{"id":3605,"date":"2020-04-20T18:02:09","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T17:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shindig-magazine.com\/?p=3605"},"modified":"2020-04-20T18:02:09","modified_gmt":"2020-04-20T17:02:09","slug":"from-the-archives-watch-the-flowers-grow-a-guide-to-unusual-forays-into-the-weird","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/?p=3605","title":{"rendered":"From The Archives: Watch The Flowers Grow \u2013 A Guide To Unusual Forays Into The Weird"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>All the way back in issue #29 (in the gold ole days of 2012) SIMON NORFOLK penned this cool guide on groovy sounds from established artists<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cThis is the dawning of The Age Of Aquarius,\u201d they sang. Sexualised hippidedom had reached musical theatre. Everyone knew The Beatles had smoked those funny cigarettes and gone weird. And what in the hell were all of these young people doing growing their hair, painting flowers on their naked bodies and becoming turned on?<\/p>\n<p>At <em>Shindig!<\/em> we are more than aware how \u201cThe Now Sound\u201d was the result of the faddism of <em>Sergeant Pepper<\/em> and San Francisco. How the scorned upon had become the norm and how somehow it seemed more than natural for square pop stars to temporarily wave a freak flag.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the first part of our rough guide to \u201cSquares Go Hip Sounds\u201d focusing on the kaleidoscopic pop of the American masters \u2013 in future issues we intend to visit the shores of the UK as well as Europe and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>While not fully embracing the counter culture \u201cthe old guard\u201d did open their arms to the paisley patterned new world by adapting the latest \u201ckitchen sink\u201d studio techniques ushered in by <em>Pet Sounds, <\/em>let their greased back and beehived hair down and adorned themselves in Nehru in an attempt to save their flagging careers.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t expect insane phasing or wig-outs that stretch the entire side of an album, but think of the sun dappled pop of The Millennium, the harpsichord infected baroque of The Left Banke, think of Andy Williams in his kaftan listening to his Ravi Shankar album while Claudine Longet takes a phone call from Roger Nichols. Imagine A&amp;M records, <em>Alice.B Toklas<\/em> and Peter Sellers in <em>The Party<\/em>\u2026 yes, just for a brief moment things got a little odd and ever so slightly groovy.<\/p>\n<p>Your guru: <strong>SIMON NORFOLK<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Del Shannon -  Colour Flashing Hair\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ARAcJgWFGB4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>DEL SHANNON <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Colour Flashing Hair<\/strong> [<em>The Further Adventures Of Charles Westover<\/em> album track, Liberty 1967)<\/p>\n<p>By The Summer Of Love Shannon was practically a washed up pop star, but during this semi-wilderness period he turned out a classic of the psychedelic era replete with orchestrations a la <em>Sgt Pepper<\/em> and some wonderful studio trickery. \u2018Colour Flashing Hair\u2019 is surreal and much more psychedelic than a lot of The Avalon Ballroom bands of the day and the song, and much of this truly brilliant album, sound like a magical transatlantic cousin to Billy Nicholls\u2019 <em>Would You Believe<\/em>. Yes. That good.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"I May Be Gone\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qwXBB7D_g7A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>BOBBY<\/strong><strong> VEE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I May Be Gone<\/strong> (7\u201d B-Side and <em>Come Back When You Grow Up<\/em> album track, Liberty, 1967)<\/p>\n<p>Even teen idol Bob was on side in 1967, yet the hits were fading fast. The album <em>Come Back When You Grow Up <\/em>was his attempt at a much-needed new direction \u2013 if you dig your psych-pop orchestrated and full of sunshine then grab this. Recalling bands like The Yellow Balloon and Sagittarius it\u2019s an ambitious album, but not in an overblown way. \u2018I May Be Gone\u2019 is an attitude-laden slice of dark garage-pop and a million miles from the bouncy, bouncy \u2018Rubber Ball\u2019.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"It&#039;s Now Winter&#039;s Day\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zfCXW7V4K4s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>TOMMY ROE <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s Now Winter\u2019s Day<\/strong> \u00a0(7\u201d and <em>It\u2019s Now Winter\u2019s Day<\/em> album track, \u00a0ABC, 1967]<\/p>\n<p>Curt Boettcher was on production duties for this neglected Summer Of Love jewel.\u00a0 It\u2019s not even close to heavy-psych but is nevertheless dosed in subtle fuzz, vocal choirs and, naturally, with Curt on board, arrangements to die for.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Moontalk\u2019 is a wacked out space love song, full of the innocence of the pre-moon landing age, but the prize goes to the title track, \u2018It\u2019s Now Winter\u2019s Day\u2019, which is a blissed-out to hymn that chilly season and evokes visions of snow topped mountains and open fires in log cabins. You could say, it\u2019s like Brian Wilson taken away from the Californian surf and exiled in The Rocky Mountains.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Four Seasons - Watch The Flowers Grow\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AEpcxJz-Z0o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE FOUR SEASONS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch The Flowers Grow<\/strong> (7\u201d Philips, 1967)<\/p>\n<p>Another band on their fall from grace \u2013 Frankie and the boys delivered this wonderful slice of off the wall psych-pop to a nonchalant record buying public in 1967. The song begins with an almost raga like chant before thundering into a fantastic three minute ride into the paisley patterned sunshine \u2013 \u201cListen to my thoughts and take a ride \/ I shall give you all you\u2019ve been denied\u201d sang the chaps from New Jersey. Socially conscious concept album digging\u00a0 longhairs ignored it in their droves and it would not be \u00a0until the mid-70s before they found favour again, but all fool them. This is bendy psych <em>par excellence<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Also recommended is their <em>Genuine Imitation Life Gazette <\/em>album from 1969. File under lost epic.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Roy Orbison - Southbound Jericho Parkway (1969)\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H9ROii-Ktrg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>ROY ORBISON <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Southbound Jericho Parkway<\/strong> (7\u201d B-Side, MGM, 1968)<\/p>\n<p>Naturally we were sceptical when we heard that The Big O had dipped his toe into The Now Sound, but after experiencing this ambitious flip side with its sitar intro and various complex tempo changes, lyrics dealing with suicide and mind expansion we were smitten. Even by Roy\u2019s standards this is one bummer of a trip and it deserves your attention.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s no surprise to discover that Neon Philharmonic\u2019s Don Gant and Tupper Saussy carry out the production duties \u2013 their ambitious and over the top pop-psych is also well worth investigating.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou always seemed so out of reach \/ and the psychedelic sign said: peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pat Boone - Song To The Siren\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lWrneyK-czg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>PAT BOONE <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Song To The Siren<\/strong> (D<em>epartures <\/em>album track, Tetragrammaton, 1969)<\/p>\n<p>A lesser-known track from Boone\u2019s huge back page. Before This Mortal Coil were covering Tim Buckley Pat jumped in and took a decent shot at \u2018Song To The Siren\u2019. This was a totally different ground for him and nothing like he had done before, but yes, it works, although we\u2019re not sure about the pirate \u2018\u201dYo ho ho and a bottle of rum\u201d intro. Still, it\u2019s well worth checking out.<\/p>\n<p>The most impressive aspect about this recording is that it would not be until the following year that Buckley committed it to vinyl, despite famously previewing it on <em>The Monkees<\/em> TV show in 1968.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sunday Morning\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KWkgdYMDimo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>JULIE LONDON <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sunday Morning<\/strong> (<em>Yummy Yummy Yummy<\/em>, album track, Liberty, 1969)<\/p>\n<p>By 1969 it was all but over commercially for the princess of pop Julie London, but she had about just enough time to tackle some hits of the day \u2013 \u2018Stoned Soul Picnic\u2019 \/ \u2018Light My Fire\u2019 and a fantastic lounge take of Dylan\u2019s \u2018Mighty Quinn\u2019. Her fan base probably didn\u2019t condone her move into Now Sound pop, although it didn\u2019t stop her. London\u2019s take on Margo Guryan\u2019s \u2018Sunday Morning\u2019 via Spanky &amp; Our Gang\u2019s hit is so damn near perfect, the strings are huge and the arrangement suits her smoky vocals perfectly. It\u2019s a weary, sad take and her voice is tired, rather than sensual and seductive, but then nobody ever complained about Big Star\u2019s third album did they? Julie retired from singing around \u201970, so we\u2019re glad she decided to make the foray into hip before she threw it all in.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Brian Hyland - On The East Side\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WY_QvajvoQU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>BRYAN HYLAND <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>On The East Side<\/strong> (<em>Bryan Hyland<\/em> album track, UNI, 1970)<\/p>\n<p>Del Shannon produced and co wrote this gorgeous out of step pop gem from Bryan\u2019s \u201cWhat next?\u201d period. The album it\u2019s taken from is strong enough in itself, and there are another four co-writes from Del on it too, but \u2018On The East Side\u2019 is by far the most sublime. It\u2019s not that far removed from the sound of the aforementioned <em>Charles Westover <\/em>album, all weeping strings, muted brass and subtle Hammond organ complimented by some ever so slightly treated, wobbly vocals. Hyland\u2019s version of Curtis Mayfield\u2019s \u2018Gypsy Woman\u2019 is also worth the dollar bin price tag of this forgotten treasure.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"GENE PITNEY - ANIMAL CRACKERS\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ONm4YffhmMk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>GENE PITNEY <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal Crackers In Cellophane Boxes<\/strong> (7\u201d B-side, Musico, 1967)<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re generally safe with anything with a Bonner\/Gordon writing credit on \u2013 \u2018[Till I] Run With You\u2019 \/ \u2018Happy Together\u2019 \/ \u2018Me About You\u2019 \u2013 as they seem to have that certain knack of creating joyous pop while managing to convey an otherworldly sadness. Discovering they had penned Gene\u2019s out there pop ditty was a real surprise. At less than two minutes in length\u00a0 \u2018Animal Crackers In Cellophane Boxes\u2019 still manages to hit on jazz, psychedelia and some throwaway Kasenetz Katz style bubblegum. A fun and ever so lysergic disc that like the bulk of these tunes can be had for the price of a comic.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=C2eykg8pr1Y<\/p>\n<p><strong>BOBBY DARIN <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Long Line Rider<\/strong> (7\u201d and <em>Bobby Darin Born Walden Robert Cassotto<\/em> album track, Direction, 1969)<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a pleasure to end this piece with a bit of funky country influenced rock from Bobby Darin.<\/p>\n<p>You Tube shows him rocking this out with a bunch of guys who look like extras from <em>The Trip<\/em> \u2013 fat back drums and brass carry this dance floor monster way beyond the sea and push Bobby into the cosmos, way past the LA supper club circuit into a whole new thing of his own. The lyrics deal with an incident in a US jail where the skeletons of three prisoners were unearthed in 1968 \u2013 gruesome!<\/p>\n<p>The \u201968 album <em>Born Walden Robert Cassotto<\/em> is well worth tracking down too \u2013 it\u2019s a nice mixture of soul influenced country with some outings into folk and psych plus some killer drums.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a farm in Arkansas \/ got some secrets in its floor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3607\" src=\"http:\/\/www.shindig-magazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Screenshot-2020-04-20-at-17.56.39-1024x708.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Screenshot-2020-04-20-at-17.56.39-1024x708.png 1024w, https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Screenshot-2020-04-20-at-17.56.39-300x207.png 300w, 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Sexualised hippidedom had reached musical theatre. Everyone knew The Beatles had smoked those funny cigarettes and gone weird. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3607,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,7],"tags":[729,731,732,730],"class_list":["post-3605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-music-videos","tag-shindig-issue-29","tag-simon-norfolk","tag-vinyl","tag-watch-the-flowers-grow-a-guide-to-unusual-forays-into-the-weird","post_format-post-format-video"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3605"}],"version-history":[{"count":-4,"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3605\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}