(Psych)DANNY McCULLOCH-Wings of a Man´69 LP

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DANNY McCULLOCH-Wings of a Man LP(US Capitol-69 Orig, Co, COVER & REC = M-!) CULT LP recorded by UK, ex-Animals man...here´s what the UK, Psych web-zine, writes about the album(March 2004)........"*** 'THROUGH MESCALINE EYES': DANNY MCCULLOCH, by Paul Cross *** Danny McCulloch, a Londoner, was the bearded bass player with Eric Burdon And The Animals during 1967-68 (Eric's "daft hippie" period); after which he and Vic Briggs (gtr./keys )were unceremoniously given the boot ( Hmmm...very love 'n' peace!). Danny then went solo, producing a small but fine body of work. Firstly, the album: 'Wings Of A Man' (Capital EST/ST 174) Rel. 10/69 For starters, the cover of this LP is a superlative example of psychedelic art. A multi-coloured mind-blowing mandala collage, for some unknown reason, generally overlooked by afficianados. 'Orange And Red Beams' is a song which Danny wrote (as he did all his recordings barring a couple of covers) and the Animals recorded first. Danny's rendition is a more soulful affair with a big production, not as contrived as the earlier version with Eric's unnecessarily distorted vocals. The title track, 'Wings Of A Man', is orchestrated. A Jackie Lomax-style sweeping ballad with some classy lyrics. 'Glistening Windows' is orchestrated pop syke. These are peculiar windows which open his eyes to see the things he missed before such as "rainbows on Peter Pan's Hill". Deeply indebted to Harrison's 'It's All Too Much', most especially the "get me back in time for tea" line. Into which is chucked in some anti-war sentiments. 'My Feathered Friend' features some lovely Mellotron, swathes of Beatles/'Walrus'-strings on a mid-tempo soulful beat ballad, with ruminations on freedom and peace, and a delicious drift away trippy ending. Superb! 'The Market Crier' is brilliant! psych pop McCartney/piano observational/character song. Rupert's People/'Coplington' with a hint of ragtime and accelerando sections, dripping with fab 'Sky Pilot'-style jet engine blasts of PHASING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 'Close Of Life' is a stunning philosophical treatise on the subject of death. Bee Gees hints, Mellotron and strings abound. This track has a very US-style production feel and upfront drums. and nice (stereo copies panning = great) moody strings inst. coda 'The Lying Fortune Teller' has an East European gypsy/fast polka pop sound. Like 'Zabadak' meets Tom Jones meets Joe Cocker! 'Mirror Of The Sky' is full of trippy lyrics, against a slow hypnotic dreamlike arrangement, like the intro to The Hollies' 'Maker' stretched to an unnatural conclusion, Danny exhorts others to join the trip. Very special. Love the ghostly tracked-vocal, like the voice of the dissolving ego.... 'No Face, No Name, No Number' is a great version, heavily orchestrated, easily a match for the original, and if anything it surpasses it. A classic performance. 'Mr Moon' is a multi-part work, heavily laden with strings and weird keys. it is highly ambitious and features some very effective pianissimi. It is Danny's masterpiece. 'Within You Without You' violins, spoken passages, eloquent time signature switches, thoughtful, tinkling eeriness and luscious orchestration. Overall, the LP (very stylishly produced by Mark Wildey and Danny's ex-Animals colleague Vic Briggs, is a tasty mixture of different styles. Listening to it again recently, it brought to my mind Jackie Lomax, Alan Trajan, the Beatles and Jack Bruce Windwood. I really dig the blend of gravely vocals, soulful backing and psychedelic lyrics and touches. It is the masculinity of Danny's approach which marks him out from the pack. There is psychedelia here, tempered with Celtic fire, passion and starry-eyed mysticism, but it is performed by someone who can actually sing, and sing like a geezer! 'Wings Of A Man' is a very impressive album. EMI must have spent a fortune on his recordings, they are so dense with multi-layered sounds. On earphones its amazing to discover just how much is going on even in the simplest tracks.Oh, and the US stereo copies sound particularly fabulous!"..................ABBREVIATIONS USED; M-/EX/Vg+/Vg etc STRICT GRADING = BEEN SELLING RARE VINYL, PRO, SINCE 1982(Tracks on wax) PAYMENT=thru Paypal, otherwise, cash, only, inside a well-concealed letter! AIRMAIL=USA/JAPAN etc $11/EUROPE $9.00...GOOD LUCK!