This Old Record Is Also Quite Nice

Maffitt / Davies: Kingswood Manor (EMI, 1968)
A chap from Iowa, born in 1940. A chap from New York born in 1942. Put them together and it could be dynamite. Well, actually it was dynamite, for quite some time, though, sadly, the vast majority of the world never took any notice. However, we can help, if only through the medium of having a listen, deciding that, you know what, as groovily psychedelic American folk-pop goes this is really rather good, then doing something alarming and marvellous like buying it (yes, you're right, that is the wrong cover).

Kingswood Manor was written by the rather brilliant Hoyt Axton and is a meditation on addiction, depression and madness. A doctor arrives with a handful of "little pills" and promises he's come, "to rescue me from the maddening, saddening gloom, in the paisley rubber room...". With the down-tuned guitars, flattened harmonies and general air of pie-eyed craziness it reminds me of David Crosby's Laughing which is about as glowing a recommendation as I can muster, tbh.

Hello Old Thing, Hello New Thing: 37

Gilberto Gil: Procissão (Phillips, 1968)
There aren't many people who could argue that, as an entire package, they're a lot cooler than Gilberto Gil. A long-term musical and political activist, his late 60's work was thought of as so inflammatory that it got him thrown in prison by Brazil's then military government. He was, until recently the country's Minister For Culture. That's progress, right? Anyhoo, this absolute belter of psychedelic, tropicalian, sambatic loveliness was originally to be found here, but it's now here for a very reasonable price. Stuffed full of uh-mazing choons too...


Hollowbody: Chains (Sleeping Horse, 2008)
I opened my post this morning and there was a hand-written postcard from this chap Dan Weltman who records as Hollowbody. Now, I'm a complete sucker when it comes to hand-written notes, so I whacked this straight on and, oh dear, it's really, really good. Weltman has a fantastically easy sort of voice, like he's not hugely bothered if you're listening or not, and he swings in and around the tune with a real charm. He plays that guitar nicely too. So, a good package then. Thanks for the CD Dan. Good luck with it all...

This Old Record Is Quite Nice

The Jefferson Handkerchief: I'm Allergic To Flowers (Challenge, 1967)
I'm all for a spot of hippie-baiting exploitation. Written and recorded, apparently, by Challenge Records staffers and "pals", this neatly skewers the newly-grown-hair, candy-stripe trousers wearing, wannabe psychedelic pop groups of the time while managing to be, literally, a great tune with a doctorate in groovy bassline 'n' congaology. "At last my mind is really free," they croon. "Except for my stupid allergy..." (Warning: contains silly chorus). More of this sort of thing here...