 |
|
Review by Richie Unterberger
After almost 30 years, there's finally a definitive document of one of the first San Francisco psychedelic groups -- or, at least, as definitive a document as surviving tapes allow. This compilation assembles 23 tracks from their demos for the Kama Sutra and Autumn labels, as well as a couple of later sessions recorded at San Francisco area studios. Much of this material has been bootlegged previously, on both vinyl and tape, but here it appears in its best fidelity to date by far. Those expecting psychedelic fireworks will be surprised. There's some acid-soaked folk-rock here (most notably "We're Not on the Same Trip" and "I Saw Her," the two best cuts), but on the whole it's much more of a travelog of roots music, with White blues, jugband, folk, country, and music hall influences much more to the fore. Sure the Charlatans never really got the opportunity to flex their muscles in the studio, but it's also true that they didn't possess either the songwriting or instrumental chops to rival the Jefferson Airplane or Moby Grape. If you gear your expectations to the appropriate level, there's plenty of good-time mid-to-late-'60s Bay Area rock to savor here. Big Beat's meticulous packaging and programming also ensures that an important chapter in psychedelic/San Francisco music has been properly presented for the first time.
Track List:
1. CODINE BLUES
2. ALABAMA BOUND
3. I ALWAYS WANTED A GIRL LIKE YOU
4. I SAW HER
5. HOW CAN I MISS YOU WHEN YOU WON'T GO AWAY
6. 32-20
7. WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME TRIP
8. WALKIN'
9. SWEET SUE, JUST YOU
10. EAST VIRGINIA
11. THE SHADOW KNOWS
12. I GOT MINE
13. STEPPIN' IN SOCIETY
14. DEVIL GOT MY MAN
15. BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
16. 'LONG COME A VIPER
17. SIDETRACK
18. ALABAMA BOUND
19. NUMBER ONE
20. BABY WON'T YOU TELL ME
21. JACK OF DIAM0NDS
22. THE BLUES AIN'T NOTHIN
23. GROOM N' CLEAN AD
enjoy & share
After almost 30 years, there's finally a definitive document of one of the first San Francisco psychedelic groups -- or, at least, as definitive a document as surviving tapes allow. This compilation assembles 23 tracks from their demos for the Kama Sutra and Autumn labels, as well as a couple of later sessions recorded at San Francisco area studios. Much of this material has been bootlegged previously, on both vinyl and tape, but here it appears in its best fidelity to date by far. Those expecting psychedelic fireworks will be surprised. There's some acid-soaked folk-rock here (most notably "We're Not on the Same Trip" and "I Saw Her," the two best cuts), but on the whole it's much more of a travelog of roots music, with White blues, jugband, folk, country, and music hall influences much more to the fore. Sure the Charlatans never really got the opportunity to flex their muscles in the studio, but it's also true that they didn't possess either the songwriting or instrumental chops to rival the Jefferson Airplane or Moby Grape. If you gear your expectations to the appropriate level, there's plenty of good-time mid-to-late-'60s Bay Area rock to savor here. Big Beat's meticulous packaging and programming also ensures that an important chapter in psychedelic/San Francisco music has been properly presented for the first time.
Track List:
1. CODINE BLUES
2. ALABAMA BOUND
3. I ALWAYS WANTED A GIRL LIKE YOU
4. I SAW HER
5. HOW CAN I MISS YOU WHEN YOU WON'T GO AWAY
6. 32-20
7. WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME TRIP
8. WALKIN'
9. SWEET SUE, JUST YOU
10. EAST VIRGINIA
11. THE SHADOW KNOWS
12. I GOT MINE
13. STEPPIN' IN SOCIETY
14. DEVIL GOT MY MAN
15. BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
16. 'LONG COME A VIPER
17. SIDETRACK
18. ALABAMA BOUND
19. NUMBER ONE
20. BABY WON'T YOU TELL ME
21. JACK OF DIAM0NDS
22. THE BLUES AIN'T NOTHIN
23. GROOM N' CLEAN AD
enjoy & share