RARE & CLEAN 1968 ORIG THEM NOW & THEM GARAGE PSYCH + EASTERN FUZZ SITAR
$
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ORIGINAL 1968 FIRST PRESS
GARAGE PSYCHEDELIA GEM!
THEM
"NOW & THEM"
\ USA - (orange) TOWER RECORDS - ST 5104
TOP COPY - FINAL COLLECTION COPY
RARE & GREAT...highly collectible 1968 FIRST PRESS of the fantastic garage-psychedelia LP "NOW and THEM" ::::
For a band that was just undergone major trauma with the loss of their front man and creative leader (Morrison), this was a pretty impressive comeback. Most bands would have been hard pressed to deliver something this good on their best days. Shame Tower didn't do anything to promote it ... definitely an album that deserves the hype that surrounds it. Perhaps our favorite post-Morrison release, the LP sold next to nothing, making it a valued collector's item.
In the wake of an extended American tour in 1966 that left the band exhausted, things turned increasingly nasty. Unhappy with Decca Records and Phil Soloman's heavy handed management style, Van Morrison tendered notice, returning to Ireland where he spent some time relaxing and playing with friends, before accepting an offer from Bert Berns to relocate to the States and start a solo career. The McAuley brothers promptly hit the road with their own version of Them, which after some legal proceedings over rights to the 'Them' name, quickly mutated into The Freaks of Nature and then The Belfast Gypsies.
Amidst the ongoing confusion and legal wrangling lead guitarist Jim Armstrong, keyboard player Ray Elliott, drummer Dave Harvey and bassist Alan Henderson elected to continue "THEM". Recruiting former Mad Lads singer Kenny McDowell to fill Morrison's shoes, they started looking for a new manager, eventually asking American Ray Ruff to take the job. Originally uninterested in the job, Henderson eventually convinced Ruff to reconsider and in late 1967 he (Ruff) paid to have the revitalized line up relocate to Los Angeles. Produced by Ruff, the band made their Tower label debut with 1968's "Now and Them". While McDowell lacked Morrison's unique chops, he proved an excellent replacement, his voice more flexible and varied than the former. Even though it offered up a weird and unfocused mix of R&B ('Witch Doctor'), blue-eyed soul ('What's the Matter Baby') and psychedelic ('You're Just What I Was'), musically the LP is nothing short of great.
Earlier albums frequently sounded like Van Morrison and backing band, but this time out the collection sounded much more like a true band collaboration. The LP was also interesting in that it sounded very much like a Southern California band rather than a bunch of Belfast toughs. Highlights included the previously released raunchy garage rocker 'Walking In the Queen's Garden', the infectious pop track 'You're Just What I Was', and the extended raga influenced 'Square Room'. Curiously, one of the tracks listed on the liner notes 'Looking for Today' was inexplicably pulled from the set prior to release.
- In spite of the oddball intro sound effects, the band's cover of John Mayall's 'Witch Doctor' isn't a major departure from their R&B roots. Powered by Alexander's fuzz guitar and Elliott's organ, the track has a likeable blues vibe that serves as a nice introduction to new vocals Ken McDowell without straying too far from a known quantity. While McDowell's voice isn't as instantly recognizable as Morrison's, he acquitted himself well on the song, meshing nicely with the band's taunt performance.
- 'What's the Matter Baby' found the band diving enthusiastically into blue-eyed soul. Complete with backing spice, the band sounded like they were having a blast. Hard to imagine Van Morrison-era Them with a smile on their collective faces. Simply a killer song !
- The first mild disappointment, 'Truth Machine' is an okay song, but the performance came off as a tad safe and middle-of-the-road-ish. Nice melody and backing vocals, but the overall feel was like something that had been thrown together for one of those 'hip' party scenes in a mid-1960s television show.
- Opening up with a blast of feedback that launched into a droning, raga influenced Alexander solo, 'Square Room' is easily the album's most interesting and impressive performance. Stretched out over nine minutes, the Indian-influenced trance moves made for a great slice of mid-1960s psychedelic - certainly unlike anything you'd ever heard from "Them." McDowell's acid drenched vocals (impossible to image Morrison having been able to pull this one off), Elliott's flute solo (you won't see us praise a flute solo very often), and Alexander's guitar/sitar work (especially towards the end of the song) are uniformly impressive. Very much a timepiece, but what a cool song and we'd have no problem putting it on a list of Them's top-5 performances.
- Offering up a nifty mix of jangle guitars, sweet harmony vocals, a couple of lysergic touches, and an insidiously catchy melody, 'You're Just What I was Looking for Today' sounds like a cool crafted poprock track .... Perhaps the album's most commercial offering, it would have made a dandy single.
-'Dirty Old Man (At the Age of Sixteen)' it brings a smile to my face. Another great performance and one of the albums highlights, the track was covered by the Electras as a ripping fuzz drenched driver.
- The album's disappointment, 'Nobody Loves You When You're Down and Out' is thoroughly forgettable. Them blues remakes were usually had at least some passing interest, but this one is a total waste.
- Previously released as a single, 'Walking In the Queen's Garden' was a fantastic throwback to their earlier R&B/garage sound. Kicked along by Armstrong's meltdown guitar solo and Elliott's keyboards, the track sounds positively raw and dangerous compared to the rest of the album. The perfect song for anyone who thought they'd lost their rock and roll edge. Another one that would effortlessly go the top-5 Them list.
- Previously released as a 'B' side, 'I Happen To Love You' offered up another slice of garage rock. This one really sounds like a mid--1960s American garage band - echoes of The Electric Prunes, The Human Beinz, Shadows of the Knight, etc. Another personal favorite.
- Supported by some breath taking Beach Boys-styled backing harmonies, 'Come To Me' is a surprisingly likeable ballad with McDowell turning in one of his best lead vocals. Nice way to end the album.
I'm Your Witch Doctor 2:39
What's The Matter Baby 2:46
Truth Machine 2:10
4. Square Room - 9:59
You're Just What I Was Looking For Today ( 2:57
Dirty Ol' Man (At The Age Of 16) 1:48
Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out - 3:35
Walking In The Queen's Garden - 3:06
I Happen To Love You - 2:48
Come To Me - 2:24
*Alan Henderson - Bass
*Jim Armstrong - Guitar
*Dave Harvey - Drums
*Ray Elliott - Saxophone, Organ, Flute
*Kenny McDowell - Vocals
CONDITION: The cover: Stiff & colorful, rated: M- a lovely copy... with no delete marks, no split seams, no bends, and no writing ... collection worthy rarity ...
The vinyl: Clean and glossy over both sides, rated: M- expect very enjoyable audio, real smooth and clear...NO distracting surface problems ... both TOWER Records labels are clean ....both labels are clean
A cool addition to anyone's music library!
SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...
EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING
All imperfections are noted both cover & record
NOTE: All Items backed by money back guarantee! IF you have a problem PLEASE let us solve for you BEFORE leaving ANY negative feedback. Thanks! GRADING SCALE: M, M-, EX, VG++,VG+, VG, VG- M Completely clean, no marks M- Carefully used, looks clean, plays clean, shiny gloss, no marks EX Faint scuff or superficial mark, near M-, high gloss, plays clean VG++ Glossy with minimal scuffing or light mark playing very nice, clean VG+ a bit more scuff or markls still plays well with very minimal surface at worse VG more marks/scratches only minor, nothing deep, no loud clicks or pops this grade is abused by many, VG here does not mean "trashed" VG- surface noise present, will not have skips or jumps ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 5 DAYS Of AUCTIONS END BIDDERS PLEASE = Do Not Bid If You Are Not Serious About Following Through The Transaction! ALL ITEMS GUARANTEED FOR WINNING BID - LESS SHIPPING!
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