Band started out as a the blues/soul outfit Five Proud Walkers, but after supporting Pink Floyd at a tour they were inclined towards a more psych agenda. First renamed simply Velvet Opera, the Elmer Gantry addition came after singer Dave Terry took the persona of the title character from a Sinclair Lewis novel. This was the only LP recorded by this setting. It didn't sell and soon after both Dave Terry and guitarist Colin Firster quit. Following a second album - "Ride A Hustlers Dream" as Velvet Opera - with a partly new setting, bassist John Ford and drummer Richard Hudson left to become the new rhythm section in Strawbs - and that was it. Listening today it is very hard to understand why this album didn't hit. Maybe they were too much ahead of their time and/or too much to handle for the average listener. I hear a smorgasbord of different styles - psych, prog, r&b and rockabilly - skillfully performed with power and lots of catchy moments. To may taste every track is a winner, but if I have to pick favorites it'd be the more psychedelic ones, certainly odd yet inviting enough to stick - "What's The Point Of Leaving", "Dream Starts", "Intro/Mother Writes" and the strange semi-baroque instrumental "I Was Cool". The audio on this press is tophole - loud and clear with often prominent bass and drums. Early vinyl issues also in US and Canada (BN 26415). UK 2013 CD on Grapefruit Records (SRSEG 026) came with eleven bonus tracks, including single and Demo versions. Premiere UK had (also as mono (8-63300) had label as shown here in a laminated cover. (DÄJ*)
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