MINT "VOLUME ONE" '66 GARAGE (PRIVATE) 1st WEST COAST POP ART Psych pre 1st Lp

$

61

 RARE, near 25 years ago TINY repress

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The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

                "Volume One"

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                     USA - FIFO - M-101

TOP COPY!

STONE MINT ...

includes the insert

This is a now very scarce, little seen 2nd (analog) vinyl pressing from literally near 25 years ago. Apparently, though we never had one, this album was released in micro-pressing number on the local Hollywood hipster market in 1966. As the group, who were a raw garage band, performed various Hollywood teen-club venues, the band was picked up by major label "Reprise" - the rest is history...

... it might come as a surprise to learn that The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band managed to release six albums, some of which contained some really good music.

There were two parts to the jigsaw. The first part was Bob Markley, adopted son of a wealthy oil magnate. Bob had studied law, which was to come in useful, but he was also an aspiring record star – he’d released a couple of singles on his own label. The other part was an existing band, the Laughing Wind, who’d also cut a few singles. The band comprised brothers Danny and Shaun Harris, on lead and bass guitar respectively, Michael Lloyd also on guitar, plus John Ware, drums. Most of the boys had worked in previous bands in the L.A. area.

At a party held in Markley’s Beverly Hills mansion in August 1965, attended by the Harris Brothers, Michael Lloyd, Kim Fowley and plenty more, with musical entertainment provided by the Yardbirds amongst others, our hero/anti-hero had one of those eureka moments and decided that groups were the "in thing," and, armed with the introduction from Fowley, proposed to the Laughing Wind that, if he could join the group as vocalist and songwriter, he would purchase new gear for them plus a light show and would cover the boys’ touring expenses. This was agreed and Markley came up with the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band name. Not only that, he ensured that legally he owned the band’s name and that he handled the music publishing.

The first album from the WestCoastPopArtExperimentalBand, released on the tiny indie FiFo Records was titled West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band "Volume One," - not to be confused with their "Part One" 1st Lp for major label Reprise!  Much of the "fifo' Lp is straight garage-rock - this was 1966 – and slightly raw , which may contain charming appeal for many. Outside of five originals, the content consists of covers, like the classics "You Really Got Me" and yet another "Louie Louie," some rather less predictable takes including the New Orleans rolling rocker "Something You Got" (a not unpleasing workout which did capture some of the Crescent City feel) and "Work Song." Unlike the Georgie Fame vocal version of the song which might have been a British source, this take is purely instrumental.

There are two Dylan covers, "It’s All Over Now Baby Blue" and "She Belongs To Me." The first was reasonable but paled in comparison to the versions from Them and the 13th Floor Elevators (with the last named taking the medal for sheer freakiness). However the WCPAEB’s version of "She Belongs To Me" definitely warrants obtaining the record on its own. Starting out with heavy fuzz bass, the record eventually disappears in a storm of feedback and distortion. In comparison, the vocal, which lasts for little more than a minute, is precise and controlled, sounding passably like Dylan without falling into the trap of similarity. The whole thing comprises as a track one could well imagine the group stretching out on stage.

Of the five originals, three were from Bob Markley with two being Kim Fowley co-writes. Two of this trio are early forays into psych, while the others more into a laid-back West Coast '60s style. The other two, "I Won’t Hurt You" (on which Markley gets another co-write along with Shaun Harris and Michael Lloyd), and "If You Want This Love." are fantastic west Coast Pop Art groovy-sound infectious melodies much in line with their first two Reprise classic albums. In fact, decent and better than that as they both are, they were both re-performed on the groups "Volume Two" album a couple years later. 

For many years this album in its original '66 pressing is worth a small fortune ... wouldn't be surprised to see $1000 price tag on a less than perfect copy. Needless to say, the '66 "Fifo" pressing is impossibly rare ...

Something You Got     2:53
Work Song     2:11
Louie, Louie     2:46
Don't Break My Balloon     3:12
You Really Got Me     3:05
Don't Let Anything!!! Stand In Your Way     2:12
I Won't Hurt You     2:10
If You Want This Love     1:33
Insanity     3:00
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue     3:02
She Belongs To Me     1:52

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people..

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record