THE TURTLES/YOU BABY WW-S 7112 (-66) US STEREO

  This was the band's second LP, issued one year before their big breakthrough "Happy Together"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-turtleshappy-together-ha-u-8330-67.html . While that album, with all right, has become a sought after classic, this slightly less smooth one is by many regarded as not that important. I can't understand why. To my ears a very fine blend between raw garage, well sung ballads and a couple of songs that could be called psych but I rather say weird. Production and arrangement mostly right on, making them come close. Stereo mix has too many parts where vocals and backing are split between the speakers making it sound rather unnatural in earphones, but coming out quite all right as background. I do like the garage style cuts best - like the frenzied "Almost There" and "Flying High" plus the slow and harsh "Pall Bearing, Ball Bearing World". Never thought I'd hear Turtles as a garage band, but here it is and it's good. Definitely one I will listen too many times more. Sixties issues in Canada and Mexico. Later reissued on vinyl and/or CD in Germany, Downunder, UK and Downunder. US issue also as cassette, 4-track, 8-track and reel. US 2016 CD on FloEdCo (MFO 48042) came with all songs in both mono and stereo. Premiere US vinyl had label as shown here in a laminated cover.  (YZÄ*)