Iron Leg Rewind – Two By the Lamp of Childhood

The Lamp of Childhood

Listen/Download – The Lamp of Childhood – Two O’Clock Morning

Listen/Download – The Lamp of Childhood – You Can’t Blame Me

Greetings all.

As a record collector of long standing, I often find myself entranced by the output of a particular label, usually because the imprint in question had its own special “sound”.

One such label is the storied California folk rock house of Dunhill.

Started as a production entity for the music of Johnny Rivers, Dunhill (led by Lou Adler) became a label in 1965.

Though it released all kinds of music, it is best known (rightly so) as one of the premiere producers of mid-decade, California folk rock.

Dunhill was home to the Mamas and Papas, Grass Roots, Barry McGuire, PF Sloan, the Thomas Group and today’s artists, the Lamp of Childhood.

Lamp of Childhood had a very interesting line up. The group’s founder was Jim Hendricks, who had been in the Big Three and the Mugwumps with (and was married to) Cass Elliot, featured a pre-Mothers of Invention Billy Mundi on drums, as well as the songwriting, keyboard and production input of Gabriel Mekler, who would go on to produce Steppenwolf.

Lamp of Childhood only ever released three 45s for Dunhill (all of which are excellent), and had a minor hit with 1967’s ‘No More Running Around’.

I find their output particularly interesting because their records encapsulate all that was great about the 1966 LA sound. They managed to combine folk rock, pop and the very first stirrings of the more progressive, psychedelic sound that was on its way in at the time.

There’s no better example than today’s selections. ‘Two O’Clock Morning’. Co-written by Hendricks, bassist Mike Tani and lead guitarist Fred Olsen, ‘Two O’Clock Morning’ features a rolling, Taxman-inspired beat, Mamas and Papas-style harmonies and a really interesting arrangement that incorporates brass and strings in an unusual way.

‘You Can’t Blame Me’ is slightly more straight ahead in a harmony/folk rock vibe, and includes some very cool lead guitar, which reminds me a little of the Buffalo Springfield.

After leaving the Lamp of Childhood, Jim Hendricks went on to write ‘Summer Rain’ for Johnny Rivers.

The group’s 45s aren’t terribly expensive, but they can be kind of scarce.

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

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If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!

_______________________________________________

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.

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Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #95

Why hello there!

Playlist

Outsiders – Keep On Running (Capitol)
Outsiders – What Makes You So Bad You Weren’t Brought Up That Way (Capitol)
Sidekicks – He’s My Friend (RCA)
Sidekicks – Out of the Dark (RCA)
James Flemming – Alone Alone (Capitol)
James Flemming – Things Have Changed (Capitol)

Crome Syrcus – Take It Like a Man (Command)
Crome Syrcus – Never Come Down (Command)
Crome Syrcus – Crystals (Command)
Wind In the Willows – Park Avenue Blues (Capitol)

Sam Samudio – Goin’ Upstairs (Atlantic)
Sam Samudio – Let’s Burn Down The Cornfield (Atlantic)
Jaime Brockett – Saturday’s Child (Capitol)
Jaime Brockett – Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (Capitol)

The Zodiac – Aries (The Firefighter) (Elektra)
The Zodiac – Gemini (the Cool Eye) (Elektra)
The Zodiac – Leo (The Lord of Lights) (Elektra)
The Zodiac – Aquarius (The Lover of Life) (Elektra)

The Love Affair – Could I Be Dreaming (Muza)
The Love Affair – So Sorry (Muza)
The Love Affair – The Tree (Muza)
Sneetches – Flying On the Ground Is Wrong (Bus Stop)

Listen/Download -Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #95 – 180MB/256kbps

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It’s Iron Leg Radio time again!

We have a very cool show for you this month as we continue to dig into the new arrivals, with lots of groovy garage, pop, psychedelia, folk, blues and freakbeat!

Click here to subscribe to any of the Funky16Corners Radio Network shows!

So dig it, and I’ll see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

________________________________________________

If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!

_______________________________________________

PS Head over to Funky16Corners

The Hondells – Follow the Bouncing Ball

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Sandy Salisbury

Listen/Download – The Hondells – Follow the Bouncing Ball

Greetings all.

The tune I bring you today is one of those odd records where the name of the group seems to have long outlived its chart successes.

This has a lot to do with the fact that the Hondells were for all intents and purposes a studio aggregation, under the creative control of Gary Usher, an interesting fact that brings us forward a little bit in the story.

Though the Hondells are best remembered for their 1964 hit “Little Honda’ their discography continues all the way until 1970, passing right through the period where Usher was working on the Sagittarius project, and Curt Boettcher (as well as his band of harmony singing compadres).

Legend (and my own ears) suggests that Boettcher et al cross paths with the Hondells story singing backup on the 1967 45 ‘Just One More Chance’ (covering the UK’s Outer Limits) b/w ‘Yes To You’ (written by Diane Hildebrand and Robb Royer).

‘Follow the Bouncing Ball’ was one of the Hondells last 45s, released in 1970.
Written by Albert Hammond and Scott English, ‘Follow the Bouncing Ball’ was clearly an attempt to latch onto the bubblegum craze, and while it is a very groovy pop record, it doesn’t seem to have met with any success.

That said, it brings the Usher/Boettcher connection full circle (though this 45 has production credited to Richard Burns) , with a lead vocal by the Millennium’s Sandy Salisbury. Salisbury had worked alongside Boettcher on projects like Tommy Roe’s ‘It’s Now Winter’s Day’, the Ballroom and of course the Millennium.

Salisbury was also the voice on Puppet’s version of Nilsson’s ‘Best Friend’ and recorded some great pop that went largely unreleased until the Millennium renaissance in the early 2000s.

If you dig the tune, and want to get yourself a copy, the 45 is fairly inexpensive.

I hope you dig the sounds, and I’ll see you next week.

Peace

Larry

 

________________________________________________

If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!

_______________________________________________

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.

Matthew Moore – Face In the Crowd

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Matthew Moore

Listen/Download – Matthew Moore – Face In the Crowd

Greetings all.

Today’s selection is something that popped up when I was digging around for David Gates’ pre-Bread work, and it turned out to have other interesting connections.

Matthew Moore seems to have gotten his start with the Plymouth Rockers, who recorded a few 45s for Warner Brothers and Valiant in 1964, then moved on to Matthew Moore Plus Four (both groups also featuring his brother Daniel) for one 45 for White Whale in 1965.

His first solo 45, ‘Face In the Crowd’ was recorded for Capitol in 1966.
Written by David Gates, and produced by Moore and Dan Dalton (also a member of Matthew Moore Plus Four), ‘Face In the Crowd’ is hook-filled garage folk with tight harmonies.

The flip, a mildy psyched out version of ‘St James Infirmary’ is also cool.

Moore went on to join The Moon, along with ex-Beach Boy David Marks. The Moon made two excellent (and hard to find) albums for Imperial in 1968 and 1969.

Interestingly, one of the songs Moore wrote for The Moon, ‘Faces’ was covered by the Four Freshmen.

Moore went on to write ‘Space Captain’ (which was recorded by both  Joe Cocker and Barbra Streisand) and record two albums in the late 70s for Caribou and Capitol.

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

________________________________________________

If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!

_______________________________________________

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.

Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #94

Why hello there!

Playlist

Fairport Convention – I’ll Keep It With Mine (A&M)
Deep Six – Strollin’ Blues (World Pacific)
Deep Six – Rising Sun (World Pacific)
Johnstons – The Urge For Going (Astor)
Johnstons – Both Sides Now (Astor)

St George and Tana – Without Your Heart (Kapp)
St George and Tana – 313 Crabtree (Kapp)
St George and Tana – Reno Nevada (Kapp)
St George and Tana – High Flying Bird (Kapp)
St George and Tana – Book of Rhythm Book of Rhyme (Kapp)
St George and Tana – Big Daddy’s Blues (Kapp)

Walker Brothers – My Love Is Growing (Philips)
Lulu – Morning Dew (Epic) 1968 arr John Paul Jones
Lulu – You and I (Epic)
Evie Sands – Maybe Tomorrow (A&M)
Jeff Bridges – Lost In Space (A&M)
Association – Yes I Will (Warner Brothers)
Association – I Am Up For Europe (Warner Brothers)

Yvonne Elliman – Can’t Explain (MCA)
Yvonne Elliman – Can’t Find My Way Home (Decca)
Eddie Cano and Nino Tempo – A Hard Days Night (Atco)
Eddie Cano and Nino Tempo – On Broadway (Atco)
Phoenix Authority – Journey To the Center of the Mind (Mainstream)
Phoenix Authority – Down On Me (Mainstream)
Harry J All Stars – Spyrone (Blank)

Listen/Download -Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #94 – 180MB/256kbps
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It’s Iron Leg Radio time again!

We have a very cool show for you this month dedicated to the new arrivals that flew through the Iron Leg mail slot in the last months of 2018. There is some very groovy folk rock, some pop, soul jazz and even some reggae!

Click here to subscribe to any of the Funky16Corners Radio Network shows!

So dig it, and I’ll see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

________________________________________________

If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!

_______________________________________________

PS Head over to Funky16Corners

Best of Iron Leg – ILDT#26 2nd Anniversary Mix

Iron Leg Digital Trip #26 – Super Duper 45RPM Folk Rock
Psychedelic Fuzz Dance Party!

Playlist

Bad Seeds – He’s Lying (Columbia)
Blue Things – You Can Live In Our Tree (RCA)
Ron-Dels – Picture of You (Smash)
The Wicked – The Spider and the Fly (Isabelle)
Beckett Quintet – It’s All Over Now Baby Blue (Gemcor)
Cast of Thousands – Girl What You Gonna Do (Tower)
Middle Window – Treasure Land (Garm)
New Breed – One More for the Good Guys (HBR)
HP Lovecraft – Wayfaring Stranger (Philips//Dunwich)
Five by Five – Hang Up (Paula)
Bards – Jabberwocky (Capitol)
Blues Magoos – We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet (Smash)
Bob Seger & the Last Heard – East Side Sound (Cameo)
Unlimited – You’re Never There (Century)
Them – Call My Name (Parrot)

Listen/Download Iron Leg Digital Trip #26 – 2nd Anniversary Mix

NOTE: This has been an exceptionally busy week, so I thought I’d dip back into the archives for a classic mix that hasn’t been reposted since it’s original appearance nearly ten years ago.  I Hope you dig it and I’ll see you all next week. – Larry

Greetings all.

The mix I bring you today has been assembled in celebration/commemoration of two years of blog-o-fication here at Iron Leg. When I started up Iron Leg – ignoring the little voice in my head that kept shouting that I’d never have enough time – I never figured I’d still be at it two years down the road.
Yet here we all are.
Though the write up will be a little shorter than I’m used to – since I am where I am – the music is (as always) of the finest quality, featuring a number of fairly recent acquisitions as well as some old faces from the crates. The vibe this time out is mostly garagey, with some prime folk rock, some psyched out fuzz and a couple of certified raveups.
Things get off to a jangly start with ‘He’s Lying’ by the Bad Seeds. I have to admit, when I bought this 45 I thought I was getting something by the legendary Texas punk band. When I got home and did a little research I discovered that this particular batch of Bad Seeds hailed not from the Lone Star state but rather from Kentucky. Both sides of this one are cool, and the flip will be featured here some time soon.
The Blue Things have appeared here before, and they remain one of my fave 60s bands, as capable with a beat number as they were with psyched out garage like the tune in this mix ‘You Can Live In Our Tree’. Dig the backward phased guitar and that Gregorian Chant-like chorus. Trippy.
I featured the more rocking flipside of the Ron-Dels’ folky ‘Picture of You’ a few weeks ago. ‘Picture…’ features a cool guitar effect that sounds like someone messing with the volume knob.
I have no idea who ‘The Wicked’ were, but am pretty sure that ‘The Spider and the Fly’ is one of the sickest records ever committed to vinyl, and provided the soundtrack to countless poor slobs who, thanks to lysergic assistance were suddenly convinced they could fly. Oddly enough the flip side is a fairly tame cover of Gary Lewis and the Playboys’ ‘This Diamond Ring’.
The Beckett Quintet hailed recorded for the Hollywood, CA label Gemcor, but actually came from New Mexico. Their blazing ‘No Correspondence’ appeared in the Iron Leg First Anniversary mix. The tune I bring you today is that record’s flipside, a cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’, which was apparently a local radio hit in California.
The Cast of Thousands were in fact a Texas based band that recorded the slamming ‘Girl What You Gonna Do’ in 1966. This is as prime a slice of pure, mid-60s garage punk, with the combo organ, ringing guitar and snotty vocals as you’re ever likely to hear. I LOVE this one.
I know nothing about the Middle Window, or their oddly named record label GARM. I can say with assurance that ‘Treasure Land’ is a very nice bit of melodic garage pop.
The New Breed is one of those bands that recorded for HBR (like the Unrelated Segments) who’s records I’m always looking for but never finding – until last month. It was while pawing through a box of one-dollar 45s that I saw the HBR label and was stunned when it turned out to be a mint copy of the New Breed 45. The band came from the Bay Area in California and is best known as the starting place for one Timothy B Schmidt, later of an insignificant, barely known band called the Eagles. While I’ll feature this 45s well-known a-side ‘Want Ad Reader’ at a later date, I had to include the surprising flipside ‘One More For the Good Guys’ which has a bit of an Avalon Ballroom feeling.
‘Wayfaring Stranger’ – an adaptation of a traditional tune – was the first 45 and the lead-off track on the debut album by Chicago’s H.P. Lovecraft. Featuring the folkier sound of their decidedly psychey sound. The 45 comes on a cool Philips label with a Dunwich logo on the side.
The Five by Five came blazing out of Magnolia, Arkansas with the psyched out guitar of ‘Hang Up’ (the flip of which is a fairly cool cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Fire’).
The Bards were a Pacific Northwest band who recorded for the Picadilly label. Their adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky’ appeared on the flip of a Curtis Mayfield cover. They later went on to record as Moses Lake, produced by none other than Curt Boettcher.
If there’s anyone here who doesn’t know ‘We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet’ by the Blues Magoos – for all intents and purposes the national anthem of garage punk – I’d be surprised. I just happened to pull it out of the box and decided to include it in the mix.
‘East Side Story’ by Bob Seger and the Last Heard is one of my all time faves. It was covered in the US by the Caretakers and in the UK by the St Louis Union. ‘East Side Sound’, basically an instrumental dub of the song appears on the b-side of the Last Heard’s Cameo 45.
If anyone has any information about the Unlimited, please drop me a line. They recorded the jangly ‘You’re Never There’ for the custom pressing label Century. Based in Saugus, California they pressed records by church choirs, high school bands, rock groups and anyone who had the dough and the wherewithal to send in a tape.
We close things out with a record that is not “technically” garage, but since it’s by the Irish group that launched a thousand garage bands, it’ll do. Them’s ‘Call My Name’ is from their second US album and displays many of the trademarks (including Van Morrison’s wail) of the nascent garage punk movement in the US.
That all said, I hope you dig the mix and I’ll be back next week with some more cool stuff.

Peace

Larry

 

________________________________________________

If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!

_______________________________________________

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.

David Hemmings – Back Street Mirror

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David Hemmings in the studio with producer Jim Dickson

Listen/Download – David Hemmings – Back Street Mirror

Greetings all.

I will assume, that if you know the name David Hemmings at all, it is through his extensive resume as a film actor, from 60s classics like ‘Blow Up’ and ‘Barbarella’ on into the end of his career with ‘Gangs of New York’.

Back in 1967, Hemmings was, like many of his contemporaries, also interested in making music, and record companies (interested in exploiting film stars so they could make money) were more than willing to sign him (or any of dozens of young stars) up and put out a record.

Occasionally, stars like this ended up making really interesting music (Noel Harrison, for instance), but more often than not, the end product of such an arrangement suffered from lack of talent (on the movie star’s end) and lack of commitment (from the record companies).

The good news, is that David Hemmings was not only talented, but also managed to gather together a stellar group of associates when making his record.

1967’s ‘Happens’ features not only the instrumental and compositional help of a few Byrds (McGuinn, Clark* and Hillman) but also the arranging talent of Leon Russell*.

I applied the asterisks to Clark and Russell’s names, because all evidence points to today’s selection, ‘Back Street Mirror’ having been a leftover from the ‘Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers’ sessions.

If you are familiar with that record, ‘Back Street Mirror’ will seem immediately familiar, in it’s textural and production similarities to Clark’s ‘Echoes’.

The feel is very similar, and Hemmings acquits himself very well.

The rest of the album is quite good, with some of the songs moving into an almost Velvet Underground-ish territory, alongside some great, mid-60s folk rock.

The album doesn’t turn up that often, and when it does it can be kind of expensive.

There was a CD reissue by Rev-Ola in 2004, but that seems to be out of print.

I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

________________________________________________

If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!

_______________________________________________

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.