Thursday, February 19, 2009

Superfine Dandelion - Superfine Dandelion (1967)


Superfine Dandelion drew from a lot of fine inspirations on their sole album: Jefferson Airplane, the Lovin' Spoonful, and Buffalo Springfield foremost among them. Good taste, however, does not guarantee a good record. Superfine Dandelion isn't lousy; it's just average and unmemorable. It seems as though they did their share of listening to the early Jefferson Airplane, judging from the extremely Airplane-like vocal interplay and minor chord structure of "People in the Street" and "Crazy Town." "My Place," on the other hand, has something of the country-flavored buoyancy of the Lovin' Spoonful and Buffalo Springfield, while the cheeriest cuts have the sunny folk-pop/rock feel of, say, some of the L.A. folk-rock issued by the Dunhill label ("Don't Try to Call Me" recalls P.F. Sloan) or the Monkees. Then "Janie's Tomb" and "It's Raining" have a jokey jug band vibe, like a cross between the Charlatans and the Lovin' Spoonful. These are lot of references to cram into one review, and also an indication that there wasn't much originality to Superfine Dandelion's sound. That wouldn't matter so much if the songs were outstanding, but they're just so-so. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Personnel:
RICK ANDERSON bs, gtr A
ED BLACK gtr, keyb'ds A
MIKE COLLINS drms A
MIKE McFADDEN gtr, vcls A

ALBUM:
1(A) SUPERFINE DANDELION (Mainstream S/6102) 1967
NB: (1) pirated on CD (no label), later reissued officially (Sundazed SC 11057) 2000. The Sundazed version comprises the original album, plus 45s, unreleased track/alternate takes and four cuts by the Mile Ends.

45s:
1 The Other Sidewalk/Ferris Wheel (Rook no #) 1967
2 The Other Sidewalk/Don't Try To Call Me (Rook no #) 1967
3 People In The Street/ ? (Mainstream 672) 1967
4 CrazyTown (Move On Little Children)/Janie's Tomb (Mainstream 673) 1967

This outfit was based in Phoenix, Arizona between 1966-68 and were earlier known as The Mile Ends. Their first 45 contains the fine psychedelic punk of The Other Sidewalk, and the flip features sitars and has a mellow trippy feel, with the vocalist wishing that he'd never come down...
After such an interesting start, they went on to chart regionally with their People In The Street 45, but their album had a strong country influence and is largely dispensable.
Most of the band later went on to greater things - Black and McFadden joined Goose Creek Symphony and later worked for Linda Ronstadt. Anderson later joined Beans who evolved into The Tubes.
Compilation appearances include: The Other Sidewalk on The Lost Generation, Vol. 2 (LP); The Other Sidewalk and Ferris Wheel on Psychedelic Moods - Part Two (CD); Janie's Tomb on Songs Of Faith And Inspiration (CDR & CD).

Tracks:
Candy Man
Bottle Up and Go
I Can Never Say
Bring 'Em on In
Ferris Wheel
People in the Street
Crazy Town (Move on Little Children)
My Place
Day and Night
Shameful Lady
Janie's Tomb
It's Raining
Don't Try to Call Me
The Other Sidewalk
What's the Hurry?
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head
Ferris Wheel
The Other Sidewalk
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Links dead....