THE ELECTRIC CRAYON SET KIRI 044 (-86) UK MONO

 

 Yet another of those to me indispensable BamCaruso compilations, allowing you to dig deep in British music history and get to know outfits that otherwise would have gone with the wind.  In this case I get to hear lots of top psych, pop or r&b numbers that for years only existed on impossibly rare 45:s or buried deep down in some vault, but also get a chance to trace some beginnings of members in later more renowned bands. The Attack seems to have been a real greenhouse for later British music, as Alan Whitehead went to Marmalade, Jim Avory to Thunderclap Newman, Micky Jones to Spooky Tooth, John Du Cann to Atomic Rooster and David O'List to Nice, Jet and Roxy Music.  Peter Dunton from The Flies went on to Gun, Bulldog Breed and T2, while his bandmate Robin Hunt also graced Bulldog Breed and T2.  John Dalton from The Mark Four later played in The Kinks. Dave Lambert from Fire would go on to Strawbs, while his bandmate Paul Brett went to Velvet Opera.  All cuts are as far as I can hear original takes and the audio if not all over top notch yet very pleasing.  I love it all, but if to pick a few -  The Attack "Anymore Than I Do" has some very outspoken O'List guitars reminding of what he did for early Nice. The Score's rather raw psych version of Beatles "Please Please Me" is impossible to resist and The Poets "I Love Her Still" from 1965 so oddly arranged it can almost be called early psych.  So much goodies here it will satisfy any lover of British sixties music who prefer vinyl but not wanna spend a fortune on the originals.  This issue was UK only, also rereleased on Rubble (FORLP 2905) and Past & Present Records (PAPRLP 005). First had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover and inner with info and pics on all the involved bands.  (SÄM*)