The David was an American garage rock/psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, in southern California who were active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They are known for songs such as "40 Miles," which became a minor hit in Bakersfield. They began with a basic garage approach but later expanded
their creative palette to incorporate esoteric and baroque elements on the 1967 album, Another Day, Another Lifetime. They continued for a few more years but disbanded in the early 1970s.
The band was started by the neighbors in Brentwood CA, Tim Harrison (drums) and Warren Hansen (vocals and keyboards). Their friends from the Palisades High School, Mike Butte on guitar and Chuck Spieth on bass, joined.
The lead guitarist Mark Bird was the last. Initially named 'The Reasons' the changed the name due to a quote of their manager, who told, to get a hit record is as difficult as a fight between David and Goliath. The group often played gigs in the Los Angeles area and their manager, Steven Vail, succeeded in
getting the band signed to 20th Century Fox's record label. They recorded two 7-inch singles for 20th Century Fox. The first of these was recorded in the fall of 1966 and released in early 1967. It featured the song, "40 Miles," which became a hit in Bakersfield California, reaching #19 on the local charts, and was backed with the B-side "Bus Token." They followed up with another 45, "People Saying, People Seeing," which came out in April. Shortly thereafter, Mike Butte departed from the group, and 20th Century Fox released them from their contract.
The band was able to secure arrangements with VMC Records (Vance Music Company) and became the first act to sign with the label. They went into the studio to record a full-length album, Another Day,
Another Lifetime, which included baroque orchestration arranged by Gene Page on some of its tracks and saw the band further explore eclectic and esoteric influences in a fashion not dissimilar to the Left Banke, but retaining the harder rocking garage-based edge of their previous work. Warren Hanson wrote all of the songs on the album during the sessions and invented an instrument called the "plasmatar," which sounds similar to an electric cello and can be heard on some of tracks.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER LIFETIME 1968
Recorded in 1967, but released in early 1968, another example of a solid one-and-done album from a group of 4 fairly young guys who absolutely vanished from the face of the earth after this release. An all-too common theme among late-60s bands. The album has psychedelic influences a-plenty, but also
features some high-brow orchestration. They don't overkill us with the orchestration, so it remains tolerable throughout the listening experience. It's definitely a pop album, but not too lightweight. Quite a few of these tracks have some nice fuzz tone guitar. Vocal harmonies and backing vocals are present throughout, but Warren Hansen handles the lion's share of the lead vocals. Loads of 60's flavor here. Very of its time.
Not to overdo The Left Banke comparison, but any fan of that group will enjoy this a lot as well, as it has a similar fusion of pure pop hooks, imaginative baroque orchestration, and fragile romantic
songwriting. The David have more of a rock drive, however, are more apt to employ period psychedelic flourishes (such as the wobbling distorted guitar riffs on "Mirrors of Wood"), and take on more whimsical, less personal lyrical concerns. The beautiful, suite-like title cut, the organ-powered "Sweet December," and "Now to You" are highlights. A 2001 CD reissue on Jamie adds a couple of previously unreleased songs.
Really awesome garage-y pop with kitchen sink symphonic production giving proceedings an epic and
unique feel. Aside from all the bells and whistles the songwriting is genuinely catchy and memorable with "Tell Me More" tapping into a British Invasion-level of hysteria. The self-made 'plasmatar' on "Time M" and "Mirrors of Wood" sounds like some kind of psychedelic cello and trips your brain into another dimension.
The David – Another Day, Another Lifetime
Label: J/G – JAMIE 4018, Jamie – JAMIE 4018
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo 2001
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Psychedelic Rock
TRACKS
01. Another Day, Another Lifetime / I Would Like To Know 5:54
02. I'm Not Alone 1:51
03. Sweet December 3:04
04. Tell Me More 2:31
05. Now To You 2:50
06. Professor Crawford 2:41
07. Time M 3:55
08. So Much More 2:18
09. Mirrors Of Wood 3:46
10. Of Our Other Days 2:07
PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED BONUS TRACKS
11. I Don't Care 3:02
12. Mister, You're A Better Man Than I (Written-By – Mike Hugg) 2:52
LINE - UP
Bass – Chuck Spieth
Drums – Tim Harrison
Lead Guitar – Mark Bird
Rhythm Guitar - Mike Butte
Vocals, keyboards (Farfisa Compact Organ "Plasmatar", Written-By – Warren Hansen
NOTES
2001 Jamie / Guyden Dist. Corp.
The original session tapes remixed in Stereo.
Bonus tracks recorded March, 1968
