The Music Machine was an American Garage rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1966.
Fronted by chief songwriter and lead vocalist Sean Bonniwell, the band cultivated a characteristically dark and rebellious image reflected in an untamed musical approach. Sometimes it made use of distorted guitar lines and hallucinogenic organ parts, punctuated by Bonniwell's distinctively throaty vocals. Although they managed to attain national chart success only briefly with two singles, the Music Machine is today considered by many critics to be one of the groundbreaking acts of the 1960s.
As the folk music craze died out, Bonniwell sought to create music with "fuzz and fangs." In 1965, he formed a trio called The Ragamuffins, which quickly grew into The Music Machine.
Most famous for "Talk Talk," a Top 20 single from 1966 that was one of the most manic '60s
garage-punk hits, the Music Machine had much more depth and songwriting talent than the typical one-hit wonders of the day. Lead singer and songwriter Sean Bonniwell's strangled lyrics and dark, verbose vision paced the group's wiry psychedelic guitar lines and ominous, minor-key Farfisa organ. The San Jose, California-born Bonniwell had been inspired to form his first group in high school in the late '50s after hearing "Only You" by the Platters.
Their style is now recognized as a pioneering force in proto-punk; yet within a relatively short period of time, they began to employ more complex lyrical and instrumental arrangements that went beyond the
typical garage band format. In 1965, the band came together as a folk rock trio known as the Raggamuffins, before expanding to the quintet that was later rechristened the Music Machine. The group was known for their style of dress, clothing themselves in all-black attire. In 1966, the Music Machine was signed to Original Sound, and released its first single "Talk Talk" in the latter half of the year, with it reaching the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Their debut album (Turn On) The Music Machine and the moderate hit "The People in Me" followed. The band's original lineup fragmented in late 1967 after managerial and financial disputes. Bonniwell reassembled the group under the name The Bonniwell Music Machine. In 1968, a second album, The Bonniwell Music Machine appeared, but the group disbanded in early 1969.
"Talk Talk" and "Come on In", which was initially going to be the A-side for the group's debut single. Bonniwell had composed "Talk Talk" a year prior to forming the band, and the studio time was marked by the Music Machine's collective input aimed toward tightening the structure of its arrangements, including the two-note fuzz guitar riffs and Edgar's precise drumming technique.
By virtue of the group's dedication to rehearsal, recording sessions concluded with the Music Machine requiring only three takes to complete the two songs. Though the band was satisfied with the acetate to "Come on In", the members were convinced "Talk Talk" would propel them into the national charts.
"Talk Talk" was released on September 10, 1966, on Original Sound, and rose to number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number 21 on Cashbox and number 18 on Record World. The
song's relatively short time-length—a mere one minute and 56 seconds—made "Talk Talk" a favorable staple on Top 40 radio and its competing underground FM stations. The Music Machine's hit was arguably the most radical single to appear on mainstream broadcasting in 1966, the phenomenon described by music historian Richie Unterberger as a "rally cry to social alienation with a mixture of sarcasm, rebellion, self-pity, and paranoia".
Indeed, Bonniwell's progressive lyrics and arrangements have been credited with influencing the Doors and Iron Butterfly, as well as future punk bands. After the single's release, the Music Machine embarked on a grueling three-month tour across the U.S., packaged with the Beach Boys, Question Mark and the Mysterians, and Clyde McPhatter. Immediately after (Turn On) The Music Machine was released, the band left for another U.S. tour, despite pleas by the group to arrange an appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival.
In May 1967, the original lineup recorded together for the final time, completing "Astrologically
Incompatible", "Talk Me Down", and "The Day Today". One problem that led to the band's first breakup was the Music Machine name was actually owned by Ross, as a part of their production deal, awarding the group little to no royalties. Bonniwell formed a new band, rechristened The Bonniwell Music Machine, with session musicians Ed Jones on bass guitar, Harry Garfield on organ, Alan Wisdom on lead guitar, and Jerry Harris on drums.
In March 1967, Bonniwell and Ross ushered in the new lineup at United Western Recorders to record
the second album The Bonniwell Music Machine. On February 10, 1968, The Bonniwell Music Machine was released with little commercial success.[25] Consequently, the Bonniwell Music Machine was largely forgotten by the general public and the second lineup fragmented in July 1968. Following the album's release, Bonniwell departed on what he called his "westernized guru era"—studying eastern mysticism and practicing meditation and vegetarianism.
Studio albums
(Turn On) The Music Machine (1966)
The Bonniwell Music Machine (1968)
TURN ON 1966 (REMASTERED 2007)
The Music Machine – Turn On
Label: Repertoire Records – REP 5094
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Mono, Digipak
Country: Germany
Released: 2007
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock, Pop Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Stereo Album
01. Talk Talk 1:59
02. Trouble 2:15
03. Cherry Cherry (Written-By – Neil Diamond) 3:14
04. Taxman (Written-By – George Harrison) 2:36
05. Some Other Drum 2:34
06. Masculine Intuition 2:08
07. The People In Me 3:00
08. See See Rider (Written-By – Ma Rainey) 2:34
09. Wrong 2:19
10. 96 Tears (Written-By – Robert Martinez) 2:19
11. Come On In 2:56
12. Hey Joe (Written-By – Billy Roberts) 4:19
Mono Album
13. Talk Talk 1:59
14. Trouble 2:15
15. Cherry Cherry (Written-By – Neil Diamond) 3:15
16. Taxman (Written-By – George Harrison) 2:37
17. Some Other Drum 2:35
18. Masculine Intuition 2:11
19. The People In Me 2:53
20. See See Rider (Written-By – Ma Rainey) 2:34
21. Wrong 2:18
22. 96 Tears (Written-By – Robert Martinez) 2:19
23. Come On In 2:59
24. Hey Joe (Written-By – Billy Roberts) 4:18
Bonus Tracks The Non-LP Singles ( Mono )
25. Double Yellow Line 2:34
26. Absolutely Positively 2:29
27. The Eagle Never Hunts The Fly 2:50
28. I've Loved You 2:46
MP3 @ 320 Size: 170 MB
Flac Size: 376 MB
THE BONNIWELL MUSIC MACHINE 1968 (REMASTERED 2014)
The Bonniwell Music Machine – The Bonniwell Music Machine
Label: Big Beat Records – CDTOP2 319
Format: 2 x CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: UK
Released: 2014
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Disc 1 - The Warner Bros Recordings
01. Astrologically Incompatible 2:32
02. Double Yellow Line 2:07
03. The Day Today (Written-By – Keith Olsen, Sean Bonniwell) 2:50
04. Absolutely Positively 2:11
05. Somethin' Hurtin' On Me 3:01
06. The Trap 2:31
07. Soul Love 3:32
08. Bottom Of The Soul 1:57
09. Talk Me Down 1:50
10. The Eagle Never Hunts The Fly 2:43
11. I've Loved You 2:46
12. Affirmative No 2:05
13. Discrepancy 2:32
14. Me - Myself, And I 2:04
15. You'll Love Me Again 1:49
16. In My Neighborhood 2:19
17. To The Light (Written-By – Harry Garfield, Sean Bonniwell) 2:09
18. Everything Is Everything (Written By–Harry Garfield, Sean Bonniwell) 1:50
19. This Should Make You Happy 2:02
20. Black Snow 2:30
21. Tell Me What Ya Got (Written-By – Harry Garfield, Sean Bonniwell) 2:04
22. Time Out (For A Daydream) 2:04
23. Tin Can Beach 2:05
24. Unka Tinka Ty 2:16
25. 902 1:57
MP3 @ 320 Size: 133 MB
Flac Size: 335 MB
Disc 2 - Inside Eternity: Demos & Rarities
01. Sean Bonniwell – Gimme Gimme 2:21
02. Sean Bonniwell – Stand Aside 1:55
03. The Ragamuffins – Too Much 1:56
04. The Ragamuffins – Push Don't Pull 2:12
05. The Ragamuffins – Chances 3:02
06. The Ragamuffins – Talk Me Down 1:39
07. The Music Machine – Point Of No Return 2:38
08. Sean Bonniwell – I'll Take The Blame 1:50
09. Sean Bonniwell – The Life I Live 1:48
10. Sean Bonniwell – Would You Believe 2:18
11. Sean Bonniwell – Inside Eternity 2:53
12. Sean Bonniwell – Paper Mache 2:27
13. Sean Bonniwell – You'll Love Me Again 2:04
14. The Music Machine – Dark White 4:31
15. The Music Machine – King Mixer 3:02
16. The Music Machine – She Is 3:18
17. The Music Machine – Reach Me In Time 2:20
18. The Music Machine – Closed 2:09
19. The Music Machine – Temporary Knife 2:35
20. The Music Machine – Advise & Consent 2:55
21. The Music Machine – Mother Nature-Father Earth 2:14
22. The Music Machine – King Mixer 3:15
23. The Music Machine – Dark White 4:13
24. Sean Bonniwell - Citizen Fear 2:29
MP3 @ 320 Size: 143 MB
Flac Size: 251 MB
Nice piece of garage psychedelia. Thanks for sharing the music from your blog.
ReplyDeleteLongaticum
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for sharing in FLAC!
Greetings from France.
Greetings from Athens, Greece
DeleteMany thanks !
ReplyDeleteBonniwell also did the soundtrack to the 1971 cult classic film, "Day of the Wolves." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Wolves
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, great garage music!!
ReplyDeleteGreat music. When they appeared on TV in 1966 they all wore black with one white glove. Quite an impression. I thought they would be big, but it was not meant to be. Thank you for this. Many memories.
ReplyDeleteThanks
ReplyDelete