Episode 011: And Eleven Moons
Episode 011: And Eleven Moons 01 Love - Dream (US 1969) Love are Los Angeles legends and often credited as one of the first interracial rock bands of the 60's. Led by the enigmatic Arthur Lee, the original quintet fell apart after releasing their classic Forever Changes album. Lee quickly reassembled a new band and recorded two albums, the first of which would complete his now expiring contract with Elektra and from which this somber rocker is pulled.02 P.P. Arnold - If You Think You’re Groovy (US 1967) Los Angeles born Patricia Ann Cole started life in the Ikettes before striking out on her own with a relocation to London. Capturing the hearts of the Immediate records crew, she was thrust into the spotlight as one of the darlings of the UK mod scene. She recorded 2 albums with Andrew Loog Oldham featuring his trademark orchestral pop sound before heading back to the states.03 Jimi Hendrix - One Rainy Wish (US 1967) A masterpiece in every sense of the word, this swirling psychedelic nugget is one of many highlights found on the Experience's sophomore album. Filled with cascading guitar lines that don't let up til the last seconds, this exquisite piece shows that Hendrix created things as pretty and light as he did heavy and dark. It's safe to say that no other musician pushed the sound of psychedelic guitar further than Jimi.04 Bobby Calendar - Nature (US 1968) Mr. Callendar cut his teeth on a few pop singles before morphing into the psychedelic mystic that produced this mind melter from his debut album. Bobby dipped into all the colors of the era, creating wonderfully delicate and soft harmony psych one minute before taking a left turn with a sitar drenched dirge the next. He would go on to produce another 2 albums before calling it quits in 1972. 05 Black Velvet - The Clown (UK 1969) B-side to the debut single by these UK psychedelic funk freaks that brings a heavy downer vibe with this ode to a mysterious clown. The band released 3 albums during their 4 year life span and are all worth investigating. 06 Nina Simone - To Love Somebody (US 1969) The title track to Nina's stunning album of 60's rock classics shows her wiling to take on the burgeoning pop scene with both appreciation and mastery. Good luck getting your song back after she covers it! Her version of the Bee Gees' lament to lost love beefs up the rhythm while retaining the sense of loss the original captures so well07 Eugene McDaniels - Welfare City (US 1970) Eugene first found fame as Gene McDaniels in a more traditional pop singer mold before using his full name once signing with Atlantic in 1970. Along with his new label, he also found a new sound fueled by the political climate of the time. Taken from his Outlaw album, this song sounds like a long lost folk-rock number backed by a heavy rhythm section. 08 Parliament - Silent Boatman (US 1970) George Clinton founded this band in 1965 as the Parliaments before dropping the s and his first doses of Owsley in 1969. The yin to his twin group Funkadelic's yang, these misfits came mighty close to a pastoral psych sound with this track from their 1970 debut. Written by frequent collaborator, UK songstress Ruth Copeland, this beautiful number is covered in acoustic guitars, bagpipes and an heartfelt vocal.09 Rotary Connection - Amuse (US 1970) Chicago's finest psychedelic soul export that featured a young Minnie Ripperton, this severely underrated group released 7 albums in their 4 year career and are all worth seeking out. This acoustic beauty is a rare solo Minnie acoustic track that is free of Charles Stepney's wall of sound production. It also strangely foreshadows her future hit "Loving You" in it's sparseness.