Wildwood: Plastic People (1968 - 1981) 2012

 

Psychedelic Garage Rock, Hard Rock band from Stockton, California, USA, late 1960s. Wildwood evolved from The Mal-T's, a garage band with a single in 1967. Deciding their name sounded more like a surf

band, The Mal-T's became Zephyr Blue but their lead singer and songwriter Bob Zachary break up the group to start a new one. At this point the rest of the band renamed Wildwood and became much heavier and more riff-based. Signing in 1968 to the Magnum label (a new venture for the former Fantasy Records owner Max Weiss), Wildwood issued two singles with little promotion by the record label. Although Wildwood enjoyed some high-profile gigs (including appearances at Fillmore West), they disbanded in 1972. 
                          

Oh, 60s California, what a special time to be young! It was the beginning of an era that, while brief, marked one of the most significant moments in music history. Within this exciting cultural shift, new sounds were constantly emerging, and Wildwood was one of them. This truly heavy band from

Stockton grew out of earlier garage escapades, morphing into an intense psych outfit fueled by ferocious organ playing. What’s remarkable is how little of their music was released back then. Most of it was recorded at Max Weiss’ Fantasy Studios but remained shelved until Frantic Records unearthed it decades later. And what they found wasn’t just dusty leftovers, it was the real deal. I envy anyone who discovers such a unique slice of music history. Take ‘Plastic People,’ one of their rare 45s on Magnum Records. It possesses a punk before punk vibe, complete with fiery guitars and hard hitting lyrics. Then there’s “Steel Cathedrals,” which builds a moody, almost spooky atmosphere that truly sticks with you.
                               

Here we go for the toughest and meanest hippies you could find: a Heavy-Acid-Rock biker gang from

Stockton, CA who hates Flower-Power-hippies. The title-track with it’s heavy buzzsaw fuzz-guitar is 1 of THE best ever tracks of the whole genre!!! They released only 2 singles during their life-span and this compilation gathers material recorded 1968-1970. Raw, in-your-face hard psychedelia with plenty of Vox and Hammond organ, hard guitar and powerful vocals courtesy of WILDWOOD. Formed in the late ‘60s in Stockton, California, this powerful outfit rubbed shoulders with groups like Country Weather, Steve Miller Band or Grateful Dead and played at legendary venues such as the Fillmore and the Matrix.
                          

Featuring tracks from their two rare 45s for the Magnum label (including the punk-a-delic classic

“Plastic People”) plus a selection of their fabulous, not released at the time studio cuts from 1968-1970, recorded at Max Weiss’ Fantasy Studios and originally unearthed by Frantic Records in 2012 for their 2CD Wildwood compilation. Dark and vaguely sinister in both look and sound, Wildwood melded the fuck-you attitude of the garage era with a soulful R&B streak and some enviable hard rock chops.
                            

WILDWOOD - IT'S PSYCHEDELIC BABY MAGAZINE

 

The Wildwood – Plastic People
Label: Frantic Records (3) – 0303
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation 2012
Country: US
Released: 1968 - 1971
Genre: Rock, Blues
Style: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock

CD1.

                                   

01. The Wildwood – Plastic People
02. The Wildwood – Mothers
03. The Wildwood – Mary Midnight
04. The Wildwood – Choo Choo Thunder
05. The Wildwood – Free Ride (Hammond)
06. The Wildwood – Wildwood County
07. The Wildwood – Gotta Keep Movin
08. The Wildwood – Swimming
09. The Wildwood – Steel Cathedrals
10. The Wildwood – Probing The Secrets
11. The Wildwood – Durango
12. The Wildwood – Mister Wild Love
13. The Wildwood – The Weasel

CD2.

                             

01. The Wildwood – Knock On Any Door
02. The Wildwood – Lonesome Roads
03. The Wildwood – Steel Cathedrals (Mercury)
04. The Wildwood – Free Ride (Vox)
05. The Wildwood – Blue Eyed Woman
06. Mal-T's – Here To Stay
07. Mal-T's – Stand Up Today
08. William Chalker – Wildwood County
09. William Chalker – Frisco Fog
10. William Chalker – Choo Choo Thunder
11. Chalker – Death Is A Horseman
12. Chalker – Sweet Lorraine
13. Chalker – Nevada Voice
14. Chalker – Mary Of The Midnight 

NOTES

This collection contains all Wildwood known recordings 1968-1971, along with the 1967 single by the Mal-T's. Rounding out the package is some whacked-out bonus material by the mysterious William Chalker, occasional lyricist for the band.

Flac CD1 + CD2 Size: 537 MB