The Kaleidoscope
Listen -Kaleidoscope – Egyptian Gardens – MP3
Listen -Kaleidoscope – If the Night – MP3
Greetings all.
I hope the arrival of a new week finds you well, or at least well enough for some tasty, Sunset Strip, belly-dancer, psyched up folk rock.
“Wha?” you say…
That would certainly be an appropriate reaction to such an oddball description, but when you hear ‘Egyptian Gardens’ by the Kaleidoscope I think you will agree with all of the above.
If you’re not hip to the US Kaleidoscope – and I make the distinction because the UK had its own incredible psyche band of the same name – then I suggest that after listening to today’s selection you head on over to Amazon and grab yourself a comp of their recordings.
Formed in 1965 the Kaleidoscope featured accomplished bluegrass musicians David Lindley and Chris Darrow, world music head Solomon Feldthouse, Chester Crill and John Vidican. If you have a chance to check out their debut LP ‘Side Trips’ it is immediately apparent that even in the ever expanding musical environment of the mid-60s they may have been too diverse for their own good. Equally apt playing folk rock, psyche, old time/good time jug band sounds or world music pastiches, the Kaleidoscope never really hit big at any level, though they managed to record four albums for Epic between 1967 and 1970.
‘Egyptian Gardens’ is a wild, trippy journey to a Middle Eastern bazaar with the sounds of the oud and finger cymbals riding a standard 1966/67 guitar riff. If the verse is in any way jarring, wait until they let loose in the chorus.
‘If the Night’ is a much more conventional slice of 1967, with solid folk rock guitar and harmonies flavored with a touch of baroque harpsichord.
Interestingly enough, the Kaleidoscope would go on to a couple of very interesting collaborations, recording a 45 with Larry Williams and Johnny Guitar Watson, and backing Leonard Cohen on a couple of the songs on his debut LP ‘Songs of Leonard Cohen’. David Lindley went on to a major career as a studio musician and with his own band El Rayo-X.
I hope you dig the tunes and I’ll be back later in the week with something cool.
Peace
Larry
PS Head over to Funky16Corners for stomping soul.
4 Comments
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Hi music lovers, got an album or 7″ sleeve that you’ve always loved, or really hated? Why not do your own version in pen, pencil, paint, collage or whatever takes your fancy and send it in to Sleevie Wonders for the world to marvel at. Come and visit, see what we’ve got so far.
Back in the mid 80s I bought a Kaleidoscope ‘Best Of’ on Edsel Records and on first hearing it was a WTF moment. I just didn’t get it apart from the instant West Coast psych of ‘Pulsating Dream’…..
But now that I’m older and wiser and a little more open to experimentation and stranger sounds (unlike those mid 80s when it had to be fuzz and jangle) Kaleidoscope have become a firm favourite.
Great stuff, dude! They were the best. Right up there with The Doors, West Coast pop Art Experimental Band, Seeds, & 13th. Floor Elevators. Many thanx…
I have to pass this tag to fellow bloggers who have love the same music I do.
I visit your blog most days and always find music I love here so I am tagging you.
Rules are:
1. You have to post a song that makes you happy.
2. You can tag as many people as you want, there is no limit.
3. Say at least one thing about each blog you tag, that will make them smile, something nice about their blog that makes you smile when you read it!
Follow this link to check out where I have tagged you. http://apatchworkofflesh.blogspot.com/2009/11/you-got-good-taste.html