Twentieth Century Zoo: Thunder On A Clear Day 1969

 

Twentieth Century Zoo was an American psychedelic rock band formed from the remnants of The

Bittersweets in Phoenix, Arizona in 1967. The band released several singles, and an album to reach regional acclaim before disbanding in 1970. Their later works spanned across multiple genres, including early examples of proto-punk. The band was known for playing among other highly successful acts, and incorporating their influences into the group's own individual sound.
                                          

In 1966, the first incarnation of the band formed as the Bittersweets. As the Bittersweets, a

predominately folk rock group, the majority of the band members were just starting their professional music career, as they began at the local club circuit. The band hired a woman named Chari Zelman to be their manager. The band, under their new name, Twentieth Century Zoo, released two more singles that were regional successes, and garnered enough interest from Vault Records to sign them to their major label. Recording took place in AT Audio Recorders for the small Caz label. The singles marked a shift in the band's past sound into the more psychedelic and acid driven genres.
                                                     

The second of those singles, "You Don't Remember", is described as an early example of protopunk, although in this period of the band they were recordings a diversity of musical styles. Their sound was a

combination of vocal harmonies, complex fuzz guitar solos, and other aspects of the Los Angeles music scene, most notably in their live performances. The band toured in the Southwest of the U.S., opening to more national acts.[3] The band also appeared on television in several shows including The Wallace and Ladmo Show. Following the band's added exposure, they began recording for their debut album in late 1968.
                                           

Album development began at Vault Records Studios in Hollywood, and featured tracks similar to Fever Tree. Along those lines, the standouts on the album were the prolonged guitar solos on the longer tracks. Eastern-influenced string and percussion instrumentals were utilized and assorted sound effects

magnified the melodies of the compositions. In early 1969, the album, Thunder on a Clear Day, was issued on the Vault label to more regional success for the band, but failing to chart nationally. After another tour, the band partially completed songs intended for a second album, but the lead guitarist "Skip" Ladd was drafted into the Army. A brief attempt to find a replacement failed, and after one last single the band disbanded in early 1970. In 1999, Sundazed Records re-issued the band's album and an EP compiling three unreleased tracks originally designated for the second album release.
                                           

This 'shroom fest includes their lone album for Vault, rare early singles (nice versions of "Tossin' and Turnin'" and the early version of "Love in Your Face"), and the requisite unissued demos, all recorded between 1966 to 1968. Another rare, great psychedelic chunk of garage band gets trippy, reissued back from obscurity.

LINE UP

Allan Chitwood – Bass guitar, backing vocals
Greg Farley – Rhythm guitar
Paul "Skip" Ladd – Lead guitar
Bob Sutko – Lead vocals, harmonica
Randy Wells – Drums, percussion
Michael Martina - Keyboards

Twentieth Century Zoo – Thunder On A Clear Day
Label: Sundazed Music – SC 11063
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1999
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock, Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock

BONUS TRACKS       

                                                 

  
01. You Don't Remember (Single Version)  (Written-By – R. Sutko, G. Farley)  2:51
02. Clean Old Man  (Written By – Paquette/Written-By – R. Sutko)  2:39
03. Love In Your Face (Single Version)  (Written-By – R. Sutko, G. Farley)  2:05
04. Tossin' & Turnin'  (Written-By – M. Rene, R. Adams)  2:18

THUNDER ON A CLEAR DAY (1969)       

                                                     

  
05. Quiet Before The Storm  (Written-By – R. Sutko, P. Ladd)  4:56
06. Rainbow  (Written-By – R. Sutko, R. Wells, P. Ladd)  4:17
07. Bullfrog  (Written-By – M. Merrick)  6:39
08. Love In Your Face  (Written-By – R. Sutko, G. Farley)    3:20
09. You Don't Remember  (Written-By – R. Sutko, G. Farley)3:09
10. It's All In My Head  (Written-By – H. Aceves)  5:06
11. Blues With A Feeling  (Written-By – W. Jacobs)  9:59
       

BONUS TRACKS

                                            

  
12. Only Thing That's Wrong  (Written-By – Allan Chitwood, R. Sutko)  2:46
13. Stallion Of Fate  (Written By – J. Preston/Written-By – P. Ladd)  2:58
14. Country  (Written-By – R. Sutko, G. Farley)  2:56
15. Hall Of The Mountain King  (Written-By – E. Grieg)  3:02
16. Enchanted Park  (Written-By – R. Sutko, G. Farley  )4:29

Track 1 Single B-Side CAZ L-103 / 1967
Track 2 Single A-Side CAZ L-103 / 1967
Track 3 Single A-Side CAZ L-104 / 1968
Track 4 Single B-Side CAZ L-104 / 1968
TRacks 5 to 11 LP Vault SLP 122 / 1969
Track 12 Single A-Side Vault V-961 / 1969
Track 13 Single B-Side Vault V-961 / 1969
Tracks 14-16 previously unissued

MP3 @ 320 Size: 146 MB
Flac  Size: 340 MB