Phluph: Phluph 1968

 

Phluph was a short-lived psychedelic band from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, late 1960s, releasing one

album and two singles. Members included Benson Blake IV, Lee Dudley, Joel Maisano, and John Pell. Phluph were like many one-offs during the psych era - faceless, nameless, and a $1 cutout bin special (back in the day, that is...). On the clueless Verve label, and lost in the shuffle with many of their Boston ("Bosstown Sound") contemporaries, Phluph went away with barely a murmur. Starts off more in typical psych rock territory.
                            

But then it takes an interesting turn towards the weird by A3 'In Her Way' (though perhaps not weird

enough). One distinguishing characteristic of Phluph's sound is the prominent use of organ. Has that carnival sound, like The Doors, but the similarities end there. Some surprising fuzz guitar outbursts too. Even a rare progressive rock move here and there. A very good listen that grows on you over time.
                      

Their self-titled album is filled with trippy lyrics, heavy organs, and nice guitar work. Phluph were

slightly more commercial than the majority of the Bosstown Sound’s bands. Verve, being a predominatly jazz based label, did not know how to promote the band properly. Or perhaps it was because Phluph were part of the ill-fated "Bosstown Sound" scene which caused such a furore in the music industry at that time.
                                     

 
The “Bosstown Sound” was started as a publicity campaign by producer Alan Lorber, aiming to market

the various Boston based psychedelic bands on MGM’s books (The Ultimate Spinach, Eden’s Children etc) as being part of one singular movement. The idea was to rival the burgeoning San Francisco scene as well as the Mersey-Beat sound that was being imported from across the Atlantic. Unfortunately the rock critics and the underground took umbrage at what they deemed was a shallow corporate attempt at selling the counter-culture back to them as a package.
                              

There was strong anti-establishment feeling at this time because of the Vietnam War, and this helped to fuel the fire against the Boston scene. This coupled with the subsequent pressure from those on the West Coast who declaimed them as frauds, meant that many of the bands became black- listed, never getting the sales figures that they deserved.
Phluph never survived the backlash and disappeared, leaving behind their sole album cut for Verve in 1968. Since its rediscovery the album has garnered some disparaging reviews from some quarters, yet has been lauded by others.

LINE -UP
                               

Lee Dudley (vocals, drums)
Ben Blake (vocals, guitar)
John Pell (vocals, bass)
Joel Maisano (vocals, organ)

Phluph – Phluph
Label: Akarma – AK 147
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release 2022   
Released: 1968
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

01. Doctor Mind    2:51
02. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry    2:41
03. In Her Way    3:03
04. Another Day    4:40
05. Girl In Tears    3:10
06. Ellyptical Machine    2:30
07. Lovely Lady    5:50
08. Death Of A Nation    2:30
09. Love Eyes    6:56
10. Patterns    2:33

BONUS TRACKS       

    
11. Another Day (Stereo Single)    2:50
12. Doctor Mind (Stereo Single)    2:57

MP3 @ 320 Size: 104 MB
Flac  Size: 240 MB