The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

Product Details

* Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
* Original Release Date: 2000
* Number of Discs: 1
* Format: Original recording reissued
* Label: Sundazed Music Inc.
* Catalog Number: 6173
* ASIN: B00005JY2G
* Average Customer Review: based on 7 reviews. (Write a review.)
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,800 in Music (See Top Sellers in Music)
Yesterday: #45,405 in Music

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1. Shifting Sands Listen Listen
2. I Won't Hurt You Listen Listen
3. 1906 Listen Listen
4. Help, I'm A Rock Listen Listen
5. Will You Walk With Me Listen Listen
6. Transparent Day Listen
7. Leiyla Listen
8. Here's Where You Belong Listen
9. If You Want This Love Listen
10. 'Scuse Me, Miss Rose Listen
11. High Coin Listen
12. Help, I'm A Rock (Single Mix) Listen
13. Transparent Day (Single Mix) Listen

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
With their soaring psychedelia, achingly pure folk-rock and Zappa/Beefheart strangeness, these seminal underground gems from the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band--Part One, Vol. 2 and A Child's Guide To Good & Evil-can be seen as encyclopedic primers of the late-'60s Los Angeles musical experience. These long-awaited legit CD debuts come direct from the original analog master tapes, with 2 bonus tracks CD, interviews with key band members, and never-before-seen photos from the band's personal archive! 13 tracks. 2001 reissue.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
Stunning debut for a relatively unknown band, April 24, 2002
Reviewer: Phil Rogers (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews
A bunch of seventeen-year-olds made a first record. At times they sounded a like the Byrds, a little like the Beatles, Moby Grape, the Charlatans, the Chocolate Watchband, and so on. They were very inventive, solidly in the rock category, as their name would seem to indicate, very progressive. I always worried their sound was going to be kind of cold, so never bought their albums until 15-20 years after their 'heyday'. I was wrong. Actually, their music comes off warm and friendly, even when the mood may be sad, dark, etc.

Note that the "old" guy in the band [early 30's or so] didn't play an instrument, and in fact, was tone-deaf. The only reason he was in the band was because he was independently wealthy, and so paid for all the equipment; what he got in return was the new [for him] ability to "impress chicks". He stood in front of the band at performances, shaking a tambourine with his vocal microphone turned off. Moreover, any band member who was out of favor with him at the time of a new release wouldn't have their picture on the album cover. Ultimately, he was responsible for the band's breakup by driving the others crazy with his power trips.

"Shifting Sands" The album starts out with a bang, and I don't mean a noisy one. Poetic, moody song about one whom is 'born to wander'. Interesting when juxtaposed with the opening cut from their third album. [5 stars]

"I Won't Hurt You" Pretty, moody, moving song about innocence, love and protection. Check out the percussive use of guitar "chukkas" in place of the drum kit. [5 stars]

"1906" Hollies-style vocal harmonies with a spoken lead vocal, which is however mixed rather poorly (the lead needs to assert itself more in the mix, not be so subordinate to the backing tracks). The subject of the 'discourse' is somewhat of a surreal complaint. Has a long middle-eastern sounding bridge section. [5 stars].

"Help, I'm a Rock": Not many people would deign to cover a Mothers of Invention tune, but the youngsters [the Mothers used to open for them at gigs] did a very palatable job, all things considered. Very tastefully done. [5 stars]

"Will You Walk With Me?" Textually, continues along a rather similar tack as "I Won't Hurt You". [4 stars]

"Transparent Day" Lead vocal pans back and forth from left to right (phrase by phrase). But it's mixed rather poorly to the point of being annoying--at times one of the phrases is just too soft compared with the rest of the mix. This is regrettable as, otherwise, this is one of the strongest compositions on the album. The singer is not at fault . . . it's really an engineering problem. [5 stars nevertheless]

"Leiyla" The boys revert to a somewhat more blasé genre, but pull if off with typical youthful verve. Smack in the middle, the song seems to be fading out as a new song begins, which is an acoustic guitar solo in the style of Elizabethan (early 17th century English) lute music. But, that in turn fades out [was it an episodic music lesson, part of the story?] and Leiyla fades back up and continues for several more minutes. [4 stars]

"Here's Where You Belong" This one is folk rock á la Byrds, and as good or better than anything McGuinn and company did during the period prior to 'The Notorious Byrd Brothers'. This would have been a monster seller had it been recorded/released as a single, a year or so before. [5 stars]

"If You Want This Love of Mine" Continuing in a similar vein, though much closer to the Charlatans, or even a soft version of the Chocolate Watchband, than to the Byrds. Terrific country rock solo at the bridge. [5 stars]

""Scuse Me, Miss Rose" More rather blasé stuff, this time unredeemed. [2½ stars]

"High Coin" Electrified (though barely) country folk blues instrumental. Gorgeous little number; great closing piece!
[5 stars]… (mehr)

Vol. 2 (Breaking Through)
(Reprise - R6270 mono, R6270 stereo - 1967)

The group seems to be reduced to a trio of Bob Markley and the Harris' brothers.
Although not credited Ron Morgan played the distinctive Lead guitar. Again, either Hal Blaine or Jimmy Gordon played the drums.

Michael Lloyd has left to initiate other projects, and Bob Markley, the former tambourine player, was now firmly in command although he wasn't a musician himself. Vol.2

* In The Arena. (Markley-Harris) 4:10
* Suppose They Give A War And No One Comes. (Markley-Bryant) 3:38
* Buddha. (Markley-Harris) 2:05
* Smell Of Incense. (Markley-Morgan) 5:47
* Overture / Wcpaeb Part II. (Markley-Harris) 1:28

* Queen Nymphet. (Markley-Harris) 2:19
* Unfree Child. (Markley-Harris) 3:58
* Carte Blanche. (Markley-Harris) 2:42
* Delicate Fawn. (Markley-Harris) 2:30
* Tracy Had A Hard Day Sunday. (Markley-Harris) 4:35

Notes:
The Mono versions of the above feature strikingly different mixes and are essential listening for those interested in such things. Also, a noticeably different stereo mix of "Volume Two" turned up on a mid-'80's European reissue.
A bands second single was released: 'Smell Of Incense' (edited version) b/w 'Unfree Child' (Reprise 0776, 1968), again without much success. The same song was covered by a Dallas outfit called 'Southwest F.O.B.' and released as a single reaching nr.56 in the Billboard chart in 1968. It was also the title track of their only album (Smell Of Incense, Hip HLS 7001, 1968).
Other bands that covered 'Smell Of Incense' includes The Abstracts (1968), The Pawnbrokers (1968) and 90s Norwegian folk-psychers "Smell Of Incense".

The CD version (Sundazed SC 6174, issued in 2001) contains two bonus tracks:
- Unfree Child (single mix)
- Smell Of Incense (single mix)

My Favorites:
In The Arena, Suppose They Give A War..., Smell Of Incense, Delicate Fawn, Tracy Had A Hard Day Sunday… (mehr)