Your prog-rock psych protégée has been busy while you were away. It all started with an exclusive article on the Ultimate Guide to Forest Folk Psychedelic from the 60's and 70's that I published on my other blog, entertheforestagain.blogspot.com check out that article. Then, on Wednesday I put together a report of the best psychedelic compilations such as Nuggets and other clones that I found on the app Hoopla. My library provides access to this app which offers free eBooks, movies, television shows, music, and graphic novels. Hoopla can be a little hard to browse, so I had to dig deep to discover these albums...
For those unaware, Nuggets is a set of compilation albums of rare psychedelic songs from the 60's. We're not talking The Cowsills or Strawberry Alarm Clock, they're way overplayed. These albums are like long lost time capsules from a world that will never exist again. I've been checking out physical copies of these CDs from the library to rip to my PC and put on my phone like an old-school iPod. I have a musical mentor who offers suggestions. Because of his unparalleled knowledge of British 60's Psychedelic music and efforts to aid my quest in discovering these gems of sound, I was able to score a 4-disc set of Nuggets II: Original Artefacts From the British Empire and Beyond! I've been on a UK kick right now. This musical mining led to the discovery of a new genre: Shakespearean Psychedelic - specifically British bands performing songs based on the plays including Midsummer Night's Scene by John's Children and To Be or Not To Be by Yesterday's Children. I say, let the children play! On that note, it's not too much of a stretch to lump in Under the Greenwood Tree by Donovan which is from As You Like It. If anyone out there finds more songs to add to this playlist, send them my way! The success of Nuggets inspired other series such as Pebbles, Psychedelic States, and Back From the Grave. Read on and get ready to have your mind blown!
1. Poppies: Assorted Finery From the First Psychedelic Age
This is without a doubt, one of the best compilations I've found. Listening to it yielded two new discoveries: Sorcerella by Jefferson Lee (No, not Jefferson Airplane you basic bitches!) is one of the heaviest, trippiest and most epic songs I've ever heard. For lovers of the pretty things, Flower Eyes by Pasternak Progress earns a spot on my garden playlist!
2. Insane Times: 25 British Psychedelic Artefacts from the EMI Vaults
I've known about this album for a decade and was pleasantly surprised to find it on Hoopla. Monday Morning by Tales of Justine starts off my 60's Days of the Week Playlist (followed by the more mainstream Monday song by Mamas and the Papas)
3. Follow Me Down: Vanguard's Lost Psychedelic Era
Featuring fan favorites such as Serpent Power and Circus Maximus, this is a bit heavier than the others on the list. I haven't had time to fully explore this album yet, but its worth a listen.
4. Lost Nuggets From the 60's: Garage Rock
This was a rare treat. Better Things to Do by The Palace Guards has a classic garage rock feel, while Writing on the Wall by the Try-Angle rocks!
5. A Kaleidoscope of Sounds: Psychedelic and Freak beat Masterpieces
Now this is really where it's at! Featuring Say Those Magic Words by the Mockingbirds (one of my new favorite bands, adding to my birds playlist with The Yardbirds, The Byrds, and the lesser-known The Birds!) and Magic Potion by Open Mind, this compilation come highly recommended by yours truly!
6. I'm a Freak, Baby: A Journey Through British Heavy Psych and Hard Rock Underground Scene
When one has been mining 60's music for as long as I have, one must look beyond that era and into the 70's. As I mature, I find myself gravitating more towards some music from that era as I can't stay stuck in the 60's forever! Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Mickey Finn...this is the comedown period of psychedelic rock.
7. Where the Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets
This four disc box set is all about psychedelic music from Los Angeles, California which is where I'm from. Featuring all my favorite bands such as The Seeds, The Leaves and Love, you just haven't lived until you've heard this!
8.Good as Gold Artefacts of the Apple Era
I am going to spend days digging through this five disc set, featuring well-known bands like The Cyrkle, as well as an all-girl group Fanny who covered the Beatles song Hey Bulldog.
9. Double Whammy: A 1960's Garage Rock Rave-Up
The album kicks off with high-energy fan favorite Psychotic Reaction by The Count Five and the party never stops from there. Pure, raw 60's garage rock, what's not to love?
10. Transparent Days: West Coast Nuggets
With lineup of groups like The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and The Glass Family, this album is guaranteed to please. And just look at that cover art!
11. Pebbles: Lost Gems of the 60's
There are several volumes of these Pebbles compilations, and Hoopla had a handful of them available to listen. Definitely worth checking out!
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