Shindig! Magazine

A music publication put together with genuine understanding, sincerity and utter belief. We bring the scope and knowledge of old fanzines and specialist rock titles to a larger readership.

Just A Taste: A Trip Through The North American Sounds Of 1968

ANDY MORTEN takes a magic carpet ride


 

1968 was a defining year for rock music across the globe. Cities burned, the acid wore off and many artists returned to the simplicity of rock ’n’ roll and country in the hope of reconnecting with their musical roots. In the USA – undoubtedly the international focus of musical trends that year – a few survivors from the garage-rock explosion of 1965-66 ventured down new paths, while turned-on players from the fertile LA and SF scenes and a new wave of bookish, experimental aggregations for whom electronics and experimentation were the order of the day, offered wildly inventive new sounds. Nineteen sixty-eight – in terms of what might loosely be termed “underground rock” – is the gift that keeps on giving.

Intended as an affectionate complement to Grapefruit Records’ new 3-CD set Can’t Seem To Come Down: The American Sounds Of 1968  – but not duplicating any of its artists – we humbly offer you our selection of colourful killer cuts from the US and Canada, mostly drawn from singles (except where noted) and arranged chronologically.

Strap in – this trip could be a bumpy one.

JANUARY

  1. Ultimate Spinach – Ego Trip (from Ultimate Spinach)
  2. The Bonniwell Music Machine – Me, Myself And I
  3. The David – I’m Not Alone

MARCH

  1. The Grass Roots – Feelings
  2. Fever Tree – San Francisco Girls (Return Of The Native)
  3. MC5 – Looking At You
  4. Neighb’rhood Childr’n – Please Leave Me Alone
  5. The Lollipop Shoppe – You Must Be A Witch
  6. The Rose Garden – Here’s Today
  7. Beacon Street Union – Green Destroys The Gold (from The Eyes Of The Beacon Street Union)

APRIL

  1. The Smoke – October Country (from The Smoke)
  2. Fargo – Sunny Day Blue
  3. Sagittarius – The Truth Is Not Real
  4. The Stereo Shoestring – On The Road South
  5. The Ceyleib People – Changes (Tygstl)
  6. These Vizitors – For Mary’s Sake
  7. The Stained Glass – Soap And Turkey
  8. Front Page Review – Feels Like Love (unreleased at the time)

MAY

  1. The Human Beinz – The Face
  2. The Collectors – Lydia Purple
  3. Kaleidoscope – Just A Taste
  4. Stone Country – Wheels On Fire
  5. Genesis – Angeline
  6. Orphan Egg – Falling – Orphan Egg
  7. Cherry People – Mr Hyde (from Cherry People)
  8. Mouse & The Traps – Sometimes You Just Can’t Win
  9. Faine Jade – People Games Play (from Introspection: A Faine Jade Recital)
  10. Lee Michaels – My Friends
  11. Mars Bonfire – In Christina’s Arms (from Mars Bonfire)
  12. Harumi – Talk About It
  13. The Tokens – Animal
  14. Morning Glory – Live For Today (from Two Suns Worth)
  15. Five By Five – Fire

JUNE

  1. The Wildweeds – I’m Dreaming
  2. Chrysalis – April Grove (from Definition)
  3. Daughters Of Albion – Well Wired
  4. A. Quintet – Smooth As Silk
  5. The Family Tree – Miss Butters
  6. Frumious Bandersnatch – Hearts To Cry
  7. American Blues – All I Saw Was You
  8. The Amboy Dukes – I’ll Prove I’m Right (from Journey To The Center Of The Mind)

JULY

  1. Ohio Express – First Grade Reader (from Ohio Express)
  2. The Avant-Garde – Naturally Stoned
  3. Southwest F.O.B. – Smell Of Incense
  4. Listening – See You Again (from Listening)
  5. The Thyme – Somehow
  6. Barbara Keith With Kangaroo – Daydream Stallion
  7. Paul Revere & The Raiders – Observation From Flight 285 (In 3/4 Time)
  8. K. & Co – Fly (from Suddenly One Summer)

AUGUST

  1. Aorta – Strange
  2. The Canterbury Fair – Song On A May Morning
  3. I.M.E. – Tripping Into Sunshine
  4. The Pleasure Fair – Today
  5. The Blues Magoos – I Can Hear The Grass Grow

SEPTEMBER

  1. The Golden Dawn – My Time (from Power Plant)
  2. John Wonderling – Midway Down
  3. Jefferson Airplane – Lather (from Crown Of Creation)
  4. The Poppy Family – Free From The City
  5. The Association – Six Man Band

OCTOBER

  1. The Blades Of Grass – I Love You Alice B Toklas!
  2. The Asylum Choir – Welcome To Hollywood
  3. Jan & Dean – Girl, You’re Blowing My Mind (release cancelled)
  4. Nancy Priddy – You’ve Come This Way Before
  5. The Litter – Mindbreaker (from $100 Fine)

NOVEMBER

  1. The Bubble Puppy – Hot Smoke And Sasafrass
  2. Sweet Smoke – Morning Dew
  3. The Cryan’ Shames – Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David, Smith & Jones

DECEMBER

  1. The Troll – Mourning Of The Day (from Animated Music)
  2. Sweetwater – My Crystal Spider
  3. The Holy Mackerel – Scorpio Red
  4. The Salt – Lucifer
  5. The Plastic Cloud – Shadows Of Your Mind (from The Plastic Cloud)
  6. Kim Fowley – Animal Man (from Outrageous)
  7. Fifty Foot Hose – If Not This Time (from Cauldron)
  8. Public Nuisance – Small Faces (unreleased at the time)
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