Blowing that includes a great remaster encased in wonderful packaging that includes a colorful multipage booklet. As I have said before, the band almost never strays from brilliance. There may not be another group that more deserves the deluxe box set treatment than Kaleidoscope. And from what I understand, Sonic Boom (of Spacemen 3) is working on a box set of their complete collection.

It's hard to tour when one of your members has homework and an 8 PM curfew

Music

They are just so effing great... a tv performance for "Flight". Here!

Sound Files Are Hear!

I painted the picture, and in the colors the rhythm of the music quivers. I painted the colors I saw. Edvard Munch
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/edvard_munch_370173?src=t_colors

I painted the picture, and in the colors the rhythm of the music quivers. I painted the colors I saw. Edvard Munch
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/edvard_munch_370173?src=t_colors

I painted the picture, and in the colors the rhythm of the music quivers. I painted the colors I saw. Edvard Munch
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/edvard_munch_370173?src=t_colors