This is one of those bands I discovered via an original 45 (very obscure). I'd heard a sample of it, and was intrigued. In researching on Discogs, I couldn't find the 45 but I found this CD! And fortunately that super cool track ('African Song') is on this archival compilation. I know most of my audience is more prog geared than garage, and this comp was marketed towards the latter crowd. But it's for us! The Lemon Drops were a garage band from Chicago who released one highly sought after 45 in their lifetime. Since then, two full archival albums have emerged (I've not heard them). Followed by this title. We are left to guess that the Vibrations are the transitional group from one to the other (and a move to California). The liner notes are more free associative than informative. In any case, what Watermelon bring to the table is a sound I associate more with Group 1850 than anything you're likely to hear in America. Lots of instrumental psychedelia, with organ being prominent. My favorite 45 discovery so far is by a band called Gandharvas. You can find my notes here about them (and I remain the only person who seems to know this 45). Watermelon will give you some idea of that sound - as does Group 1850, especially on their singles. Not all of the tracks are dated, but the ones that are, come from 1970. And that's a bullseye for the era of this kind of sound. Albums like this are very few and far between. I think it's great. Need more time to take it to the first division, but this will be a long time keeper. Take the time to find this. It's already disappearing.
Ownership: 1996 Collectables. Recent online acquisition (2023). As noted above, there are liner notes, but they seem incomplete.
3/9/23 (new entry)
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