The Sunrays - Andrea. 1995 Collectables (CD) (1966). The Beach Boys' abrasive old man Murry Wilson, fresh off getting booted as manager by his kids, decides he can put together any ol' group of musicians and rise to the top. Complete face plant, Andrea can only be viewed positively as a time capsule album. The Sunrays are like a mix of The Beach Boys, The Association, and The Four Tops. Misses the magic of Brian and the boys, and is imitation at its worst. CD offers apologist notes. Probably this will be the last 2025 Psych journal entry, so I'll just add here and move forward. (12/26)
*Spooky Tooth - It's All About. 1970 Island (LP) (1968). Spooky Tooth is another one of those bands that I've known about for most of my record collecting life but never actually heard. Found a nice pink Island copy up in Denver. It wasn't cheap but it was a really good deal, and it's hard to pass on these early UK pressings. I would describe the music as a type of psychedelic soul. From the latter comes the passionate crooning. From the former is the period sounds and instrumentation. Nothing really blew me away here, but I found it a pleasant listen throughout. Also I came to learn that one of the album's best tracks 'Too Much of Nothing' is only on these early pressings. It was swapped out with something apparently lame on the subsequent A&M releases. I've been told their second album is much better. I have it on cassette of all things, so I'll get to it eventually unless I find the LP first. At that point I might build out a page for them. (4/29)
*Howlin' Wolf - Message to the Young. 1977 Chess (LP) (1971). Here's an interesting album that I had no idea about. Chicago Blues legend Howlin' Wolf putting out a psychedelic album. It's for certain still his patented blues style, but no doubt he had Jimi Hendrix on the brain when he amped up. Not a lot of the old timers took these kind of chances, or had any desire to give credence to the young 'uns. Unique and I'm keeping it for now. Howlin' Wolf is not the type of artist I'd build an artist page for, as I'm not a huge blues fan. But if I found his early shellacs, I'd keep them anyway. I just found an old Muddy Waters shellac (1950 Aristocrat beautiful condition too) and decided to keep it. I don't have a way to play them, but I love the history. (4/9)
Grateful Dead - Without a Net. 1990 Arista (2xCD). This a placeholder as I intend to build out a Grateful Dead page eventually. I own two CDs and a raft full of archival material. All I've commented on so far is what I don't like haha. This title isn't so bad really. I know relatively nothing about the Grateful Dead compared to Deadheads, so you have to take my viewpoint as an outsider looking in. Apparently this was their last great tour and was captured on CD as a best-of compilation. It wouldn't be long after that the band released just about everything they recorded in 30 years, making these comps unnecessary except for casual fans looking for the Cliff Notes version. RYM currently shows 260 live releases. There are some nice jams here interspersed with their usual countryish blues and folk mix. Jug Band music. Obviously everything the group records would have been better experienced live and in person. (2/19)
*-Keeping for the collection
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