NUMBERED / LONG GONE UK LTD ED JASONS CREST PSYCH MOD SWIRL ORGAN POPSIKE LP

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• Lost 1968 Psychedelic British Underground ..|/\|...............................................|/\|..
• JASON CREST
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  Radio Sessions 1968 ~ 1969
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• UK - 10th Planet - TP 04
  
  The original "hand (#723) numbered" first press... TOP COPY, haven't seen a spare copy for a long while!
  This LONG GONE British deluxe pressing from the past century spotlights a brilliant overlooked UK PSYCH band from the late '60s. Though Jason Crest never were properly signed nor promoted and were capable of making British Psych records as good as any of the legends, like (the Twink '60s group) "Tomorrow."
  The tracks on this album represent two (UNRELEASED) daytime London studio sessions from the (now) highly regarded '68 psych act, Jason Crest, taken from the original masters, meaning the sound quality is amazingly clear and bold! Surpasses completely anything else ever released by this group.
  This British LP does a good job of managing to stretch out Jason Crest's slim legacy to the length of an album, with both sides of four of their five singles keeping company with half a dozen previously unissued late-'60s acetates.
  One of their singles, "Waterloo Road"/"Education," is not included because, according to the liner notes, the band hates it. It's fairly good and pleasing, though not striking, period of British psychedelic rock that occasionally, though not always, brings to mind a somewhat more pop-inclined early but good version of '68 period Procol Harum.
  Only a couple of their tracks, though, upped the stakes from acceptable period fare to memorable performances. One was their debut 1968 single, "Turquoise Tandem Cycle," where a swirling organ version of Procol Harum comparisons were most apt, and which is typical of a certain strand of British psychedelia, down to the florid title, classical-influenced melody, wah-wahing guitar, and also celestial organ. The other is "Black Mass," where the blood-curdling vocal, monkish chanting, and occult-tinged lyrics can bring to mind a more psychedelic Black Sabbath. On occasion they went into a more avowedly "Toy-Town" UK popsike vein, as on their take on the Move's "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" and the imaginative reworking of "You Really Got a Hold on Me," built around freaky organ lines. The sound quality of the acetates are very listenable, and the package comes with usefully detailed historical liner notes...by all music.
  Formed in Tonbridge, Kent, UK from the ashes of group 'The Good Thing Brigade', Jason Crest were signed to Philips Records in the latter part of 1967 after being discovered by former "Four Pennies" bassist Fritz Fryer, who got them a recording contract ahead of EMI. On signing their name seemed a little inappropriate so this was duly changed with a slight amendment from one of the groups tracks, 'The Collected Works of Justin Crest'. Within weeks from being spotted, the newly named Jason Crest were in the studio recording their first single, 'Turquoise Tandem Cycle', a wonderful debut dubbed by Philips on advertisements as "the first new group of 1968" this over the years, has often linked up with Procol Harum and U.K. Tomorrow (Twink band) especially '68 era Procol Harum for it's distinctive organ sound, but despite a fair measure of airplay the single failed to click, it's a shame they never picked the flip 'Good Life', as this was the strongest of the two. The same fate happened with the second single 'Juliano The Bull' , nice enough but banned by radio one after some bright spark suggested it was "promoting blood sports", once again though the flip, this time, 'Two By The Sea' was the strongest of the two. After two flopped singles, Philips pulled the plug on the groups original songs and opted for a cover version, the song in question was The Move's '(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree', despite rumors though Roy Wood wasn't on the production team for this single, sadly once again, this also ended in the same fate despite considerable radio play. Bassist Ron Fowler quit around this time, working in a band and a full time job time didn't mix especially when the Crest were off to Germany and so he was replaced by John Selley. After three flops, Philips were desperate for a hit, Fryer got the band to record one of his numbers and a fourth single, the more commercial 'Waterloo Road' was recorded and promptly bombed, probably just as well as the single is uninteresting and un-compiled. With one single left on the contract, a final single 'A Place In The Sun' was released, again this met with the same fate although rather surprisingly the strange 'Black Mass' found it's way onto the flip, surprising because Philips had earlier decided that the song was unfit for public consumption!! By now the group were breaking up, the album that was promised had all but disappeared, the lack of success had caused indifferences in the band and to top it all, not surprisingly, Philips were not in the mood for re-newing contracts, the end wasn't too far away. Fitz Fryer had new interests in The Open Mind of whom he also produced for. Terry Clarke (the original co-founder) was to leave first joining up with a London based outfit called Orang Utan, whilst the remainding members continued with new vocalist Brian Prebble and ex-Mike Stuart Span / Leviathan guitarist Brian Bennett under the new name of High Broom. In 1971 Clark, Smallcombe and Siggery all sorted out their differences and formed the highly rated Holy Mackrel.
  Turquoise Tandem Cycle
  
  Teagarden Lane
  
  Patricia's Dream
  
  A Place in the Sun
  
  My House Is Burning
  
  King of the Castle
  
  The Collected Works of Jason Crest
  
  Black Mass
  
  Charge of the Light Brigade
  
  (Here We Go Round) the Lemon Tree
  
  You Really Got a Hold on Me
  
  Two By the Sea
  
  Juliano the Bull
  
  Education
  
  Waterloo Road
  
  Good Life
  
  
  
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    1.   CONDITION:
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    3. The cover: Rated: Fragile gatefold is very clean, near M- and looks great with vivid psychedelic colors, full group history liner notes.  Numbered only #723... There are no seam splits, no faded colors, no bends, no writing and no delete marks.
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    1. The vinyl: Rated: near M- 180 gram THICK Platter, plays superb! Awesome UK psych nuggets that grow with each spin! Both 10th Planet labels are clean, no writing, dirt or soil
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