Chris Britton - As I Am 1969

As guitarist for the Troggs, Chris Britton made important contributions to the raw British Invaders' sound with his crunchy, wiry style. Though Reg Presley was the Troggs' principal lead singer and songwriter, Britton also took occasional lead vocals and wrote a bit of material on their records, the odd primitive buzzing psychedelia of "Maybe the Madman" and the sultry midtempo rocker "Say Darlin'" (both used on 1968 B-sides) being the highlights in that respect. It's not even too well-known by many big Troggs fans that Britton did an obscure solo LP in 1969, As I Am. A varied batch of period British psychedelic pop songs, sung by Britton in his idiosyncratic, diffidently cool and amused style.


Tracks
1. Sit Down Beside Me
2. Will It Last
3. That Was The Time
4. No Sense In Fighting
5. Maybe Time Will Change You
6. Fly With Me
7. If You Really Care
8. Run And Hide
9. How Do You Say Goodbye
10. Sleep My Love
11. Why Did I Let You Go
12. Evil Woman
13. Learn To Love Life You’ll Be Living


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Barclay James Harvest - Barclay James Harvest 1970

Barclay James Harvest self-titled debut album was released in mid 1970 to positive reviews, but few sales. Released on the progressively inclined label of Harvest.

The album sounds like a mix of Moody Blues, Pretty Things and late 60’s Procol Harum. A great album that is not to be missed, pitched half way between the psych and prog eras.

This is what Disc & Music Echo wrote in 1970:

A very excellent album, with an incredibly full, lush sound, which at times
sounds rather like a film score for a mammoth spectacular... Very good
listening, stimulating and very melodic.

Tracks
1. Taking Some Time On
2. Mother Dear
3. The Sun Will Never Shine
4. When the World Was Woken
5. Good Love Child
6. The Iron Maiden
7. Dark Now My Sky


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Duncan Browne - Give Me Take You 1968

Duncan Browne’s album stands as irrefutable evidence that the later 60s was an era of British musical growth and excellence. Released on former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham’s eclectic Immediate label, Give Me Take You never enjoyed the attention it so richly deserved. Browne’s gentle songs draw from a world of theatrical references, Latin and public school choral societies, and deliver their stories wrapped in melodic acoustic guitar washes backed by imaginative string and vocal harmony arrangements.

Compared to Paul McCartney, Donovan and the Moody Blues, Duncan later joined the power-pop band Metro.


Tracks
1. Give Me Take You
2. Ninepence Worth of Walking
3. Dwarf in a Tree (A Cautionary Tale)
4. The Ghost Walks
5. Waking You (Part one)
6. Chloe in the Garden
7. Waking You (Part two)
8. On the Bombsite
9. I Was, You Weren't
10. Gabilan
11. Alfred Bell
12. The Death of Neil





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Various Artists - Songs of the March Hare

Hello music lovers. Now it's finally here. A brand new psych packed collection of obscurities from the vaults of Peppermint Store. This time it's my dear friend the March Hare who collected his favorit tracks. Songs of the March Hare is the fifth compilation released here on my blog. Hope you all like it!


Check out my previous compilations:
Peppermint Store -Vol 1.
In the Magic Garden of Peppermint Store
Wizard's Dream
Out of the Mad Hat


Tracks
1. Tea & Symphony - Armchair Theatre 1969
2. Acid Gallery - Dance Round the Maypole 1969
3. The End - Cardboard Watch 1968
4. Mushroom - Devil Among The Tailors 1973
5. Rainbow Ffolly - Sighing Game 1968
6. Mayfly - Blue Sofa 1972
7. Heron - Little Boy 1970
8. Syd Barrett - Octopus 1970
9. Fairport Convention - The Deserter 1969
10. Bridget St. John - Seagull Sunday 1971
11. Beacon Street Union - Angus Of Aberdeen 1968
12. Tony, Caro & John - Waltz for a Spaniel 1972
13. Wil Malone - Down Maundies 1970
14. Billy Nicholls - Come Again 1968
15. Jackie McAuley - Turning Green 1971



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Marc Brierley - EP 1966

This is the debut EP from Marc Brierley. Released 1966 on Transatlantic (TRA EB 147). The Transatlantic EP is the most dark and stripped-down of all the material he recorded, featuring just Marc Brierley's voice and an acoustic guitar. Donovan's early recordings must have been a big influence.

Recorded 1966 Wessex Sound Studio London

Produced by Nathan Joseph

Cover photo and design by Brian Shuel


Tracks:
1. Time For Love
2. Dragonfly
3. Arctic City
4. Rel's Song
5. If You Leave Me Now



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Wooden O - A Handful of Pleasant Delites 1969

An obscure and rare record from this folk act led by James Harpham, (who plays the recorder, an ancient flute-like instrument) A Handful Of Pleasant Delites was originally released by Middle Earth in 1969 – the same label as Arcanum and Writing On The Wall – and featured an interesting blend of acoustic folk, baroque medleys, jazz improvisations and experimental music constantly shifting from pastoral atmospheres to urban neurosis.


Side A:

The Lesson:
1. Toye Tune
2. Pipe Tune
3. Sad Tune
4. Dance Tune
5. Sick Tune
6. Walking Tune
7. Concerto (J.S. Bach, arr. Harpham)

Side B:

Lover's Progress:
1. Maypole
2. Overture
3. Sweet-Bedded
4. Arise
5. Fayne Would
6. It Was
7. Away

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Jade - Fly On Strange Wings 1970

This little known UK Folk Rock classic released in the early '70s. Issued in England under the band name "Jade", it's a fantastic album featuring the Sandy Denny like vocals of Marian Segal. Orchestrated, melodic songs, powerful folk rock with electric guitar harpsichord, and soaring vocal harmonies, this has to be up in the top ten UK folk rock albums of the period.

‘There is enough that is strange and beautiful on this first album to indicate that Jade have talent… The lyrics avoid many of the usual clichés and, I should imagine, spring from deeply-felt personal experiences, but musically some of the songs are not as strong as they might be’
– Melody Maker, 1/8/70

1. Amongst Anenomes
2. Raven
3. Fly on Strangewings
4. Mayfly
5. Alan's Song
6. Bad Magic
7. Clippership
8. Five of Us
9. Reflections on a Harbour Wall
10. Mrs. Adams
11. Fly Me to the North
12. Away from the Family


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Pussy - Pussy Plays 1969

This band was originally known as Fortes Mentum. Their album is one of the very best of the British progressive rock ultra-rarities. A five-piece band, whose complete personnel remain unknown. The album's a real gem. It kicks off with Come Back June, a keyboard-driven rock number, which is followed by one of their finest, All Of My Life. With its unusual, melodramatic vocals and fine keyboard arrangements it's well worth getting to hear.

‘Pussy is apparently the name of the group, though it’s by no means clear from the sleeve. The music is an amalgam of just about every underground cliché and ‘poetic-cum-significant’ lyric you’ve ever heard’ – Melody Maker, 12/4/69

Tracks
1. Come Back June
2. All Of My Life
3. We Built The Sun
4. Comets
5. Tragedy In F.Minor
6. The Open Ground
7. Everybody’s Song
8. G.E.A.B.

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Reissued on vinyl (Akarma AK 288LP) and on CD (Akarma AK 288CD).

Beacon Street Union - The Clown Died in Marvin Gardens 1968

The Clown Died in Marvin Gardens is the second album from Beacon Street Union, a psychedelic rock group based in Boston, Mass. Originally released in 1968 on MGM. Their second album mixes acid rock, blues and ballads. The back cover of this album pictures the band walking on top of a cloud and their strange music was undoubtedly largely drug-influenced.

Tracks
1. The Clown Died in Marvin Gardens
2. The Clown's Overture
3. Angus of Aberdeen
4. Blue Suede Shoes
5. A Not Very August Afternoon
6. Now I Taste the Tears
7. King of the Jungle
8. May I Light Your Cigarette
9. Baby Please Don't Go


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Wooden Horse - Wooden Horse 1972

This is the rare 1972 debut from this fine UK hippy band who mixed acoustic folk and electric rock to create a sound similar to Tudor Lodge, Story Teller etc. Lead singer Susan Traynor was later known as Noosha Fox - but this music far overshadows anything from that later more commercial era. Great male/female harmonies.


Tracks
1. Crazy Thoughts
2. Wake Me in the Morning
3. Trees
4. Northern Beaches
5. This Is a Song
6. Broken Bottles
7. Eastbound Train
8. Gentle Mind
9. Come Around
10. Feel
11. Letter
12. Loving Men


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Peelers - Banished Misfortune 1972

An Irish hippie folk-rock outfit who redid mostly traditional songs like the title cut on their album, which is now extremely rare and sought-after by fans of the genre. Recorded in 1972.

A highprised collectable item in it's original vinyl format, coming with special needlework sleeve design. A timeless collection of songs with a haunting feel created by a plethora of instrumentation including mandolin, dulcimer, concertina, harmonium , etc.

Tracks
1. Dalesman's Litany
2. Old Woman In Cotton
3. Ramblin' Robin
4. Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
5. Bleacher Lassie
6. Broken Down Squatter
7. The Night Before Larry Was Stretched
8. Banished Misfortune
9. Spancil Hill
10. Schoolday's End



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The End - The End 1968

Introspection is a lost nugget from the psychedelic era of the late 60s, produced by bassist Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones, with Nicky Hopkins & Charlie Watts as guests. This is one of the most important of all the great psychedelic albums of the late Sixties: great songs, lovely vibes, a psychedelic masterpiece of vibrant guitars and compositions!

Originally released on DECCA in 1969


Tracks
1. Dreamworld
2. Under The Rainbow
3. Shades Of Orange
4. Bromley Common
5. Cardboard Watch
6. Introspection - Part One
7. What Does It Feel Like?
8. Linen Draper
9. Don't Take Me
10. Loving , Sacred Loving
11. She Said Yeah
12. Jacob's Bladder
13. Introspection - Part Two

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Open Mind - Open Mind 1969

One of the best-loved British psychedelic albums of all time, The Open Mind is a hard-rocking collection that sold in minute numbers on its original release in 1969.

The band was formed in the mid 1960s by four musicians from Putney, South London. Initially named The Drag Set, they released a little-known single in February 1967, "Day and Night"/"Get Out of My Way". Shortly thereafter, they changed their name to The Open Mind and in July 1969 released a self-titled LP which has since become a highly sought-after collectible. The band, however, is best known for its druggy August 1969 single, "Magic Potion", which did not appear on the album.

Personnel
Mike Brancaccio - guitar, vocals
Timothy du Feu - bass guitar
Phil Fox - drums
Terry Martin, a.k.a. Terry Schindler - guitar, vocals

(Jon Anderson briefly sang in the band but left to form Yes.)


Tracks
1. Dear Louise
2. Try Another Day
3. I Feel the Same Way Too
4. My Mind Cries
5. Can't You See?
6. Thor the Thunder God
7. Horses and Chariots
8. Before My Time
9. Free as the Breeze
10. Girl I'm So Alone
11. Soul and My Will
12. Falling Again

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Maureeny Wishfull - The Maureeny Wishfull Album 1968

This is a very rare privately-pressed album featuring Jimmy Page, John Williams and Big Jim Sullivan. Released on the Moonshine label with pre-Zeppelin Jimmy on guitar and sitar and described as psychedelic folk. Rumoured to have been just 300 or so copies pressed, this legendary piece is one of the great Page/Zeppelin-linked collectors items. John Williams had earlier recorded a solo album and a couple of 45s.


Tracks
1. Maureeny Wishfull
2. To Something New
3. I Must Fly
4. I Know, You Know Too
5. Another Winter, Another Spring
6. City Blues
7. Gypsy Girl & The Poor Boy
8. Early Bird Of Morning
9. London Town
10. Sally You've Been On The Game Too Long
11. Dream Cloudburst
12. And She Is My True Love
13. Five Verses For My Love
14. C'mon Train



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Idle Race - Time Is 1971

Time Is is the final studio album by The Idle Race. Recorded in 1971 after Jeff Lynne had left the band to join Roy Wood in The Move. The post-Jeff Lynne version of the Idle Race is very different from the band's two previous albums. It's psychedelic-tinged folk, light on the psych, heavy on the folk. Their flute embellishment on various songs gives them a vaguely progressive sound as well; coupled with their basic acoustic guitar sound and harmony singing. Released on Regal Zonophone.


Tracks
1. Dancing Flower
2.Sad O' Sad
3. The Clock
4. I Will See You
5. By The Sun
6. Alcatraz
7. And The Rain
8. She Sang Hymns Out Of Tune
9. Bitter Green
10. We Want It All

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