Cykle - Featuring The Young Ones 1965 - 1970

 

Three bands are presented on this CD, covering a period more-or-less from 1965 to 1970. These sorts of albums typically take one of two forms; either a band is followed through a series of incarnations or it is a geographic compendium of various bands. That’s not the case with this album, however. The link between these three outfits – all of which underwent the archetypical personnel shifts during their existence – is one person. Jimmy Sossaman was a member of The Young Ones and a later version of The Rhodes Scholars. He was the primary song writer for those bands and for The Cykle. In addition, he acted as manager and producer for the bands. (It could be a comment of Mr. Sossaman’s modesty and commitment to the success of the groups that none of the groups ever used the moniker Jimmy Sossaman and The <fill in the band name.>)
                            

As stated in the line notes, The Young Ones and The Cykle (ne The Glory Cykle) were heavily influenced by the Brit Invasion. That’s apparent in the first track (“Too Much Lovin’) with its rhythm line sounding very Beatlesque. Reference is made to a rave-up version of ‘House of the Rising Sun’ and ‘Shake a Tail Feather,’ neither are to be found on this disc Instead, we get the only weak track on the album; ‘Harbor Melon’ which is a pure instrument cover of ‘Watermelon Man’ offered in a live-in-the-studio format. It was the B-side of a 45 with “’Too Much Lovin’” as the A-side. It’s possible the fan base would listen to “harbor Melon,’ but I doubt I would have done so but once. Cykle produced one album's worth of solid garage rock, and it certainly proves that the band was an enthusiastic bunch of musicians.
                                   

Sossaman became involved with The Cykle after The Young Ones ended due to ego, immaturity and crappy management (aka the satanic trinity of musical groups). He was the alpha to omega of this group, writing all their material, booking their shows and acting as the major domo. Another member tells of being fined for playing the aforementioned “Shake a Tail Feather” because Sossaman thought the lyrics too raunchy. During 1969, the band labored on a ten-song album, produced by Sossaman in his garage studio. The tracks how a transition underway. Unlike The Young Ones, where the Brit Invasion was the influence, this block of songs seems more based on the SF Bay sound. The organ is more in the forefront and there is much psychedelic jangle from the guitarist. We also see increased use of tempo shifts and extended outros.
                         

The album was not picked up by a label and The Cykle ended – or at least Sossaman’s role with them did. He accepted a job with a Charlotte recording studio as a staff drummer/producer. It appears he left after the album failure. The recording studio gig his brought him into contact with The Rhodes Scholars. We have but two songs by The Rhodes Scholars. The first is the Sossaman-penned “in My Dreams;” it is also on here as a demo. At this point The Rhodes Scholars were a sextet that included horns and had Sossaman as a non-member producer. Their version of the song is marred by a very tinny sound as if recorded off a 45. Stylistically,
                   

it is not unlike early Chicago Transit Authority albums with peppy jazz-influenced horns. The second recording (“What’s on Your Mind?” is a quartet with Sossaman on drums, but sans horns. The result is a classic rock sound appropriate for the time and place but nothing single worthy. It was a this point that fate intervened. Faced with the draft, Sossaman and another member returned to college for the exemption and played local gigs. In late 1970, the band was offered a three-month tour in Florida. The Young Ones did reunite in 1996 for a one-off reunion. What we are left with is some very good music typical of the period but missing that mysterious thing that brings success.
                        

Cykle – Featuring: The Young Ones
Label: Gear Fab Records – GF-106, Gear Fab Records – GF 106, Gear Fab Records – Gear Fab-106
Format: CD, Compilation, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Garage Rock, Beat, Rhythm & Blues

TRACKS

                                

01. The Young Ones – Too Much Lovin'   2:12
Written-By – The Young Ones
02. The Young Ones – Harbor Melon   2:49
Arranged By – The Young Ones
Written-By – Trad.
03. Psychic Motion – Big Teaser   1:55
Written-By – Warwick, Sossamon, Hayes
04. Psychic Motion – It's You   2:14
Written-By – Warwick
05. Cykle – If You Can    2:40
06. Cykle – Walkout Of My Mind   2:13
Rhythm Guitar – Warwick
07. Cykle – Maiden Girl    3:06
08. Cykle – Walkin' Through My Mind    2:30
09. Cykle – A Little Faith   2:49
Backing Vocals – Carlton Warwick
10. Cykle – It's Her   2:01
Lead Vocals – Rick Wilson
11. Cykle – Lesson To Learn    3:14
12. Cykle – In Love My Friend    3:38
13. Cykle – Do My Thing   4:03
Piano – Yvonne Aiken Spencer
14. Cykle – What You Do To Me    7:26
15. Jimmy Sossamon–In My Dreams (Demo)   2:45
Piano, Guitar, Vocals – Jimmy Sossamon
16. The Rhodes Scholars – In My Dreams   3:49
Bass Guitar, Trombone – Bill Hartman
Drums, Vocals – Bob Whitfield
Keyboards, Lead Vocals – Steve McCrae
Lead Guitar, Vocals – Mike Emmitt
Saxophone, Vocals – Scott Beazley
Trumpet, Vocals – Ray Purvis
17. The Rhodes Scholars – What's On Your Mind   2:17
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Cleon Natty
Drums – Jimmy Sossamon
Keyboards, Lead Vocals – Steve McCrae
Lead Guitar, Vocals – John Wayne

LINE - UP

Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Grady Pope (tracks: 5 to 14)
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Johnny Hayes (tracks: 1 to 4)
Drums – Jimmy Sossamon (tracks: 1 to 14)
Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals – Carlton Warwick (tracks: 1 to 4)
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals – Ralph Stephens (tracks: 5 to 14)
Lead Vocals – Ken Allen (tracks: 5 to 9, 11 to 14)
Organ – Dicky Britt (tracks: 1 to 4)
Organ, Backing Vocals – Rick Wilson (tracks: 5 to 14)
Piano, Harpsichord, Vibraphone – Jimmy Sossamon (tracks: 5 to 14)
Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jeff Hardin (tracks: 5 to 14)
Rhythm Guitar, Vocals – Ronnie Baxley (tracks: 1 to 4)
Written-By – Sossamon (tracks: 5 to 17)

NOTES

Tracks 1 and 2 originally released as The Young Ones (8) - Too Much Lovin' / Harbor Melon
Tracks 3 and 4 originally released as Psychic Motion - Big Teaser
Tracks 5 to 14 originally released as Cykle - Cykle

Flac Size: 316 MB