The Tangerine Zoo: The Tangerine Zoo 1968 + Looking Outside In 1968

 

The Tangerine Zoo was an American psychedelic rock band formed in Swansea, Massachusetts, in 1966. Encompassed in Boston's psychedelic scene and considered a part of the Bosstown Sound, the band became popular regionally, and released two albums on Mainstream Records during their recording career. The Tangerine Zoo had an opportunity to achieve national recognition at the Woodstock Festival, but was forced to decline the invitation. Nonetheless, the group's material has been reinstated into the public conscious after 1960s psychedelic music collectors have discovered the Tangerine Zoo's work years after their disbandment.
                                        

The year was 1966, the town was Swansea, Mass. located 50 miles south of Boston. Three Zoo members Bob Benevides, Donald Smith and Tony Taveira along with two brothers from nearby Warren, R.I. came together to form the band called The EBB TIDES. All members had come from other local garage bands (Batmen, Rogues & Rockin Teens). The newly formed band soon began to play anywhere they could to get exposure. Such places included clubs, outdoor drive-ins, and even on the deck of a battleship. Most of the songs on the set list were cover songs except for one song written by the lead singer called "My Baby's Gone" which was recorded on a 45rpm at a local label called Arco Records. This song was reissued on a compilation CD called Sixties Rebellion Vol.4. Soon after the band parted ways with the two brothers and brought in two new members Ron Medeiros who had his own band called the Knight Rockers, brought his hammond organ and Wayne Gagnon brought his guitar and fuzz pedal. The band changed it's name to the Flower Pot at the time.
                                   

The newly formed band was soon ready to hit the club scene under new management and a whole fuller sound featuring a Hammond B3 organ and added rhythm guitar. They soon picked up the following it had with the Ebb Tides and more. The hippy movement was starting to spread into the music from the streets and the times. Up in Boston a large college movement was also influencing the music. Management rented a large generator and decided that the band would play outside on the Boston Commons. Actually the band was the first band to so, despite the police coming and pulling the plug after playing for two hours. The next move by the band was to head to New York City to audition for record labels that had shown an interest in the band.
                                    

First came Mercury records and RCA, both labels wanted to sign the band to a 45rpm then follow with a album if the single sold. Then came Mainstream who offered an album and a single to be released simultaneously. The band took the latter partly due the fact that at the time it was a great ego boost to five young musicians and Mainstream had just signed Big Brother and the Holding Company ( Janis Jopin ) and the Amboy Dukes( Ted Nugent ). The deal was signed and soon it was off to record the album in late 1967. Ten songs were recorded with the song "One More Heartache" as the first single. The band was confronted with another major decision which was suggested by the record company that the band's name had to be changed again due to the nature of the "Pot" in Flower Pot.
                                                     

February 1968 the long awaited LP and single are finally released. Seven of the nine songs are original songs written by the band. Six of these are psychedelic arrangements. The single is a remake of the Marvin Gaye tune "One More Heartache". Ironically, the song that was recorded and left off the album was a song written by Harry Nilsson called "One" which in three months later sprung the group Three Dog Night. The song The Flight is the most played song by radio and fans of garage psych music even today.
                         

While recording their debut LP, label execs demanded another name change, fearing backlash from the obvious marijuana reference in the Flower Pot moniker; after setting on the Tangerine Zoo, the group released its self-titled debut in early 1968. Taveira exited the lineup prior to recording the follow-up, Outside Looking In. In mid-1969, the Tangerine Zoo was invited to play the Woodstock festival, but were forced to decline due to prior commitments. The band dissolved in 1970, with Gagnon soon resurfacing in Wadsworth Mansion, which scored a Billboard Top Ten hit with 1971's "Sweet Mary." The original Tangerine Zoo lineup reunited in 1988 to play a charity fundraiser, intermittently reconvening during the decades that followed.
                                   

With the release of their first album and single the band began touring, mostly on college campuses in the are playing as many as 2 or 3 shows per night, doable due to the close distance between them. While the tour is going on, the group is getting tied into the much publicized Boston Sound being promoted by the record company MGM who has signed Boston based groups, The Beacon Street Union, Ultimate Spinach & Orpheus. After the five months of during end the band returns to their hometown to rest and while there, more new songs are being written to record for the second album, due to be recorded in the late fall of 1968 in NYC.
                                   

The band becomes a four piece band with the departure of Tony. The second album is released with nine songs. Eight tunes are original and one is a remake of the Moody Blues' "Another Morning." This album is titled "Outside Looking In" with the single "Like People" as the 45. This album doesn't have the same appeal as the first and the band ends in 1970. The band got together again for Reunions for fund raisers for local charities first in 1988 again in 1990 and the last being in 1993. These were played before packed houses. There are no current plans for another Reunion.
                            

Albums

Tangerine Zoo - Mainstream Records (56107), 1968
Outside Looking In - Mainstream Records (S-6116), 1968

THE TANGERINE ZOO - THE TANGERINE ZOO 1968

                                   

One of the more notable obscurities from the unknown-ridden realm of '60s Rock, "The Tangerine Zoo" is a representative artifact of its time. Filled with the esoteric, hazy, Eastern and spacy sounds typical of the era the group lay down their psychedelic jams. Adept guitar playing with its skittery fuzzed-out leads is the highlight as swirling keyboards and a solid rhythm section make up for the lackluster vocals. The platter starts out slow with none of the songs taking off but comes to life on the second half as the tracks gain pace with a verve and the songwriting chops that showcase the band's fine interplay and considerable talents.
                              

The Tangerine Zoo – The Tangerine Zoo
Label: Mainstream Records – S/6107
Country: US
Released: Feb 1968
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

01. Gloria    6:06
02. Trip To The Zoo   3:50
Written-By – Donald Smith, Robert Benevides
03. Please Don't Set Me Free   3:48
Written-By – Wayne Gagnon
04. Nature's Children   3:49
Written-By – Donald Smith, Ronald Medeiros
05. The Flight   4:27
Written-By – Ronald Medeiros
06. Mommy And Daddy   1:42
Written-By – Ronald Medeiros
07. Symphonic Psyche   3:50
Written-By – Wayne Gagnon
08. Crystalescent Heaven   4:36
Written-By – Wayne Gagnon
09. One More Heartache   2:35
Written-By – M. Tarplin, R. Rogers, R. White, W.Moore, W. Robinson
    
Bass Guitar – Tony Tavares
Drums – Donald Smith
Lead Guitar – Robert Benevides
Organ, Harmonica – Ronald Medeiros
Rhythm Guitar – Wayne Gagnon
   

THE TANGERINE ZOO -  OUTSIDE LOOKING IN 1968

 
    

The Tangerine Zoo – Outside Looking In
Label: Mainstream Records – S/6116
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

01. Birth   2:36
Written-By – Ronald Medeiros
02. Like People   2:32
Written-By – Robert Benevedes
03. Wake Up Sun   4:17
Written-By – The Zoo, Vic Armen
04. Another Morning   2:45
Written-By – Moody Blues
05. Confusion   4:49
Written-By – Wayne Gagnon
06. You I Love   3:52
Written-By – R. Medeiros, V. Armen
07. Farther Down The Road   4:30
Written-By – V. Armen, W. Gagnon
08. Can't You See   3:52
Written-By – R. Medeiros, W. Gagnon
09. Young Dream   9:15
Written-By – Wayne Gagnon

Bass, Vocals – Robert Benevedes
Drums, Vocals – Donald Smith
Guitar, Vocals – Wayne Gagnon
Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, Vocals – Ronald Medeiros
Supervised By – Joe Cain

Take Both Albums HERE
(Fingerprint Records, Unofficial Release - GEMA CDTZ 2175))

MP3 @ 320 Size: 169 MB
Flac  Size: 432 MB