More Rare 1960's Sunshine Pop Psychedelic Compilations

Almost half a year has passed since I decided that 2022 would be psychedelic, too! In my never ending quest to mine music of the rare 60's sunshine pop sound, I enjoyed listening to more new compilations this month. Read on for my recommendations...

Treacle Toffee World: Further Pop Psych Sounds from the Apple Era

The sequel to An Apple a Day, which condenses Good as Gold Apple Records eighty-two  track collection of songs from the vaults. This follow up features more songs from Good as Gold such as Listen to the Sky by Sands, Penny for the Wind by Denis Couldry & Smile (which was on Piccadilly Sunshine: Part 17 and played on last week's Psych Out radio show by Charlie Stinchcomb), and How Does it Feel? by The Iveys.

 

Try a Little Sunshine: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1969

This treasure trove of feel-good psych pop sound takes its name from the song by The Factory, and has mellow music such as What a Groovy Day by Harmony Grass, Just What I Was Looking For Today by The Spectrum, Magic Car by Edwards Hand, and Mindless Child of Motherhood by Ewans Stevens, originally by The Kinks. Obviously, it's on the Cherry Red Records label so you know it's good! No Reason by Shere Khan is on here too, which I had previously discovered on the mod compilation Portobello Explosion.

 Sixties Pop

Another treat from Cherry Red Records. Don't let the cover fool you into thinking this is a mainstream chart toppers collection from the era. With a focus on mod and reggae from the UK, the best bands on the mix are Gnomes of Zurich playing Please Mr. Sun and Publicity Girl following Robb & Dean Douglas' Gentle People and I Can Make It With You.

Looking at the Pictures in the Sky: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1968

Another fun-filled collection of rare sunny psychedelic with many overlapping song from Good As Gold, this set contains Children of Tomorrow by Mike Stuart Span, Bluebell Wood by Wimple Winch,  She by Tuesday's Children, Sycamore Sid by Focal Point, and Birthday by Peter and the Wolves.

Come Join My Orchestra: The British Baroque Pop Sound 1967-78

This auditory cabinet of curiosities is perfect for exploring the more refined side of British psychedelia. For fans of The Zombies Odessey & Oracle and Bee Gees First Album, this collection of musical masterpieces such as Sticks and Stones by Warm Sounds, Charlotte Rose by Majority One, Strange People by Bachdenkel, and If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind by Edwards Hand conjures up imagery of sunshine and rainbows.

Psychedelic Pseventies Winter Playlist

Second snowstorm of the season coming at ya this wild weekend! Nothing to do but stay inside and cuddle with cool cats. And make playlists of course. Here's one perfect for a cold winter's day, featuring all 60's and 70's psychedelic rock and folk. Thank you to the two Toms who shared suggestions for songs. Time to party like it's Snowpocalypse 2015 in Baltimore!

Hazy Shade of Winter - Simon and Garfunkel 

"Look around, leaves are brown, there's a patch of snow on the ground" So the song's more folk than psych. However, it's a 60's classic that we all know and love, so it had to be included as the opener.

House of Glass - Glass Family

"Come inside, on a winter's day" This trippy track opens up with an invitation into the House of Glass, where "Love can be seen, and it's such a gas!" A good counterpart to this song Throw Stones by the Stratfords.

It's Now Winter's Day - Tommy Roe

"With fireplaces burning, and records that keep turning..." Bubblegum pop singer Tommy Roe slows things down with this song about the quiet peace of a winter's day.

Winter Song - The Lemon Dips

Not the Lemon Pipers (love that band!), the Lemon Dips delivering psychedelic proto-punk blues freakbeat sounds "Oh it's not safe to roam, so you better stay at home, now that winter is everywhere..."

Let the Cold Winds Blow - The Turtles

"Well let the cold winds blow, and let the chill freeze hell..." Fun fast psychedelic pop rock about the apocalypse from the Turtles. "Let the cold winds blow, across the human race" Everyone knows it's windy!

Winter Slutch - Ellison

"Winter morning, the bus is crowded, winter slutch, the snow is melting..." Sounds like my work commute on the Slopkins shuttle tomorrow morning. That 70's song on the playlist from hard-rockers Ellison (name inspired by the sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison?) with maddening effects.

Wintersong - Lindisfarne

"When winter's shadowy fingers first pursue you down the street, and your boots no longer lie about the cold around your feet, do you spare a thought for summer whose passage is complete?" UK band Lindisfarne is perfect for reflecting on the memories of yesterday and know that spring will come again...

Tales of Brave Ulysses - Cream

"You thought the leaden winter would bring you down forever..."

A Glade Somewhere - Forest

Come the winter, she is gone, I wish I'd never met her. When will I forget her?" Favorite folk band Forest on their album Full Circle sing this sad story of a lost love and the pain that winter brings.

Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out...

Do you remember rock & roll radio? My new boyfriend Tom Brown has a portable radio with a big antenna! So I started thinking, I've got to tune into the local stations more often. My record player has a built-in radio, but it doesn't pick up anything good. I need to get a cute vintage green portable radio soon. So I have to livestream some stations from the internet sometimes. Mostly music, nobody likes WYPR. Here's what I've been getting into...

Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio - The Ramones

90.5 WKHS

A high school radio station?! Haha, I bet they like the song Rock & Roll High School. Tune in tuesday nights at 8:00 for Psyched Out serving psychedelic specialties. Then Saturday morning at 9:00 for The Coach, who will school you in prog-rock and heavy hitting sounds of the 70's! Then, tune in at 3:00 pm for the rebroadcast of the Philly radio.

She Turns My Radio On -Dawn Brothers

94.3 WOWD

Takoma Park radio does a show Sunday mornings at 9:00 Forbidden Alliance with Weasel and Robbie White playing old Marble Bar punk bands. Also check out the contemporary psychedelic showcase that starts at 4:00 "21st Pscentury Psych" with hipster supreme host Brian Horrorwitz!

Radio Radio - Elvis Costello and the Attractions

89.7 WTMD

Towson college radio blasting basic "alternative rock" which recently sold out to WYPR sometimes has good music if you like to stay in the loop with what's new. Saturday nights the dirty soul party starts at 9:00. If you really want to let loose, do as my 70 year old coworker does and smoke just one joint while listening to Weasel's Wild Weekend. Detour comes on Sundays at 5:00 pm to 7:00 an interesting show playing folk and world music by Paul Hartman.

90.1 WMFU

Check out Rupert from Normals Records and Books favorite station live for on New Jersey! 

Bonus: SOMA.FM a commercial-free underground/alternative station broadcasting worldwide. Good programs include "Left Coast 70's", "Seven Inch Soul", ""Secret Agent" and "Underground 80's"

Nuggets, Pebbles and Other Clone Compilations From the Psychedelic 60's

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!