Since the early 1980s the See For Miles Records has specialized in releasing long lost artifacts from the past by compiling flotsam and jetsam of both unknown and more familiar bands as well as nurturing new
fledgling talented artists. In the mid-80s the label released one of its most critically acclaimed and most popular series THE GREAT BRITISH PSYCHEDELIC TRIP which came out as four vinyl records or three CDs. Comparable to the US Nuggets series, this one focuses on the British 60s scene with the first two editions focusing on the more obscure artists who didn't exactly burn up the singles charts during their day but nevertheless captured the spirt and zeitgeist of era in ways that equalled or surpassed the most famous bands still known today.
The first two CDs in this series gather some of the lesser-known artists who recorded at least one single for Decca U.K.'s new "progressive" spin-off label, Deram Records, launched in the fall of 1965. Many of the bands during this era took their cues as much from American garage and the burgeoning underground rock movement as they did from their native Carnaby Street and the concurrent mod scene. Even though these artists might not have made an impact equal to that of the Who, the Small Faces, or Love and the
13th Floor Elevators, they certainly were kindred spirits in a sonic sense. While there is nary a dud amongst the 26 tracks on this compilation, there are a few most exceptional works worthy of revisitation. Most notably are the Californians cover of Warren Zevon's "Follow Me" -- which he recorded with Tule Livingston under the guise of Lyme & Cybelle. This rendering is an inspired, harpsichord-driven and tambourine-tapping masterpiece and would have been the ultimate vehicle for the Monkees. "Red Sky at Night" -- not to be confused with a similarly titled song by the Fixx -- is among the heavier pieces on this volume. With the noir aura of King Crimson and ravaged fretwork reminiscent of Black Sabbath, the Accents unleash a track that pre-dates heavy metal by nearly two years.
There are also a few early appearances from artists who would later go on to more notable things. If the song title "Baked Jam Roll in Your Eye" sounds extraordinary enough to have been a Rutles parody, the reality is that the band Timebox was a seminal stomping ground for both Pete "Ollie" Halsall (bass) and John Halsey (drums) -- who co-wrote the track. Despite the absurd name, this uptempo performance
contains a Halsey-led rhythm akin to something Dave Clark might have been able to pull off. The track "Shades of Orange" was co-composed by Rolling Stone Bill Wyman during the brief period that he managed the End -- a project taken on at the urging of Stones producer Glyn Johns. Indeed, the song sounds steeped in the Stones' Their Satanic Majesties Request, because, according to Dinnes Cruickshank's fascinating liner notes essay, it was worked up as the band was preparing that album. It has also appeared on numerous bootlegs as a "lost" Rolling Stones piece. Tragically, The Great British Psychedelic Trip series has been out of print since the mid-‘90s. A scouring of used CD bins has been known to produce copies, presumably picked over by consumers looking for top-shelf and well-known artists.
01. VARIOUS: THE GREAT BRITISH PSYCHEDELIC TRIP VOL.1 1966 - 1969
THE GREAT BRITISH PSYCHEDELIC TRIP, VOL 1 1966-1969 begins the series with artists who existed concurrently with the more famous bands like The Who, The Pretty Things orThe Small Faces but
never found any success in terms of exposure or sales for that matter. In fact most of these artists never even had the opportunity to release a single album with only a few singles that dotted their short-lived output. Despite the obscure nature of the artists on this compilation, none of which i was familiar with before encountering this psychedelic pop gem, these artists showcase exactly how many talented acts there were in the day crafting excellently constructed psychedelic baroque pop that stood up to the best of the era.
Various – The Great British Psychedelic Trip Vol. 1 1966-1969
Label: See For Miles Records Ltd. – SEE CD 225
Series: The British Psychedelic Trip – Vol.1
Format: CD, Compilation, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Genre:Rock, Pop
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Pop Rock
TRACKS
01. Turquoise – Tales Of Flossie Fillett 3:09
Producer – Tom Keylock
Written-By – Primrose, Peters
02. Timebox – Baked Jam Roll In Your Eye 3:22
Producer – Bruce, Patto
Written-By – Patto, Halsall
03. The Poets – In Your Tower 2:33
Producer – Eric Woolfson
Written-By – Mulvey, Watson
04. 23rd Turnoff – Leave Me Here 2:55
Producer – Noel Walker
Written-By – Campbell
05. The World Of Oz – The Muffin Man 2:32
Producer – Wayne Bickerton
Written-By – Oz
06. Ice – So Many Times 2:08
Producer – Deke Arlon
Written-By – Simpson, Turner
07. End – Shades Of Orange 2:39
Producer – Bill Wyman
Written-By – Wyman, Gosling
08. Ice – Ice Man 2:56
Producer – Deke Arlon
Written-By – Simpson, James, Turner
09. Paul & Ritchie & The Cryin' Shames – Come On Back 2:36
Producer – Meeksville Sound
Written-By – Crane, Routledge
10. Tintern Abbey – Vacuum Cleaner 3:07
Producer – Jonathan Webber
Written-By – MacTavish
11. Virgin Sleep – Love 2:27
Producer – Noel Walker
Written-By – Rees
12. Turquoise – Saynia 2:56
Producer – Tom Keylock
Written-By – Stephens, Peters
13. Toby Twirl – Romeo And Juliet 2:56
Producer – Wayne Bickerton
Written-By – Waddington, Bickerton
14. Amazing Friendly Apple – Magician 3:25
Producer – Tony Meehan
Written-By – Mills, Waddington
15. Tintern Abbey – Beeside 3:25
Producer – Jonathan Webber
Written-By – MacTavish
16. The Flies – I'm Not Your Stepping Stone 2:39
Producer – Ivor Raymonde
Written-By – Boyce/Hart
17. The Accent – Red Sky At Night 3:15
Producer – Mike Vernon
Written-By – Davies, Hebron, Beetham, Birkett
18. Human Instinct – Renaissance Fair 2:24
Producer – Mike Hurst
Written-By – Crosby, McGuinn
19. The Cuppat – Miss Pinkerton 2:37
Producer – H. Pattison, N. Firth
Written-By – Widlake, Lythgoe
20. Toby Twirl – Toffee Apple Sunday 2:09
Producer – Wayne Bickerton
Written-By – Reed, Thornburn
21. Cherry Smash – Green Plant 3:10
Producer – Mike Hugg
Written-By – Margo/Medreff/Siegel
22. The Californians – Follow Me 3:00
Producer – Irving Martin
Written-By – Zevon
23. The Outer Limits – Just One More Chance 3:02
Producer – Dru Harvey
Written-By – Christie
24. Les Sauterelles – Heavenly Club 2:31
Producer – Unknown Artist
Written-By – Antener, Vescoli
25. Keith Shields – Deep Inside Your Mind 2:10
Producer – Hilton Valentine
Written-By – Wright
26. Al Stewart – The Elf 2:29
Producer – Mike Leander
Written-By – Stewart
NOTES
Track 6 title is erroneously listed on the packaging as 'Anniversary (of love)'.
Flac Size: 381 MB
02. VARIOUS: THE GREAT BRITISH PSYCHEDELIC TRIP VOL.2 1965 - 1970
This is the second CD volume in See for Miles' The Great British Psychedelic Trip series. This 70-plus-minute disc mirrors and slightly expands that of the fourth and final vinyl release of the same name. These recordings center on rare and forgotten psychedelia from Decca Records, which was undergoing somewhat of an underground renaissance with a host of new artists on their Deram subsidiary. While the label had notable success with artists such as the Moody Blues and the Small Faces, they also signed and released their fair share of one-hit and no-hit wonders. Happily, 25 of those remnants are collected on this single disc. While the term "psychedelic" -- as used to describe the music on this compilation -- is incorporated loosely and is likewise up for interpretation, enthusiasts of ‘60s Brit-pop will have a field day pouring over these gems. Stylistically, the contents range from the garage-esque, throbbing, uptempo bassline of the Poets' "That's the Way It's Got to Be," to the saccharine sweet cover of Spanky & Our Gang's "Lazy Day" from Tinkerbells Fairydust. Other notable cover versions include the indescribably
brilliant rendering of "Water Woman" by Pacific Drift. Oddly, there are actually two renderings of the song on this compilation. While the Amazing Friendly Apple's rendition sticks closer to Spirit's original, Pacific Drift drive the song with an interesting blend of fiddle-grindin' C&W and the more traditional (in this case at least) Brit-pop. This ingenious amalgam is alone worth the price of admission. Why it was never capitalized upon is anyone's guess. "All Our Christmases" is a cover of a Bee Gees track that the brothers Gibb recorded in the summer of 1967, yet never released. However, the Majority -- one of the most underrated vocal bands of the era -- did issue the track -- which would ultimately be the band's final 45. The song was used in conjunction with the swinging ‘60s cinema cult classic The Mini-Mob aka The Mini Affair. The Bee Gees contributed several compositions for other artists, including "Words," which is performed in the film by Georgie Fame.
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| THE KINSMEN |
Additionally, there are a few musicians with whom pop music fans may actually be familiar. Al Stewart ("Year of the Cat") contributes "Turn to Earth," featuring an ethereal and echo-laden lead vocal, underneath a minor-key, dirge-like rhythm. The Chocolate Watchband -- featured here on the track "Requiem" -- are not the same group of musicians as the California-based garage rockers who share their
unusual moniker. In fact, this is a duo featuring Jack Oliver and Gary Osborne -- who is perhaps best known as the lyricist with whom Elton John took residency in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, during his sabbatical from Bernie Taupin. He was responsible for the lyrics to hits such as: "Blue Eyes," "Nobody Wins," and "Little Jeannie." The Great British Psychedelic Trip series -- which was issued initially as a four-LP vinyl collection -- has sadly been out of print since the mid-‘90s. A scouring of used CD bins has been known to produce copies, presumably picked over by consumers looking for top-shelf and well-known artists.
Various – The Great British Psychedelic Trip Vol. 2 1965-1970
Label: See For Miles Records Ltd. – SEE CD 226
Series: The British Psychedelic Trip – Vol.2
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Pop Rock, Folk Rock
TRACKS
01. The Poets – That's The Way It's Got To Be
Producer – Andrew Loog Oldham
Written-By – Gallacher, Paton, Myles
02. The Neat Change – I Lied To Auntie May
Producer – Billy Gaff
Written-By – Bown, Frampton
03. Toby Twirl – Movin' In
Producer – Wayne Bickerton
Written-By – Sauter, Lewis, Dinunzio
04. The Kinsmen – Glass House Green, Splinter Red
Producer – Peter Shelley, The Kinsmen
Written-By – Pantry
05. Tinkerbells Fairydust – Lazy Day
Producer – Vic Smith
Written-By – Smith
06. Pacific Drift – Water Woman
Producer – Wayne Bickerton
Written-By – Ferguson
07. Love Children – Paper Chase
Written-By, Producer – Findon, Shelley
08. Ice – Whisper Her Name (Maria Laine)
Producer – Deke Arlow,Ian Green
Written-By – Simpson, James, Turner
09. Life 'N' Soul – Peacefully Asleep
Producer – Steve Rowland
Written-By – Brook, Brennan
10. Al Stewart – Turn To Earth
Producer – Al Stewart, Mike Leander
Written-By – Samwell Smith, Simon
11. Double Feature – Baby Get Your Head Screwed On
Producer – Mike Hurst
Written-By – Stevens
12. The Elastic Band – 8 1/2 Hours Of Paradise
Producer – Noel Walker
Written-By – Scott, Yeadon
13. Cherry Smash – Fade Away Maureen
Producer – Mike Hugg
Written-By – Hazzard
14. The Game – Gotta Wait
Producer – Kenny Lynch
Written-By – Charsley, Spencer
15. Peter Lee Stirling – 8.35 On The Dot
Producer – Les Reed
Written-By – Stirling, Peters
16. The Majority – All Our Christmases
Producer – Noel Walker
Written-By – B.R. & M. Gibb
17. The Chocolate Watch Band – Requiem
Producer – Sandy Roberton
Written-By – Osborne, Oliver
18. Amazing Friendly Apple – Water Woman
Producer – Tony Meehan
Written-By – Ferguson
19. Dream Police – I'll Be Home (In A Day Or So)
Producer – Junior Campbell
Written-By – Williams
20. The Time Box – Walking Through The Streets Of My Mind
Producer – Michael Aldred
Written-By – Hess, Milrose
21. Crocheted Doughnut Ring – Happy Castle
Producer – Peter Eden
Written-By – Ring, Leopold
22. Human Instinct – Death At The Seaside
Producer – Mike Hurst
Written-By – Hall, Christie
23. Virgin Sleep – Secret
Producer – Rod Buckle
Written-By – Rees
24. Tinkerbells Fairydust – In My Magic Garden
Producer – Vic Smith
Written-By – Smith
25. Turquoise – Woodstock
Producer – Tom Keylock
Written-By – Stephens, Peters
NOTES
This volume corresponds with the original vinyl series Various - The British Psychedelic Trip Vol. 4 1965-1970 with tracks 21-25 added to this CD re-issue.
Flac Size: 376 MB
03. VARIOUS: THE GREAT BRITISH PSYCHEDELIC TRIP 1965 - 1970
While the first two CDs in this series cover more obscure recordings of the psychedelic era, this volume, drawn from the vaults of EMI, includes some better-remembered artists, such as the (Jimmy Page-era)
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| TOMORROW |
Yardbirds, the Pretty Things (here with songs from their seminal concept album S.F. Sorrow), and Tomorrow. Also on hand are future stars Dave Edmunds in Love Sculpture and Jeff Lynne in the Idle Race. The collection includes some first-rate examples of British psychedelia -- such as Tomorrow's "My White Bicycle," and July's "Friendly Man," and "We Are the Moles" (by, of course, the Moles) -- but also reaches a bit forward to a time when the music became heavier and less farout, hence the Gods' hard-hitting "Real Love Guaranteed" and Love Sculpture's storming hyperdrive version of Khachaturian's "Sabre Dance." (Love Sculpture's other entry here, "In the Land of the Few," is an overlooked gem.)
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| THE PREETY THINGS |
There are also some not-very-psychedelic pop sounds, in the Kippington Lodge tracks (which are the
weakest things here) and Lemon Tree's "It's So Nice to Come Home." Keith West's orchestrated magnum opus "Excerpt from 'A Teenage Opera'" can't be called psychedelic either, but it and most everything here has an engaging period feel and expansive spirit. The only track that really doesn't seem to belong is David Bowie's "You've Got a Habit of Leaving," a "freakbeat" single recorded in 1965 (two years before anything else on the collection) when he was still using his original name, Davy Jones. Altogether, an enjoyable journey.
Various – The Great British Psychedelic Trip Vol. 3 1965-1970
Label: See For Miles Records Ltd. – SEECD 365
Series: The British Psychedelic Trip – Vol.3
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 1993
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Psychedelic Rock
TRACKS
01. Tomorrow – My White Bicycle
Producer – Mark Wirtz
Written-By – Hopkins, Burgess
02. Idle Race – Skeleton And The Roundabout
Producer – Edward Offord, Gerald Chevin, Idle Race
Written-By – J. Lynne
03. Love Sculpture – In The Land Of The Few
Producer – Dave Edmunds, Mike Finesilver, Pete Ker
Written-By – Edmunds, Finesilver, Ker
04. Simon Dupree & The Big Sound – Kites
Producer – David Paramor
Written-By – Hal Hackaday, Lee Pockriss
05. Locomotive – Mr. Armageddan
Producer – Gus Dudgeon, Tony Hall
Written-By – Haines
06. Davy Jones & The Lower Third – You've Got A Habit Of Leaving
Producer – Shel Talmy
Written-By – Jones
07. Keith West – Excerpt From "A Teenage Opera"
Producer – Mark Wirtz
Written-By – Hopkins, Philwit
08. Kippington Lodge – Rumours
Producer – Mark Wirtz
Written-By – J. Ferdy
09. Lemon Tree – It's So Nice To Come Home
Producer – Andy Fairweather-Low
Written By – A. King
10. The Gods – Real Love Guaranteed
Producer – David Paramor
Written-By – Konas, Hensley
11. The Moles – We Are The Moles (Part 1)
Producer, Written-By – The Moles
12. July – Friendly Man
Producer – Tommy Scott
Written-By – Newman
13. Pretty Things – S.F. Sorrow Is Born
Producer – Norman Smith
Written-By – Taylor, May, Waller
14. July – I See
Producer – Tommy Scott
Written-By – Newman
15. Kippington Lodge – Lady On A Bicycle
Producer – Mark Wirtz
Written-By – B. Schwarz
16. Keith West – On A Saturday
Producer – Mark Wirtz
Written-By – K. West
17. Idle Race–Worn Red Carpet
Producer – Jeff Lynne, Noel Walker
Written-By – Pritchard
18. Tomorrow – Strawberry Fields Forever
Producer – Mark Wirtz
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
19. Pretty Things – She Says Good Morning
Producer – Norman Smith
Written-By – Taylor, Alder, May, Waller
20. The Gods – Hey Bulldog
Producer – David Paramor
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
21. Lemon Tree – William Chalker's Time Machine
Producer – Andy Fairweather-Low, Trevor Burton
Written-By – Kefford
22. The Yardbirds – Little Games
Producer – Mickie Most
Written-By – Spiro, Wainman
23. The Yardbirds – Puzzles
Producer – Mickie Most
Written-By – McCarty, Page, Relf
24. Love Sculpture – Sabre Dance
Arranged By – Edmunds
Producer – D. Edmunds, Mike Finesilver, Peter Kerr
Written-By – Kachaturian
NOTES
Original sound recordings made by EMI Records Ltd. except tracks 3 and 17 made by Liberty Records (U.K.) Ltd.
This volume corresponds with the original vinyl series The British Psychedelic Trip Vol. 2 1966-1969: with tracks 21-24 added to this CD re-issue.
Many thanks for this rare gem
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