Overview
I'm redoing this post with better formatting - and since more data has emerged considering the new Purple Sky box set.
First let's talk about the availability of these singles and how to obtain them, and then we'll follow these singles chronologically.
The first to market was Pseudonym's fantastic CD reissue of Agemo's Trip to Mother Earth (1997) - which contained no less than 13 bonus tracks. You even get the 3-D cover and glasses!
Second was the individual CD/LP release of the singles (plus demo varieties) known as Mother No-Head (2012).
Third, and the most inconspicuous, is a double CD release called The Golden Years Of Dutch Pop Music (A&B Sides And More) (2017). Not only does this CD contain all their released singles, but it also has reissues of Paradise Now (which already had multiple releases) as well as the very first legit CD reissue of Polyandri.
And now fourth - and the most complete Group 1850 package by far - is the 8 CD Purple Sky box set (2019). Included with all 5 of their albums (plus one Sjardin solo work), we also get 2 full discs of Group 1850 singles. It's a bit misleading though, as many are just mono/stereo variations of each. There are some deviations though, that we will cover below.
1966
Group (native Groep) 1850 were always ahead of their time by at least 2 years. Peter Sjardin is no doubt one of the creative geniuses of our era, a man with no commercial ambition whatsoever, but one who never lost his mojo until the end of the 70s. The fact 'Misty Night' came out in 1966 demonstrates the point at hand. This track could have easily fit on the Agemo's opus that was to arrive 2 years later, and it too is a pioneering effort. This is prog psych, before the former term existed and the latter term was just entering the lexicon in regards to music. 'Look Around' is a bit more typical for the era, in a punk garage sort of way. It's still very good for the style.
1967
I'm not quite sure why the psychedelic era had so much infatuation with the French nursery rhyme Frere Jacques*, but Mother No-Head is Group 1850's interpretation. Apparently the name is a bastardization of the Dutch "Vader Jacob" with some free association to English. OOKAAY then. Uncut drugs I presume. In any case, from what I understand this was Group 1850's most successful single. It definitely is a unique variation of the jingle and is quite good. 'Ever, Ever Green' is the most normal song Group 1850 ever did, and the only one I'd probably skip over in their entire ouevre.
* The German psych band Bokaj Retsiem dedicated their name (Meister Jakob spelled backwards) and their one album to the rhyme.
Another brilliant pair of tracks from these Dutch cosmic travelers, well on their way to blowing minds everywhere.
1968
The pinnacle of Group 1850's singles. 'Little Fly' is the same version as on Agemo's Trip to Mother Earth, and is brilliant. And 'We Love Life' is the perfect encapsulation of Group 1850's ability to consolidate many psychedelic ideas into 4 and a half minutes.
The second best of Group 1850's singles (after Little Fly/We Love Life), this captures the band at their peak (and probably peak experience if you know what I mean).
1969
While the band were quite active in 1969 - especially considering their best work Paradise Now was released then - there was no formal singles activity. However on the Purple Sky box, two lost recordings emerge, both single edits of tracks found on Paradise Now: 'Friday I'm Free' and 'Purple Sky (part 1)'.
1970
Group 1850 returned in 1970 with 'Don't Let It Be' and 'Sun is Coming', though ironically this would be the only recording to emerge from the band during the year. This would also be the only single left off the Agemo's Trip to Mother Earth CD reissue. And they are not to be missed either. Just two more great tracks (especially 'Don't Let it Be') from Group 1850!
1971
Based on the sheer level of activity, it appears that 1971 was to be a breakout year for Group 1850. But alas it never happened and they more or less broke up for 3 years afterward.
I think there can be no doubt Arthur Brown was on their mind when they did 'Fire'. It's not just the song title, but also the style. A surprising copycat move from a band who were always innovators. It's still a great track despite this. The highlight here though is 'Have You Ever Heard', which basically consolidated the '?!' track from Paradise Now into a song with lyrics. Of course it doesn't have the long trippy organ and guitar parts, but it's great to hear how they recycled some of the themes.
What would appear to be the only original tracks on Purple Sky, are really variations on the above. 'Falling Mountains' is yet another variation of '?!', though to be honest I'm open to hearing any number of variations of this most brilliant song. The other track here is 'Liar' which rhymes with - c'mon guess - right, 'Fire'. It's basically the same tune with different lyrics.
In addition to the above activity in 1971, Group 1850 also recorded '1000 Years Before' and 'Dream of the Future', neither of which were ever released in their day. These two songs - both excellent - first appeared as bonus tracks on the Agemo's reissue. They were also both left off the Golden Years CD.
1975
The only single from Group 1850 than can be ignored, if you already have these two tracks from earlier releases (1967/1971 respectively). This appears to be a cash-in job recycling their most known hit 'Mother No-Head', but this time sung in half-French, which is where this single was released (and as we learn from the Purple Sky box, it was recorded way back in 1967). 'Fire' is the exact same as the 1971 single. By 1975, Group 1850 were barely a cohesive entity anyway, though they recovered to release the excellent Polyandri and Live On Tour albums. After this, Sjardin basically imploded with inane attempts to stay relevant in the marketplace throughout the late 70s and early 80s. He ultimately became a recluse for some 30 odd years, and passed away in 2015 at the age of 68.
CD: 1997 Pseudonym (reissue of Agemo's Trip to Mother Earth)
CD: 2019 Pseudonym (as part of an 8 CD box set called Purple Sky)
9/1/19 (new entry)
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