I really liked Moby Grape's 'Wow' and Blue Cheer's 'Outsideinside' as well, and actually go to these more often than the first albums from either band. I always liked 'Bark' (especially 'Law Man' and 'Pretty as You Feel') but it did pale after that stellar run from 'Surrealistic Pillow' through 'Volunteers'. Great video. Mazzy. I love that whole SF psychedelic period. It must have been incredible to have grown up in that place at that time...
The jams with the guys from Moby Grape with Al Kooper & Michael Bloomfield preceded the Super Session records, and were the genesis of that successful project Al Kooper pitched to Columbia. Bloomfield, in an interview he did later, talked about how Kooper's decision to call the sessions "Super" was brilliant and truly sold the concept. Also, FYI, Peter Lewis has commented that "Murder In My Heart For The Judge" is the same basic song as Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth". The two bands hung out together for a period during 1967 Avalon days and Stephen Stills nicked the chord progression. Lewis does a live version of this song on his record he made with David West, "Live In Bremen", and talks to the crowd regarding how this song happened back in the day. Thanks for the terrific show. Love your stuff. Sad post script, David La Flamme, just passed away. He was so talented and the band deserved better, a lot like Moby Grape.
Excellent point regarding the looseness of the SF sound in those days Norman! I like to think of the SF sound as an organic sound that just spoke to people at the time! When music speaks to the soul, it can bare a bit of looseness! At least it can for me! Great video!❤
My favorite overlooked 60's Bay Area album is The Serpent Power featuring poet David Meltzer and his wife Tina, and a great guest appearance by JP Pickens on banjo.
brilliant selections..glad to hear tracy nelson get a mention..she is too forgotten in this day and age..mother earth always stood next to my janis/big brother albums..great stuff..stay well my friend..peace..rocky
Mazzy…delayed watch , but enjoyed and learned new things, great stuff…btw…you have often said that second to the Beatles, the Byrds are probably your favorite band from that era , my second favorite is Traffic, how about a 2023 Traffic perspective…not sure if you done it already…also , cool you respect my vent about the Pretzel..✌🏽
One of the best bands out of SF in my opinion Was Moby Grape. Sorry to disagree with you Maz, but I thought their 2nd album stunk. As Joel Selvin said at the time, Moby Grape had only one good album, but what an album! My second point is on the Steve Miller Band. Every opportunity I've had to see him I was there; probably 10-12 times over the years. I remember finding an obscure album by him called In The Beginning, Back To Eden...what a classic! An album that should have gotten more airplay for sure. Most of the bands that you showcased I saw, minus the south bay bands. One of the first bands was the Charlatans at the Avalon. Keep up the great work, I really enjoy your videos.
I really like these videos you do Mazzy. I'm going to check out a few of these I didnt know. I just got an original of Spirit's first album and I'm looking at The Band's albums. You really need to start getting a cut from these record labels, I can't be the only one that follows your lead on thjis stuff :)
Just when I thought I knew about every SF band. . . .Mazzy proves me wrong again! ;) Thanks for a fun video. BTW, For Buffalo Springfield's last album, they also had a contest where the winner's words are used in a song (The Hour of Not Quite Rain).
This B list is interesting.. I loved seeing The Charlatans first album. They are legendary over the hill here in Northern Nevada when they used to hang out at The Red Dog Saloon ..Virginia City ( 1965-66 ) I picked up the first two HP Lovecraft LP's at Originals on Hayes and Fillmore. Blue thumb records titles were favorites of mine as a kid, and "Where's The Money" my constant go-to ! ✌
I had won tickets to see Dan Hicks at a small club on Long Island. I had never heard of him but left a huge fan. He hung out after the show and was funny. Became a fan. 3rd week in Chelsea is still a treat when Hot Tuna plays it. Once again, thanks for a great video
I love Mad River! If you listen closely you'll hear precursors of Tom Verlaine and Television! First MR self titled Lp is awesome and edgy for its time. The pre LP Gazelle/ Orange Fire single also essential! Paradise Bar and Grill,the second Lp has it's moments but is in more of a laid back country rock vibe and playing.
Cetaecean is just beautiful music, no political screeds or sonic weirdness. I wish Country Joe & the Fish had done more of that. Thanks for the video, lots of material to check out.
I've got the original UK Vinyl of Together and I remember at the time feeling disappointed by it as it seemed to far removed from The Fishes classic 'Feel Like I Fixing to Die album but after a few plays I got into it and still rate it now. I've recently been revisiting those early Country Joe and The Fish albums and they more than stand the test of time - particularly Joe's lyrics eg. Who Am I, Pat's Song have beautiful lyrics imho.
Thanks Mazzy! I was a pretty big Sons fan back then, and I have a tape of "Seeds and Stems". My recollection is that it was kind-of a bootleg album made just for friends and relatives; not distributed by a label, after the band broke up in spring 1971. Yogi Phlegm was supposed to be "a new band". Bits and pieces of Seeds and Stems would occasionally be played on KSAN and its ilk. Then, they became the SOC again, got a new horn section, and moved forward. Those are my recollections, anyway.
I still wish you can listen to HP Lovecraft's 2nd album from start to finish. You're missing out on one of the definitive Psyche albums of the 60's. Even a CD version will do. Just get a copy and sit between 2 speakers and take it in. Once you hear Ken Nordine's voice, then you know you're in a real Psychedelic journey. And the music great!!! Not disjointed like the first album. Listen to it!!!
I agree. HP Lovecraft II is, in my not so humble opinion, the best psychedelic album of all time. Produced and engineered by Chris Huston (Led Zeppelin, The Rascals, Eric Burdon & War, the Who, The Nazz…), the album features very experimental effects, superb vocal work, rock and folk influences, moving cover art, and then top it off with the “word jazz” piece by Ken Nordine. A psychedelic masterpiece of near epic proportions! (BTW, the second best psychedelic album of all time is the first album by It’s A Beautiful Day.)
Since you brought them up…I believe it was the Human Be-In. There were 3 stages at the Polo Fields. I remember being alongside Mad River playing the most complicated rock music I’d ever heard. They finished a number when I could hear Down on Me! I looked at Mad River’s drummer and said, Big Brother? He nodded and pointed with a drum stick to the other side of the field. I ran over and somehow got on a speaker cabinet while Janis sang-maybe 5 feet away.
@randydoak6638 0 seconds ago You missed The Electric Flag’s Long Time Comin’. That record is on my A list. By the way, Nicky Hopkins was also a member of the original Jeff Beck band.
I know Lee Michaels did a version of "Murder In My Heart". I just listened to that IABD Marrying Maidens yesterday! It's a wonderful LP. Also a big fan of Dan Hicks, especially those Blue Thumb records.
I grew up in the Bay Area when the music scene was emerging with all the legendary bands and I will always consider the ultimate Bay Area psychedelic band to be "Cheap Thrills". Second I'd consider "Volunteers"
I was just getting bummed imagine because I was listening to caravanserai I'm thinking just how great the music was back in the day nothing today comes close to any of that SHIT
Massy, you mention H.P. Lovecraft, but you didn't mention the one song that caught my ear from this album. "The White Ship." Maybe not as good as I thought? Oh well.. lolol thanks man! Always enjoy your selections.
That HP Lovecraft sounds interesting- I have a great secondhand record shop near me (I live in a small town but 3 record shops have started up near me!) hopefully they have it. I’m loving when artists do traditional songs: particularly Gilgarry Mountain (Whiskey in the Jar, also covered by Thin Lizzy and Metallica)by Peter, Paul and Mary. I just picked up a 1973 copy of Angel Clare by Art Garfunkel and he did a beautiful version of Barbara Allen. I’m hunting down more artists who feature traditional songs.
Loved Dan Hicks. Had Mad River and HP Lovecraft. Wow! has some fine tracks and a favourite Can't Be So Bad, still played often. The Country Joe justifiably a 'B' album. Steve Miller, first five fine albums. Third Week is also a fave. Not to forget Fever Tree, who get much forgotten.
You mentioned my favorite San Francisco bands in the first 4 minutes, more of a L.A. band guy, I do have an affection for Jefferson Airplane, love everything up to Bark funny enough, and Country Joe, sorta did for the 60's what Dead Kennedy's did for the 80's, a voice of subversive tendencies and good jams, Dan Hicks is a world unto himself, smoked enough to Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks to agree, he belongs at least one foot, in the Psychedelic camp, if not for his earlier work in beat groups like The Charlatans, beat groups like The Count Five and Chocolate Watchband ect. a lot like the L.A. bands. Fun. Cheers
I really like that Mad River debut- the song ‘Wind Chimes’ is a great - their 2nd album and final album ‘Paradise Bar & Grill’ is a mix of their usual sounded and country influences that is good too Love the 2nd HP Lovecraft album more than their debut and is pure psychedelia
We played a boatload of Dan HIcks & His Hot Licks on WZZQ-FM (then located in Jackson, Mississippi) in the '70s and into the early '80s..."I Scare Myself," of course, along with "Walkin' One and Only," "Where's the Money?" "Shorty Falls in Love," and "By Hook or by Crook." Played stuff off his solo IT HAPPENED ONE BITE..."Garden in the Rain," "Cruisin'," and "Cloud My Sunny Mood." Yeah, we were a wonderfully bizarre radio station. And we mustn't forget Thomas Dolby's stunning cover of "I Scare Myself" on his THE FLAT EARTH elpee. We also played a lot of Quicksilver..."Fresh Air," and "Edward the Mad Shirtgrinder," to be sure. Hey, it was Mississippi in the '70s and early '80s...at least we tried! (With thanks to the late David Adcock, the late Sergio Fernandez, and the perennially late but still alive Perez, et. al...)
It's funny thinking about the attitude a lot of Brits had towards the San Franciscan scene back in the day. You are right in saying a lot of us thought the bands and music a little self indulgent. I didn't buy any of the albums you talk about back then, though I'm more appreciative now.
Nice compilation. I might add "The Serpent Power" on Vanguard, only release from 1967. A bit on the folk side of things with elements of psychedelia but definitely worth a listen. As far as Sons of Champlin go, I actually think their 3rd release "Follow Your Heart" (1971) as well as ""Welcome To The Dance" (1973) are pretty strong, especially "Follow Your Heart" which rivals their 1st IMO. The horns are gone so to me it sounds a bit more uncluttered.
Shout out to Texan "Powell St John" on Mother Earth's "Living with the Animals", who also worked with Joplin and 13th Floor Elevators, and is responsible for writing and singing three stand out tracks; the title "Living with the Animals", "Marvel Group" and "The Kingdom of Heaven is Within You"
As much as they are a hodgepodge of a continuously disintegrating band and a studio creation, those two Chocolate Watch Band LPs are just sooooo freaking deaking good, Mr Mazzzzz.
Some of these would be on my A list, like Chocolate Watchband. love the 2nd blue cheer, my favorite. Read a whole story about Mad River. Apparently Capitol sped up the tape thinking it was too sludgy or something and to appeal to the SF psych crowd. They did so without the bands' knowledge of course. Their 2nd lp is pretty cheap and quite interesting too.
Chocolate Watchband had personnel/management problems too Their manager brought in session musicians and a different vocalist that recorded large parts of the Inner Mystique
Fun list. Brought back memories of seeing and hearing Dan Hick & His Hot Licks at the Bear’s Lair on the Cal campus the December night before we drove to the disaster that was Altamont. Dan and company were the definite highlights. Would have to have seen albums from Bay Area bands such as Cold Blood ( on Bill Graham’s Fillmore label i believe), and at that age Lydia Pense pretty much guaranteed my blood was Not cold! Or maybe Seatrain or even Redwing , who used to play at UC Davis while i was there, and recorded on Fantasy.
And Moby grape are fantastic , I've got a great eighties album of Theirs with a fabulous mouse and Kelly cover,it's very good. I have a lot of those records,...outside inside is the best blue cheer LP
Checked out that Dan Hicks album and was surprised when I listened to the ‘I Scare Myself’ track. I had heard it before by Thomas Dolby on his ‘The Flat Earth’ album and had always assumed it was a Dolby original.
Don’t really know why you never mentioned Beau Brummels, they released in 2021 Turn Around-The Complete Recordings 1964-1970, or are they in a higher category? As they had hits right of the bat!
Hey Mr Maz! I'm not really a fan of psych rock, but I like some of the bands when they went country. Mad River is a case in point, I don't like their first album but their countrified second outing is more up my street. Lead singer and songwriter Lawrence Hammond, would go on to put out a great country singer-songwriter album called Coyote's Dream in 1976. He probably made a packet when his song John Deere Tractor was recorded by The Judds. Just as well, as I doubt the first version by The Youngblood's Jerry Corbitt made him much. Hed
I just stumbled on the solo Cobett record in this collection I’m curating. Haven’t heard it yet. ✌🏼 but love all the Youngblood’s Raccoon records projects.
@@mazzysmusic Nice. Corbitt's first is good, still has some psych elements, but it it's his second which I think is marvellous. There are also a couple of live albums he recorded with Charlie Daniels which are really worth picking up if you come across them.
@@mazzysmusic I just picked up a bluegrass record by a group called High Country, which was produced by Lowell "Banana" Levinger from The Youngbloods and is on the Racoon label. Good stuff.
I had that Blue Cheer album. Blue Cheer went on in various incarnation through the years. I believe that Dickie Peterson was the only constant during that time. This may of may not be true but the rumor was that Owsley Stanley provided Blue Cheer with that wall of Marshalls. I saw them on the Mike Douglas Show. When Blue Cheer Played, the video got al wavy which I assume was due to the guitar volume was interfering with the studio cameras.
No place for The Serpent Power then - surely they'll not be in the C-List/Third division? H P Lovecraft did write a few of their own songs - a highlight of the first album - The White Ship, is classic SF psychedelia imo. Agree about Quicksilver - after the first two albums they're like a different (and inferior) band. Look forward to The C-List edition with Stoneground, Loading Zone, Tongue & Groove, Savage Resurrection, Linn County and The New Tweedy Brothers!
Norman ayer sábado estuve viendo tus vídeos y pensé comentar que hicieras un vídeo sobre las bandas de San Francisco que no fueron famosas. Tuve ayer una premonición? Gracias desde Sevilla Spain.
H.P. Lovecraft's 2nd album was outstanding! So was QMS "Shady Grove"What a shame. Moby Grapes "Wow" 1st - the FM Underground stations played "Funky Tunk" a lot.2nd - I think the reason Arthur Godfrey was on the lp was courtesy of Peter Lewis, (Loretta Young's son). 3rd - I remember that contest, KFRC read submitted poems/lyrics over the air. I never knew who the winner was, until now. The Los Angeles AM station had the same contest with "Buffalo Springfield" as the band. The winning song was "The hour of not quite rain" that was on Springfield's album "Last time around."
Probably the best English band to emulate the San Francisco sound, certainly folk/rock were Fairport Convention, especially their first two albums imo, Eastern Rain from What We Did on Our Holidays is a fine example 😊
Yes some groups and singers didn't chart or get to sell their music. And it wasn't because they weren't good either. It was all Jefferson Airplane and the Doors etc. Not that their music wasn't good , but they got the radio airplay.
Great records. My reissue of Inner Mystique lp lists Baby Blue, but is not on the record. Anyone else have that pressing? Problem maybe with Dylan ? Murder in my heart for the judge was covered by Three Dog Night.
Just to add and may or may not fit your theme; along with "Mad River" as bands that relocated to the Bay Area, I would also include The Youngbloods "Elephant Mountain" (1969), HP Lovecraft - "II" (1968) and The Wizards from Kansas - self titled (1970). All these LP's were heavily influenced by their relocation to the Bay Area.
I’ve never seen or heard the Mad River album. Including bands from Los Altos and San Jose is fine but including HP Lovecraft from Chicago makes no sense. Similar to digital gramophone not making sense. I’m most likely going to purge Wow but I think I’ll do a Moby Grape video first. I need to get the 2nd and 3rd Blue Cheer albums. The first Country Joe and the Fish album is great. The 2nd one is almost as good. The 3rd album is weaker. The 4th is weaker still. The songs just weren’t there anymore. I like the first two Quicksilver albums but the later ones were kind of boring to me. I think they didn’t have enough Maui Wowie. I always liked Bark.
Moby Grape's second album was one I hoped would have been better. I guess that is another aspect of being unfocused. Jerry Miller's guitar work holds my attention. Then there is the problem of of led Zeppelin's use of one of the jams lyrics. I could never get into to Loosen Up Naturally. Terry Haggerty's guitar work is pretty interesting. Mark Isham when on greater success. I think that you got it right on your B-List. I do like Mother Earth though never a major act. You have to trust the People more than record exes and producers. As an aside: Steve Miller Band came from points east as did Paul Butterfield. The vibe in SF was more inviting I guess.
Great sideways approach into the SF Sound. I wanted to like Mad River because of the cover art. The singing is too off-putting though, and the songs aren't quite there. The White Ship is as dreamy and beautiful a psychedelic song as ever existed, but the rest of that H.P. Lovecraft album doesn't match it. Nice to hear some nice words about Bark. I also love the Fish's third, Together, which still features enough cool Barry Melton soloing. About the British rockers and their sometimes condescending appraisal of the Bay Area scene: meandering solos? plenty of those on Wheels of Fire and the first two Zeppelin records.
How dare thee Mazzy ? Just For Love does not deserve to be in anyone's B-list especially if they haven't had the experience on psychedelics. Maybe by the time of What About Me you may tire of the production but I still love the sound of Dino's voice & put Just For Love in my Top 10 faves. PS Can you include the Scottish group Northwind's album "Sister, Brother, Lover" on the Regal Zonophone label in one of your videos.
I do have several of these and I agree that they're all pretty good albums but do have some filler on them. The quicksilver album definitely has too much Valente on it. I missed Gary Duncan's vocals on it. I get the feeling that kantner & slick held back some of their best tunes for sunfighter and left them off bark. I wouldn't miss never argue with a German or thunk if they were off the album.
Not for nothing double negative I know please start doing some relative music I'm an old guy definitely older than you and I still want some relative music seems like you're into that whole San Francisco vibe here on the other coast not so much maybe my favorite West Coast album is live at the Fillmore
Hmmm so you like Bark after all. I loved the whole Grunt thing at the time as did my school friends - one friend even had the Papa John album. Sunfighter was better than Bark and Baron Von Tollbooth also had some good stuff. But why are you always so down on Long John Silver? Ok it's not folk rock psychedelic JA, but that would have been passe in 72. In England Long John Silver got good reviews everywhere and was always a big favourite with the fanatical UK west coast / Frisco fanzines. I think of LJS as the best and heaviest Hot Tuna LP but with Grace wailing over the top. How could you not like that? Were you upset by all the blasphemy? Come on, let's hear it for Grunt. Or were you offended by Grace singing about seven inches of pleasure? Hey Mazzy, loosen up!
Kinda disrespectful to relegate these artists to the dustbin of rock history. The labels didn’t respect artistry, didn’t even understand rock, much less psyche, didn’t provide great producers or give these bands a fair shake. In total, the SF Bay Area was a hotbed of creativity. Songwriter Dino Valente is a good example. He wrote the Youngbloods hit “Get Together,” formed Quicksilver and wrote some of their greatest counterculture anthems, but languished in jail for a pot bust. You can do better Mazzy, you have this platform, go deeper please
I really liked Moby Grape's 'Wow' and Blue Cheer's 'Outsideinside' as well, and actually go to these more often than the first albums from either band. I always liked 'Bark' (especially 'Law Man' and 'Pretty as You Feel') but it did pale after that stellar run from 'Surrealistic Pillow' through 'Volunteers'. Great video. Mazzy. I love that whole SF psychedelic period. It must have been incredible to have grown up in that place at that time...
The jams with the guys from Moby Grape with Al Kooper & Michael Bloomfield preceded the Super Session records, and were the genesis of that successful project Al Kooper pitched to Columbia. Bloomfield, in an interview he did later, talked about how Kooper's decision to call the sessions "Super" was brilliant and truly sold the concept. Also, FYI, Peter Lewis has commented that "Murder In My Heart For The Judge" is the same basic song as Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth". The two bands hung out together for a period during 1967 Avalon days and Stephen Stills nicked the chord progression. Lewis does a live version of this song on his record he made with David West, "Live In Bremen", and talks to the crowd regarding how this song happened back in the day. Thanks for the terrific show. Love your stuff. Sad post script, David La Flamme, just passed away. He was so talented and the band deserved better, a lot like Moby Grape.
So pleasurable to remember a. time when things were looser with such great variety. Thanks for making this video!
Excellent point regarding the looseness of the SF sound in those days Norman!
I like to think of the SF sound as an organic sound that just spoke to people at the time!
When music speaks to the soul, it can bare a bit of looseness! At least it can for me!
Great video!❤
My favorite overlooked 60's Bay Area album is The Serpent Power featuring poet David Meltzer and his wife Tina, and a great guest appearance by JP Pickens on banjo.
brilliant selections..glad to hear tracy nelson get a mention..she is too forgotten in this day and age..mother earth always stood next to my janis/big brother albums..great stuff..stay well my friend..peace..rocky
I really enjoyed watching and listening to this video Mazzy. I have several of the albums you showed.
Mazzy…delayed watch , but enjoyed and learned new things, great stuff…btw…you have often said that second to the Beatles, the Byrds are probably your favorite band from that era , my second favorite is Traffic, how about a 2023 Traffic perspective…not sure if you done it already…also , cool you respect my vent about the Pretzel..✌🏽
Love the San Jose Bands! My hometown! A lot of the San Francisco bands also have many San Jose roots! Thanks for another great post...
One of the best bands out of SF in my opinion Was Moby Grape. Sorry to disagree with you Maz, but I thought their 2nd album stunk. As Joel Selvin said at the time, Moby Grape had only one good album, but what an album! My second point is on the Steve Miller Band. Every opportunity I've had to see him I was there; probably 10-12 times over the years. I remember finding an obscure album by him called In The Beginning, Back To Eden...what a classic! An album that should have gotten more airplay for sure. Most of the bands that you showcased I saw, minus the south bay bands. One of the first bands was the Charlatans at the Avalon. Keep up the great work, I really enjoy your videos.
I really like these videos you do Mazzy. I'm going to check out a few of these I didnt know. I just got an original of Spirit's first album and I'm looking at The Band's albums. You really need to start getting a cut from these record labels, I can't be the only one that follows your lead on thjis stuff :)
Great video! I see that Josie Cotton 12" peeking out of your massive collection.
Keep the SF videos comin' Mazzy, I'll watch anything you post about the Bay Area!
"He" is Moby Grapes most emotive song with beautiful orchestration...desrves more of your attention sir...love wot you do still!!
Great song. Thank you ✌🏼
Just when I thought I knew about every SF band. . . .Mazzy proves me wrong again! ;) Thanks for a fun video. BTW, For Buffalo Springfield's last album, they also had a contest where the winner's words are used in a song (The Hour of Not Quite Rain).
Grape jam eh? Can’t wait to check that out… anything with Bloomfield.
This B list is interesting.. I loved seeing The Charlatans first album. They are legendary over the hill here in Northern Nevada when they used to hang out at The Red Dog Saloon ..Virginia City ( 1965-66 ) I picked up the first two HP Lovecraft LP's at Originals on Hayes and Fillmore. Blue thumb records titles were favorites of mine as a kid, and "Where's The Money" my constant go-to ! ✌
I had won tickets to see Dan Hicks at a small club on Long Island. I had never heard of him but left a huge fan. He hung out after the show and was funny. Became a fan.
3rd week in Chelsea is still a treat when Hot Tuna plays it. Once again, thanks for a great video
I love Mad River! If you listen closely you'll hear precursors of Tom Verlaine and Television! First MR self titled Lp is awesome and edgy for its time. The pre LP Gazelle/ Orange Fire single also essential! Paradise Bar and Grill,the second Lp has it's moments but is in more of a laid back country rock vibe and playing.
Cetaecean is just beautiful music, no political screeds or sonic weirdness. I wish Country Joe & the Fish had done more of that. Thanks for the video, lots of material to check out.
A big headed fish
Love Brave New World! Wish you'd have mentioned Maryann, singer for Dan Hicks. Interesting factoid about the great Nicky Hopkins...
Maryann also went on tour and recorded with the Kinks after the last Hicks shows at Winterland, opening for the Kinks in 73
I've got the original UK Vinyl of Together and I remember at the time feeling disappointed by it as it seemed to far removed from The Fishes classic 'Feel Like I Fixing to Die album but after a few plays I got into it and still rate it now. I've recently been revisiting those early Country Joe and The Fish albums and they more than stand the test of time - particularly Joe's lyrics eg. Who Am I, Pat's Song have beautiful lyrics imho.
Thanks Mazzy! I was a pretty big Sons fan back then, and I have a tape of "Seeds and Stems". My recollection is that it was kind-of a bootleg album made just for friends and relatives; not distributed by a label, after the band broke up in spring 1971. Yogi Phlegm was supposed to be "a new band". Bits and pieces of Seeds and Stems would occasionally be played on KSAN and its ilk. Then, they became the SOC again, got a new horn section, and moved forward. Those are my recollections, anyway.
Thank you Mazzy. L❤ the genre not a genre.☮️
I still wish you can listen to HP Lovecraft's 2nd album from start to finish. You're missing out on one of the definitive Psyche albums of the 60's. Even a CD version will do. Just get a copy and sit between 2 speakers and take it in. Once you hear Ken Nordine's voice, then you know you're in a real Psychedelic journey. And the music great!!! Not disjointed like the first album. Listen to it!!!
I agree. HP Lovecraft II is, in my not so humble opinion, the best psychedelic album of all time. Produced and engineered by Chris Huston (Led Zeppelin, The Rascals, Eric Burdon & War, the Who, The Nazz…), the album features very experimental effects, superb vocal work, rock and folk influences, moving cover art, and then top it off with the “word jazz” piece by Ken Nordine. A psychedelic masterpiece of near epic proportions! (BTW, the second best psychedelic album of all time is the first album by It’s A Beautiful Day.)
Since you brought them up…I believe it was the Human Be-In. There were 3 stages at the Polo Fields. I remember being alongside Mad River playing the most complicated rock music I’d ever heard. They finished a number when I could hear Down on Me! I looked at Mad River’s drummer and said, Big Brother? He nodded and pointed with a drum stick to the other side of the field. I ran over and somehow got on a speaker cabinet while Janis sang-maybe 5 feet away.
good video, mazzy charlatans and Mad river, i def did not know about those bands!!
@randydoak6638
0 seconds ago
You missed The Electric Flag’s Long Time Comin’. That record is on my A list. By the way, Nicky Hopkins was also a member of the original Jeff Beck band.
B-team. Love the B-team.
Love me some Dan Hicks. Also, surprised to hear Sopwith Camel mentioned = another fav..Mazza, you're da best.
Great video.
I know Lee Michaels did a version of "Murder In My Heart". I just listened to that IABD Marrying Maidens yesterday! It's a wonderful LP. Also a big fan of Dan Hicks, especially those Blue Thumb records.
I grew up in the Bay Area when the music scene was emerging with all the legendary bands and I will always consider the ultimate Bay Area psychedelic band to be "Cheap Thrills". Second I'd consider "Volunteers"
I assume you mean those albums. Not bands 🤷🏻♂️
right. But wow, "Cheap Thrills" is more like a friend than an album to me.@@mazzysmusic
Very interesting again, danke. 🤙🇩🇪
Thank you too!
The meandering was the best part.
I love the Chocolate Watch Band(Watchband).
I had a MG album Great Grape. (When I still had my records, now cd's) with almost the same cover. Love Bark.
I like that mother earth record cover, those colors blend real nice.
I was just getting bummed imagine because I was listening to caravanserai I'm thinking just how great the music was back in the day nothing today comes close to any of that SHIT
I need the tower mono of now way out!!! Love CW
Hey Mazzy, is it just me or is Graham Parker and the Rumour not getting the love it deserves? Thanx
Yep and the band Family😢
Massy, you mention H.P. Lovecraft, but you didn't mention the one song that caught my ear from this album. "The White Ship." Maybe not as good as I thought? Oh well.. lolol thanks man! Always enjoy your selections.
That HP Lovecraft sounds interesting- I have a great secondhand record shop near me (I live in a small town but 3 record shops have started up near me!) hopefully they have it.
I’m loving when artists do traditional songs: particularly Gilgarry Mountain (Whiskey in the Jar, also covered by Thin Lizzy and Metallica)by Peter, Paul and Mary. I just picked up a 1973 copy of Angel Clare by Art Garfunkel and he did a beautiful version of Barbara Allen.
I’m hunting down more artists who feature traditional songs.
Loved Dan Hicks. Had Mad River and HP Lovecraft. Wow! has some fine tracks and a favourite Can't Be So Bad, still played often. The Country Joe justifiably a 'B' album. Steve Miller, first five fine albums. Third Week is also a fave. Not to forget Fever Tree, who get much forgotten.
You mentioned my favorite San Francisco bands in the first 4 minutes, more of a L.A. band guy, I do have an affection for Jefferson Airplane, love everything up to Bark funny enough, and Country Joe, sorta did for the 60's what Dead Kennedy's did for the 80's, a voice of subversive tendencies and good jams, Dan Hicks is a world unto himself, smoked enough to Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks to agree, he belongs at least one foot, in the Psychedelic camp, if not for his earlier work in beat groups like The Charlatans, beat groups like The Count Five and Chocolate Watchband ect. a lot like the L.A. bands. Fun. Cheers
All good music. ✌🏼
indeed@@mazzysmusic
I really like that Mad River debut- the song ‘Wind Chimes’ is a great - their 2nd album and final album ‘Paradise Bar & Grill’ is a mix of their usual sounded and country influences that is good too
Love the 2nd HP Lovecraft album more than their debut and is pure psychedelia
I totally agree about HP Lovecraft's 2nd album. And I think the Mad River album is worth mentioning for Rick Griffin's amazing MR logo.
We played a boatload of Dan HIcks & His Hot Licks on WZZQ-FM (then located in Jackson, Mississippi) in the '70s and into the early '80s..."I Scare Myself," of course, along with "Walkin' One and Only," "Where's the Money?" "Shorty Falls in Love," and "By Hook or by Crook." Played stuff off his solo IT HAPPENED ONE BITE..."Garden in the Rain," "Cruisin'," and "Cloud My Sunny Mood." Yeah, we were a wonderfully bizarre radio station. And we mustn't forget Thomas Dolby's stunning cover of "I Scare Myself" on his THE FLAT EARTH elpee. We also played a lot of Quicksilver..."Fresh Air," and "Edward the Mad Shirtgrinder," to be sure. Hey, it was Mississippi in the '70s and early '80s...at least we tried! (With thanks to the late David Adcock, the late Sergio Fernandez, and the perennially late but still alive Perez, et. al...)
Just love mad river…wind chimes so so good
An English punk band The Banned did a great version of Little Girl in 1977, they even played it live on Top of the Pops and made the top 40 chart!
It's funny thinking about the attitude a lot of Brits had towards the San Franciscan scene back in the day. You are right in saying a lot of us thought the bands and music a little self indulgent. I didn't buy any of the albums you talk about back then, though I'm more appreciative now.
Nice compilation. I might add "The Serpent Power" on Vanguard, only release from 1967. A bit on the folk side of things with elements of psychedelia but definitely worth a listen. As far as Sons of Champlin go, I actually think their 3rd release "Follow Your Heart" (1971) as well as ""Welcome To The Dance" (1973) are pretty strong, especially "Follow Your Heart" which rivals their 1st IMO. The horns are gone so to me it sounds a bit more uncluttered.
Shout out to Texan "Powell St John" on Mother Earth's "Living with the Animals", who also worked with Joplin and 13th Floor Elevators, and is responsible for writing and singing three stand out tracks; the title "Living with the Animals", "Marvel Group" and "The Kingdom of Heaven is Within You"
A couple of albums Big Brother made post-Janis weren’t too bad. Different sound and Nick Gravenites and Kathi McDonald on vocals. Worth checking out.
As much as they are a hodgepodge of a continuously disintegrating band and a studio creation, those two Chocolate Watch Band LPs are just sooooo freaking deaking good, Mr Mazzzzz.
Some of these would be on my A list, like Chocolate Watchband. love the 2nd blue cheer, my favorite. Read a whole story about Mad River. Apparently Capitol sped up the tape thinking it was too sludgy or something and to appeal to the SF psych crowd. They did so without the bands' knowledge of course. Their 2nd lp is pretty cheap and quite interesting too.
Chocolate Watchband had personnel/management problems too
Their manager brought in session musicians and a different vocalist that recorded large parts of the Inner Mystique
JK. And Co suddenly one summer 1968 is an unknown masterpiece!!!
Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks are fun live
Fun list. Brought back memories of seeing and hearing Dan Hick & His Hot Licks at the Bear’s Lair on the Cal campus the December night before we drove to the disaster that was Altamont. Dan and company were the definite highlights.
Would have to have seen albums from Bay Area bands such as Cold Blood ( on Bill Graham’s Fillmore label i believe), and at that age Lydia Pense pretty much guaranteed my blood was Not cold! Or maybe Seatrain or even Redwing , who used to play at UC Davis while i was there, and recorded on Fantasy.
Correction: Cold Blood’s first albums were on San Francisco records
That three part charlatans poster is great , love all that Mouse and Kelley,Rick Griffin Wes Wilson Victor Moscosco posters etc, I just love it all
Love the first twoother earth albums
And Moby grape are fantastic , I've got a great eighties album of Theirs with a fabulous mouse and Kelly cover,it's very good
And Moby grape are fantastic , I've got a great eighties album of Theirs with a fabulous mouse and Kelly cover,it's very good. I have a lot of those records,...outside inside is the best blue cheer LP
Checked out that Dan Hicks album and was surprised when I listened to the ‘I Scare Myself’ track. I had heard it before by Thomas Dolby on his ‘The Flat Earth’ album and had always assumed it was a Dolby original.
That moby grape jam record has some great guitar work.
There was once a time full of delights, alas....
I thought we were going to do a SF vs LA bands. You chickened out.
We should do that together
charlatans were incredible - good for you for mentioning them!
Don’t really know why you never mentioned Beau Brummels, they released in 2021 Turn Around-The Complete Recordings 1964-1970, or are they in a higher category? As they had hits right of the bat!
I’ve mentioned them many times in other videos as they are a favorite of mine ✌🏼
Hey Mr Maz!
I'm not really a fan of psych rock, but I like some of the bands when they went country.
Mad River is a case in point, I don't like their first album but their countrified second outing is more up my street. Lead singer and songwriter Lawrence Hammond, would go on to put out a great country singer-songwriter album called Coyote's Dream in 1976.
He probably made a packet when his song John Deere Tractor was recorded by The Judds. Just as well, as I doubt the first version by The Youngblood's Jerry Corbitt made him much.
Hed
I just stumbled on the solo Cobett record in this collection I’m curating. Haven’t heard it yet. ✌🏼 but love all the Youngblood’s Raccoon records projects.
@@mazzysmusic Nice. Corbitt's first is good, still has some psych elements, but it it's his second which I think is marvellous. There are also a couple of live albums he recorded with Charlie Daniels which are really worth picking up if you come across them.
@@mazzysmusic I just picked up a bluegrass record by a group called High Country, which was produced by Lowell "Banana" Levinger from The Youngbloods and is on the Racoon label. Good stuff.
I had that Blue Cheer album. Blue Cheer went on in various incarnation through the years. I believe that Dickie Peterson was the only constant during that time. This may of may not be true but the rumor was that Owsley Stanley provided Blue Cheer with that wall of Marshalls. I saw them on the Mike Douglas Show. When Blue Cheer Played, the video got al wavy which I assume was due to the guitar volume was interfering with the studio cameras.
There's a video on YT of Blue Cheer on American Band Stand playing a song from their first album. Mind bending.
No place for The Serpent Power then - surely they'll not be in the C-List/Third division?
H P Lovecraft did write a few of their own songs - a highlight of the first album - The White Ship, is classic SF psychedelia imo. Agree about Quicksilver - after the first two albums they're like a different (and inferior) band.
Look forward to The C-List edition with Stoneground, Loading Zone, Tongue & Groove, Savage Resurrection, Linn County and The New Tweedy Brothers!
Norman ayer sábado estuve viendo tus vídeos y pensé comentar que hicieras un vídeo sobre las bandas de San Francisco que no fueron famosas. Tuve ayer una premonición? Gracias desde Sevilla Spain.
H.P. Lovecraft's 2nd album was outstanding! So was QMS "Shady Grove"What a shame. Moby Grapes "Wow" 1st - the FM Underground stations played "Funky Tunk" a lot.2nd - I think the reason Arthur Godfrey was on the lp was courtesy of Peter Lewis, (Loretta Young's son). 3rd - I remember that contest, KFRC read submitted poems/lyrics over the air. I never knew who the winner was, until now. The Los Angeles AM station had the same contest with "Buffalo Springfield" as the band. The winning song was "The hour of not quite rain" that was on Springfield's album "Last time around."
Probably the best English band to emulate the San Francisco sound, certainly folk/rock were Fairport Convention, especially their first two albums imo, Eastern Rain from What We Did on Our Holidays is a fine example 😊
Almost the entire first LP has a West Coast vibe to it. They never really sounded like that again. Great underrated LP.
Yes some groups and singers didn't chart or get to sell their music. And it wasn't because they weren't good either. It was all Jefferson Airplane and the Doors etc. Not that their music wasn't good , but they got the radio airplay.
man you own great albums. i have to ask, what is the yellow and pink lp over your right ( my left ) shoulder?
It's the deluxe edition of the Extreme Witchcraft album by Eels.
Great records. My reissue of Inner Mystique lp lists Baby Blue, but is not on the record. Anyone else have that pressing? Problem maybe with Dylan ? Murder in my heart for the judge was covered by Three Dog Night.
Just to add and may or may not fit your theme; along with "Mad River" as bands that relocated to the Bay Area, I would also include The Youngbloods "Elephant Mountain" (1969), HP Lovecraft - "II" (1968) and The Wizards from Kansas - self titled (1970). All these LP's were heavily influenced by their relocation to the Bay Area.
As a San Franciscan don't you have a copy of Neighb'rhood Childr'n on Acta in your collection?
I saw somebody yesterday buying a copy of Bark that he said didn't have the record in it...I guess he just wanted the bag!
Yeah Bagism ✌🏼
Recommend any buffy st Marie maz ✌🇬🇧
Thanks, Mazzy: love Together by Country Joe & The Fish. Not a fan of the Valenti QMS. As you say, the first 2 lps are classics.
I’ve never seen or heard the Mad River album. Including bands from Los Altos and San Jose is fine but including HP Lovecraft from Chicago makes no sense. Similar to digital gramophone not making sense. I’m most likely going to purge Wow but I think I’ll do a Moby Grape video first. I need to get the 2nd and 3rd Blue Cheer albums. The first Country Joe and the Fish album is great. The 2nd one is almost as good. The 3rd album is weaker. The 4th is weaker still. The songs just weren’t there anymore. I like the first two Quicksilver albums but the later ones were kind of boring to me. I think they didn’t have enough Maui Wowie. I always liked Bark.
john girton lives here in nevada city and plays all the time, a real friendly nice guy
No Chocolate Watchband? Unforgivable
But of course we still love you Mazzy
Moby Grape's second album was one I hoped would have been better. I guess that is another aspect of being unfocused. Jerry Miller's guitar work holds my attention. Then there is the problem of of led Zeppelin's use of one of the jams lyrics. I could never get into to Loosen Up Naturally. Terry Haggerty's guitar work is pretty interesting. Mark Isham when on greater success. I think that you got it right on your B-List. I do like Mother Earth though never a major act. You have to trust the People more than record exes and producers. As an aside: Steve Miller Band came from points east as did Paul Butterfield. The vibe in SF was more inviting I guess.
Great sideways approach into the SF Sound. I wanted to like Mad River because of the cover art. The singing is too off-putting though, and the songs aren't quite there. The White Ship is as dreamy and beautiful a psychedelic song as ever existed, but the rest of that H.P. Lovecraft album doesn't match it. Nice to hear some nice words about Bark. I also love the Fish's third, Together, which still features enough cool Barry Melton soloing. About the British rockers and their sometimes condescending appraisal of the Bay Area scene: meandering solos? plenty of those on Wheels of Fire and the first two Zeppelin records.
How dare thee Mazzy ? Just For Love does not deserve to be in anyone's B-list especially if they haven't had the experience on psychedelics. Maybe by the time of What About Me you may tire of the production but I still love the sound of Dino's voice & put Just For Love in my Top 10 faves.
PS Can you include the Scottish group Northwind's album "Sister, Brother, Lover" on the Regal Zonophone label in one of your videos.
I do have several of these and I agree that they're all pretty good albums but do have some filler on them.
The quicksilver album definitely has too much Valente on it. I missed Gary Duncan's vocals on it. I get the feeling that kantner & slick held back some of their best tunes for sunfighter and left them off bark. I wouldn't miss never argue with a German or thunk if they were off the album.
Quiche Slicer?
What about the greatest name for a band...Fifty Foot Hose. ????
Not for nothing double negative I know please start doing some relative music I'm an old guy definitely older than you and I still want some relative music seems like you're into that whole San Francisco vibe here on the other coast not so much maybe my favorite West Coast album is live at the Fillmore
I scare myself…
You scare me too 😎
@@mazzysmusic We are polar opposites politically but I’d love to meet and shoot the shit.❤️🎶
Hmmm so you like Bark after all. I loved the whole Grunt thing at the time as did my school friends - one friend even had the Papa John album. Sunfighter was better than Bark and Baron Von Tollbooth also had some good stuff.
But why are you always so down on Long John Silver? Ok it's not folk rock psychedelic JA, but that would have been passe in 72. In England Long John Silver got good reviews everywhere and was always a big favourite with the fanatical UK west coast / Frisco fanzines. I think of LJS as the best and heaviest Hot Tuna LP but with Grace wailing over the top. How could you not like that? Were you upset by all the blasphemy? Come on, let's hear it for Grunt. Or were you offended by Grace singing about seven inches of pleasure? Hey Mazzy, loosen up!
Imagine that, the stuffy Brits showing pretentiousness over hitting perfect notes while ignoring substance. 😜
English not Scottish but we are constantly reminded of English exceptionalism up here.
Kinda disrespectful to relegate these artists to the dustbin of rock history. The labels didn’t respect artistry, didn’t even understand rock, much less psyche, didn’t provide great producers or give these bands a fair shake. In total, the SF Bay Area was a hotbed of creativity. Songwriter Dino Valente is a good example. He wrote the Youngbloods hit “Get Together,” formed Quicksilver and wrote some of their greatest counterculture anthems, but languished in jail for a pot bust. You can do better Mazzy, you have this platform, go deeper please