Electric Prunes - Artifact

Έψαξα εναγωνίως καμία κριτική του Μπούρα και δεν βρήκα. Άμα λοιπόν αυτός δεν έχει δημοσιεύσει, εγώ πώς ανάθεμα να τολμήσω να κάνω?

Θα παραθέσω πάντως ένα δελτίο τύπου του 2002 που βρήκα, ενδεικτικό του σεβασμού που έδειξαν κάποιοι άνθρωποι, απέναντι σε αυτούς που μας και τους, έμαθαν τι θα πει μουσική.

Τρίτη, 24 Σεπτεμβρίου 2002

Με την ευκαιρία της συναυλίας των ELECTRIC PRUNES στην Αθήνα, την 12η Οκτωβρίου 2002 (ΡΟΔΟΝ), θα θέλαμε δημόσια να ευχαριστήσουμε τα ιστορικά / ιδρυτικά μέλη της κορυφαίας αυτής ψυχεδελικής μπάντας, James Lowe, Mark Tulin, Ken Williams, John Dooley καί τούς νεώτερους Mark Mulin καί Cameron Lowe γιά την μεγάλη τιμή που μας έκαναν, καλώντας μας να ανοίξουμε την συναυλία τους. Τέτοια τιμητική αναγνώριση για τα 15 χρόνια αφοσίωσης και προσφοράς μας στο κεφάλαιο της ψυχεδελικής ροκ, δεν είχαμε ποτέ αποκομίσει από την πατρίδα μας, εκτός ίσως λίγων περιπτώσεων όπως είναι η αγάπη και η στήριξη από τους φίλους μας. Θα θέλαμε επίσης να ζητήσουμε από όλους (ραδ. παραγωγούς, έντυπα κλπ) να βοηθήσουν ο καθένας από το πόστο του ώστε η συναυλία αυτή να μείνει στην μνήμη μας σαν το πιό σημαντικό γεγονός της ψυχεδελικής μουσικής στην χώρα μας. Οι ELECTRIC PRUNES με το νέο τους άλμπουμ "Artifact" έδειξαν πως το ροκ ζει και βρίσκεται σε καλά χέρια.PURPLE OVERDOSEΚ. Κωνσταντίνου - Χρ. Τριανταφυλλόπουλος - Ανδρέας ΑνδριόπουλοςΣταύρος Ελευθερίου - Κώστας Στεργίου.Στεφ.Παναγιωτάκης (μάνατζερ)(τηφ 0974025690 + 0109818794 για οτιδήποτε σχετικό με τους EL.PRUNES)*Πολλές πληροφορίες γύρω από το εκπληκτικό αυτό reunion μπορείτενα μάθετε στο http://www.electricprunes.net/

On June the 16th 2001 The Electric Prunes played live at VOXfest III for the first time since 1967, later in the year they headlined on the first night of CAVESTOMP!2001- A Garage Rock Oddity in New York City and rocked the house with their second live gig in 35 years. Both events went down a storm and to top this all they released their third album Artifact onto an unsuspecting world.Well, we knew about CAVESTOMP!, we didn't know about VOXfest and certainly didn't know anything about Artifact until it slapped onto the Pooterland doormat sometime in January with a little note from James Lowe saying 'We are alive and almost well..'Strange omen indeed because the next week I ended up with Pneumonia and that was the last I saw of a lot of things for the next six weeks....So that's where the delay came in reviewing this little baby, but we are here now and I must say that this album rocks!!This is an album recorded by a bunch of guys having some serious fun, there is no pretence, no bullshit, no smoke and mirrors, THIS is what The Electric Prunes sound like these days, they're having fun and they don't care!! If you don't like it then go buy something else...Sure they sound different to 'Mass' but then they would wouldn't they? However, James Lowe still sings with that fantastic low down raw garage twang and there is some classic 'Prunes style razor sharp fuzz guitar here that will burn you up and down and leave you with a big smile on your face. Overall it leans toward a slightly cleaner rock sound but I must admit I LOVE this album, I really do.For those of you that have never heard of these guys, you must have been living under a rock for the last 35 years!!If YOU were under THAT rock then hear this: The Electric Prunes were one of the biggest garage/psych bands back in 1967 releasing a string of awesome singles and two fine albums, the second one coming under much criticism. They came out of LA and were responsible for such punk classics as 'I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night', 'Get Me To The World On Time' and 'Ain't It Hard' and were 'up there' with The Chocolate Watchband, The Litter and The Seeds with all 4 bands getting eclipsed perhaps by what was happening in San Francisco, which may have contributed to their early demise.

Tracks:

Lost Dream
7 & 7 Is
Big Stick
The Dream I Had Last Night
Bullet Thru The Backseat
Phone Won't Ring
All About Wires
Devils Candy
Analog Life
Mujo 22
Castaway
Le Fire
Halloween Ending
Hard Time
Slobodon

http://sharebee.com/a68a89eb

Electric Prunes – California (2004)

Ψάχνοντας γενικά για πληροφορίες που έχουν να κάνουν με το cd, έπεσα και στην κριτική του κυρίου Μάνου Μπούρα. Στο κείμενο του γράφει μεταξύ άλλων… «το άλμπουμ θυμίζει απόπειρα μιας παρέας μεγάλων ανθρώπων να θυμηθούν τα νιάτα τους χωρίς όμως να ανεβάσουν και πολύ την ένταση, για να μην ενοχλείται και η προχωρημένης ηλικίας σύζυγος στο άλλο δωμάτιο»… «Δεν το τσούζουν με άλλα λόγια, δεν επιχειρούν να κάψουν λίγα απ’ τα εγκεφαλικά τους κύτταρα – και δικά μας εννοείται, δεν τολμούν να ξαναμπούν στο garage που έχουν χτίσει με τα χεράκια τους».

Αν κάτι με ενοχλεί γενικά είναι ο τύπος του «ξερόλα». Ο τύπος που μπορεί να έχει άποψη και επιχειρήματα επί παντός επιστητού. Έστω δηλαδή ότι είμαι «έγκριτος μουσικοκριτικός». Αυτό σημαίνει ότι μπορώ να κάνω κριτική το ίδιο άνετα σε ένα δίσκο των Libertines, σε έναν των Television, σε έναν των 2L8 ή σε ένα των Electric Prunes. Αν γίνεται εγώ πάω πάσο.

Όσον αφορά το cd που θάβει όπως μπορεί, το μόνο που μπορώ να του πω είναι πως αν περίμενε να ανακαλύψει τον τροχό 40 χρόνια μετά κάτι δεν πάει καλά. Αν περίμενε να ξαναανακαλύψει την ψυχεδέλεια των Prunes 40 χρόνια μετά, δεν έχει ιδέα από πού ξημερώνει ο ήλιος. Εγώ δεν λέω ότι το California είναι ύμνος ή καταπληκτικό ή ασυναγώνιστο ή δεν ξέρω εγώ τι άλλο. Αλλά ο κάθε Μπούρας όπου το μόνο που έχει ακούσει είναι ένα I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night (και αυτό στο περίπου) καλό θα είναι σέβεται μερικά πράγματα. Σεβασμός δεν είναι να μην κάνω κριτική, σεβασμός είναι να μην γράφω χοντροεοδέστατες βλακείες (για να μην το πω αλλιώς), περί εγκεφαλικών κυττάρων, ατολμίας περί garage, παππούδων και προχωρημένων ηλικιών.
Σε αυτή τη χώρα έχουμε μπουχτίσει από ξερόλες «μουσικοκριτικούς» του κώλου θα πως έτσι ξερά γιατί εκνευρίστηκα.
Μ ’αρέσει που βρήκε και «ίχνη» από Bowie (αναμφισβήτητα μέγας καλλιτέχνης) αλλά τα ίχνη από Byrds ούτε τα πήρε πρέφα (στο The Rickenbacker 12 String… γιά κάπου οκτώ μίλια ίχνος).

Αν βέβαια πρόσεχε κάπως καλύτερα το cd θα έβλεπε να γράφει LIMITED EDITION (αναγράφεται δύο φορές) …αυτό μήπως αξίζει μετάφρασης για να δούμε και το κίνητρο αυτής της μπάντας? Τι να δούμε…αφού ούτε την τύφλα μας δεν μπορούμε να δούμε.

Tracks:
1. Side Show Charade
2. 49 Songs
3. I Never Knew What You Wanted
4. Makin' Some Noise
5. Pacific Ocean Blue
6. I'll Drag You Home
7. Rosy Made Me Crazy
8. Transient Absolution
9. Tidal Wave
10. Rewired
11. Running With Scissors
12. The Rickenbacker 12 String
13. Cinema Verite
14. Bonus Track
http://sharebee.com/1ec5abde

Electric Prunes - Lost Dream (Original Recording Remastered)

Περιττό το όποιο σχόλιο για τους αξεπέραστους, ανεπανάληπτους και μοναδικούς Electric Prunes.
Μία πανέμορφη έκδοση, με πολύ ωραίο ένθετο, πανέξυπνα-σαρκαστικά-λακωνικά σχόλια στο οπισθόφυλλο και μία νοσταλγική φωτογραφία του γκρουπ πάνω στο cd.

Στέφανε σε ευχαριστώ πολύ.

Tracks:
1. Shadows - The Electric Prunes,
2. Ain't It Hard - The Electric Prunes, Tillison
3. Little Oliver - The Electric Prunes, Lowe
4. I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) - The Electric Prunes, Mantz, Nancie
5. I've Got a Way of My Own - The Electric Prunes,
6. Luvin' - The Electric Prunes, Lowe
7. I Happen to Love You - The Electric Prunes, Goffin
8. Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less) - The Electric Prunes, Mantz, Nancie
9. Hideaway - The Electric Prunes, Lowe
10. Try Me on for Size - The Electric Prunes, Jones, Jill
11. The Great Banana Hoax - The Electric Prunes, Lowe
12. You Never Had It Better - The Electric Prunes, Poncher
13. Dr. Do-Good - The Electric Prunes, Mantz, Nancie
14. Get Me to the World on Time - The Electric Prunes, Jones, Jill
15. Captain Glory - The Electric Prunes, Lowe
16. World of Darkness - The Electric Prunes,
17. Train for Tomorrow - The Electric Prunes, Lowe
18. Big City - The Electric Prunes, Walsh, J.
19. Wind-Up Toys - The Electric Prunes, Lowe
20. It's Not Fair - The Electric Prunes, Lowe
21. Sold to the Highest Bidder - The Electric Prunes, Mantz, Nancie
22. Everybody Knows You're Not in Love - The Electric Prunes, Lowe
23. Long Day's Flight - The Electric Prunes, Yorty, Don

http://sharebee.com/4577e089

Electric Prunes – Underground (1967)

re-up
http://sharebee.com/cdd8b585

Electric Prunes - Electric Prunes (I Had Too Much to Dream) 1967

Τι είδους σχόλιο να έχω για αυτό το δίσκο? Απλά θα πω πως είναι μια ΔΙΣΚΑΡΑ με όλη τη σημασία της λέξεως. Δεν πρόκειται για ένα απλά αγαπημένο μου δίσκο, αλλά για ένα πολυαγαπημένο δίσκο. Μιλάμε για ερωτική σχέση. Για ένα πάντως που είμαι σίγουρος είναι ότι ο φίλος stefanos δεν πρόκειται να κατεβάσει τον δίσκο:))))
Να είστε όλοι καλά και συγνώμη που έχω χαθεί. Η οικοδομή μου τρώει τεράστιο χρόνο καθώς κάνω αγώνα να τελειώσω ως τα Χριστούγεννα.

Tracks:
"I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" (Mantz, Tucker) – 2:55
"Bangles" (Walsh) – 2:27
"Onie" (Mantz, Tucker) – 2:43
"Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less)" (Mantz, Tucker) – 2:21
"Train for Tomorrow" (Lowe, Ritter, Spagnola, Tulin, Williams) – 3:00
"Sold to the Highest Bidder" (Mantz, Tucker) – 2:16
"Get Me to the World on Time" (Mantz, Tucker) – 2:30
"About a Quarter to Nine" (Dubin, Warren) – 2:07
"The King Is in the Counting House" (Mantz, Tucker) – 2:00
"Luvin'" (Lowe, Tulin) – 2:03
"Try Me on for Size" (Jones, Tucker) – 2:19
"The Tunerville Trolley" (Mantz, Tucker) – 2:34

http://rapidshare.de/files/40789629/Electric_Prunes_-__Electric_Prunes__I_Had_Too_Much_to_Dream__1967.rar.html

Electric Prunes – Underground (1967)

Το ερέθισμα για να ανεβάσω τον δεύτερο δίσκο των Prunes (όχι βέβαια ότι κάποια στιγμή δεν θα ανέβαινε)έδωσε ο φίλος stefanos www.myspace.com/stefanos51 , τον οποίο τον ευχαριστώ πολύ που μου ξύπνησε εικόνες, πρόσωπα και πράγματα της νεότητας μου.
Κάθε άνθρωπος μάλλον είναι συνδεδεμένος με κάποια πράγματα στην ζωή του και σίγουρα αν ακούει και μουσική, ακούγοντας κάποια κομμάτια του έρχονται οι θύμησες του παρελθόντος. Γύρω στο 81 με 82 τελειώνοντας το Λύκειο επειδή το κωλοβάρεσα άσχημα στην τρίτη τάξη δεν πέρασα πουθενά. Τα οικονομικά βέβαια που ήταν περιορισμένα και έπρεπε να ενισχυθούν ως εργαζόμενος πλέον, αφού αρκετά είχε πληρώσει ο συχωρεμένος ο πατέρας μου για φροντιστήρια και αρκετή πίκρα του είχα δώσει. Η μόνιμη διαμάχη στο σπίτι ήταν οι δίσκοι. Δεν αγόραζα τίποτα άλλο. Υπήρχε μουρμούρα γκρίνια διότι ούτε ρούχο αγόραζα ούτε παπούτσια ούτε τίποτα άλλο.. Για να μην κουράζω, λύση από το πουθενά είχαμε και από τις κασέτες όπου λουφάραμε κανά φράγκο άμα βρίσκαμε να γράφουμε κανένα δισκάκι τζαμπανταν. Ο καλός άνθρωπος Νίκος έδινε κασέτες στον ξάδελφό του και αυτός στον κουνιάδο του που ήμασταν φιλαράκια. Κάποτε ήρθε η ώρα που ακούσαμε Prunes και κολλήσαμε άσχημα. Μετά από δύο χρόνια πέρασα σε μία σχολή, έφυγα από Αθήνα με απαραίτητο αξεσουάρ τον «ροκά». Ο «ροκάς» ήταν ένα κασετοφωνάκι (το έχω ακόμα) που μου κράταγε παρέα. Το Underground έπαιζε καθημερινά και όταν λέμε καθημερινά μιλάμε για 24 ώρες την ημέρα επί μήνες. Προνόησα βέβαια να βγάλω 4-5 κόπιες την κασέτα καθώς ήταν μαθηματικά βέβαιο ότι κάποια στιγμή θα την «μασαγε» (ώπερ και εγένετο).
Δεν ήταν μόνο ο «ροκάς». Το 1985 πήγα ένα ταξίδι Ισπανία με ένα αμάξι Σκόντα 900 κυβικών (με τη μηχανή πίσω) με δύο άλλα φιλαράκια σε ένα ταξίδι που θύμισε Κέρουακ (ότι είχα διαβάσει το βιβλίο του Στο Δρόμο). Στην επιστροφή περνώντας από Ανδόρα αγόρασα ένα walkman σε τιμή ξεφτίλα, οπότε είχα την δυνατότητα κάνοντας ποδήλατο να ακούω το δίσκο. Όσοι για παράδειγμα φίλοι που μπαίνουν στο blog είναι από Χαλκίδα θα ξέρουν που ήταν ο ιππικός όμιλος (πήγαινα και τάιζα τα άλογα καρότα) ή θα ξέρουν που είναι η παραλία στα Σκορπονέρια όπου πήγαινα για διανυκτέρευση.
Ίσως σε κάποιους να φαντάζει υπερβολικό ότι σε μία περίοδο που υπήρχε άλλη μουσική στην πατρίδα μας εγώ είχα κόλλημα με τους Prunes. Και μάλιστα όπως έχω γράψει στο παρελθόν, ήμουν ο μόνιμα εκτός κλίματος στην παρέα όσον αφορά τις μουσικές προτιμήσεις. Είμουνα η «ξενέρα» της υπόθεσης δηλαδή που ειλικρινά δεν με στεναχώρησε καθόλου μα καθόλου.
Καταρχήν στο δίσκο υπήρχε το γούρι μου που ήταν το I Happen To Love You Baby (πως έχω την εντύπωση πως στην αρχή του κομματιού ακούγεται σαν κάποιος να ρουφά τη μύτη του). Ήταν αδύνατον να ξυπνήσω και να μην το βάλω για «καλημέρα». Άμα στο μεταξύ υπήρχε και καμία κοπελιά ροκού και βάζαμε μουσική της έκανα καντάδα με αυτό. Το τραγούδαγα μόνος μου, σούρωνα και το χόρευα για πάρτη μου και ακόμα και τώρα η γυναίκα μου που βαρέθηκε να το ακούει από τοτέ με ρωτά κάθε φορά… «τόσα χρόνια δεν βαρέθηκες να το ακούς?» .
Για μένα το καλύτερο κομμάτι των Prunes είναι το I Happen To Love You Baby. Το ακούω και με θυμάμαι νεαρό, το ακούω και βλέπω το παρελθόν μου, το ακούω και αισθάνομαι νέος. Όλη η αξέχαστη φοιτητική ζωή περνά από μπροστά μου.
Υπήρχε βεβαια και το «Ι»…άκουσμα με τις ώρες. Να προσπαθώ από το κασετοφωνάκι σταμάτα ξεκίνα τη κασετα να γράψω και να καταλάβω τι λενε οι στίχοι λέξη προς λεξη.
Υπήρχε το The Great Banana Hoax που έπαιζε λίγο πριν βγω βόλτα με τη «μπέμπα» το R25/3 (το τρέμουλο της φωνής θύμιζε ήχο από μηχανή) δηλαδή που βλέπετε κάτω στο μπλογκ…Trust Me, you Know you got to trust me, cos if you don’t you bust me… Υπήρχε το Antique Doll… για στιγμές αυτοκριτικής που ελεγε κάπου στην αρχη… today it’s not tomorrow but for you it’s yesterday, your future it’s your past, you can’t hide your self away.
Περιττό βέβαια να πω όταν μετά από λίγα χρόνια τυπώθηκε The Electric Prunes Underground 1986 Greek vinyl LP RS-6262 τι έγινε.

Στο αρχείο που ανέβασα έχω συμπεριλάβει όλες τις φωτογραφίες που έχω από Prunes (γύρω στις 60 νομίζω)

Interview with James Lowe, lead singer of the Electric Prunes

Do you know what those strange sounds are on "The Great Banana Hoax," where it sounds like a motorcycle revving up at the beginning?
Voice on tremolo, again at top. That is a "growl" done vocally and slowed down some. I wanted to suggest moving furniture in heaven when we did it. It was just a device to make you take notice. A rock swirling around in a bucket.

What is that crying noise heard near the end of "Antique Doll"?
Us crying at double speed. We played around with tape speed a lot....vso they called it.

It's Not Fair" is (like much of the record) peculiar in composition: a fairly standard shitkicking country-blues-rock tune that suddenly goes haywire at the end. What did you and Mark have in mind when you write this and devised the tag?
It was written for my mom, she said we never did any country tunes. I wanted to write a song for Mark to "preach" on.....it's so unlike him. We just laughed at Dave, he said country was a no no for a rock band...so we made it more country. We were just having some fun.

I think a hit-single-that-never-was on the second album is Goffin-King's "I Happen to Love You." What was it that attracted the band to the song? Also, were you aware that there was a previous single of the song by the Myddle Class, an East Coast group whose bass player was Charles Larkey, Carole King's future husband?
We thought that song was cool......I was surprised they didn't think it good enough for a 45. Didn't know there was another version of it...I know Ellen Goffin, Gerry's ex-wife, perhaps there is a cosmic connection?

And, two "noises" question for "I Happen to Love You": what is that harp-like sound at the beginning (sounds like a run down piano strings?), and the instrument that plays the instrumental break (sounds like an electronic keyboard to me)?
Autoharp at top. Vox electronic organ guitar solo. They brought a prototype in and took it back after they heard what we did with it.

"Dr. Do-Good" is certainly my nomination for strangest Electric Prunes track; it sounds like a kiddie horror movie or children's hour theme run amok. What are your memories of this song and its recording?
Dave laughing at the end. I told him I couldn't do it and he kept showin' me how so we said, "you do it". It reminded me of Nervous Norvus who had a song called "Transfusion".......novelty stuff.

Do you remember how that effect at the very beginning was achieved, in which a bunch of voices blur together in a distorted fashion?
That is Ken Williams on a prototype slide guitar, kind of a steel guitar thing someone gave us. It was overdubbed numerous times and turned around, I think. I liked it, real noise.

Were you pleased with Underground overall, and would you say it is the most accurate representation of the band's skills, particularly as it has the most original material of any of the three albums?
We had lost heart by then....we knew we could have done better. That is where we were then.

Personnel
James Lowe - Vocals, Autoharp & HarmonicaMark Tulin - Bass, Organ & PianoKen Williams - Lead Guitar & Effects'Weasel' Spangola / Mike Gannon - Vocals & Rhythm Guitar (See Note 1)Preston Ritter / Quint - Drums (See Note 2)

Songs
Side 1
1. The Great Banana Hoax (Lowe / Tulin) 3.05
2. Children Of Rain (Williams / Williams) 2.30
3. Wind-Up Toys (Lowe / Tulin) 2.27
4. Antique Doll (Tucker / Mantz) 3.10
5. It's Not Fair (Lowe / Tulin) 2.00
6. I Happen To Love You (Goffin / King) 3.12
Side 2
1. Dr. Do-Good (Tucker / Mantz) 2.27
2. I (Tucker / Mantz) 5.10
3. Hideaway (Lowe / Tulin) 2.37
4. Big City (J. Walsh / D. Walsh) 2.45
5. Capt. Glory (J. Lowe) 2.11
6. Long Day's Flight (Weakley / Yorty) 3.09

Note 1
Near the end of recording 'Underground', Weasel Spagnola left the band due to medical reasons and was replaced by Mike Gannon, although Spagnola was still credited on the album cover with photo and name. Gannon joined just in time to only record two songs - 'Long Day's Flight' and 'The Great Banana Hoax'.

Note 2
Preston Ritter left during the recording of 'Undergound' due to musical differences. He was offered the choice between being credited on the album cover with photo / name or have royalties from the album sales. He choose the royalties. Unfortunately, he got no album credits or royalties!!!
Preston Ritter's replacement, Quint, actually only played on five tracks on the albums - 'Children of Rain', 'Antique Doll', 'I', 'Captain Glory' and 'Long Day's Flight'.
Produced by : Dave Hassinger
Arranged by : The Electric Prunes
Recorded at : American Recording Company
Electric Engineers : Richie Podolor and Bill Cooper
Cover Photos : Tom Tucker
Art Direction : Ed Thrasher

On the cover of 'Undergound' was the address of the "fan club" :
The Electric Prunes Appreciation Society1800 No. Argyle St.Suite 303HollywoodCalifornia

http://rapidshare.com/files/157184633/Electric_Prunes_-__Underground.rar.html

Electric Prunes - Long Day's Flight

Μετά από καιρό καταπιάνομαι ξανά με τους αγαπημένους μου Prunes. Ουσιαστικά όσα χρόνια με «θυμάμαι» να ακούω μουσική ακούω και Prunes. Υπάρχει κόλλημα με μερικά κομμάτια όπως με το I Happen To Love You που θεωρώ ένα από τα κορυφαία τους….ύμνος. Η συλλογή που ανέβασα έχει μερικά κλασικά κομμάτια τους από τα singles τους μαζί με μερικά B-sides. Έτσι απλά…απολαύστε τους.

Personnel:
JIM LOWE vcls, gtr, auto harp, perc A B C
PRESTON RITTER drms, perc A
'WEASEL' SPAGNOLA vcls, gtr A B
MARK TULIN bs, keyb'ds A B C
KEN WILLIAMS gtr A B C
MIKE WEAKLEY ("QUINT") drms B C
MIKE GANNON gtr C
JOHN HERREN keyb'ds D
MARK KINCAID gtr, vcls D
RON MORGAN gtr D
BRETT WADE bs, vcls, flute D
RICHARD WHETSTONE drms, gtr, vcls D

ALBUM:
1(A) ELECTRIC PRUNES (I HAD TOO MUCH TO DREAM LAST NIGHT) (Reprise RLP 6248) 1967 113
2(A/B) UNDERGROUND (Reprise RLP 6262) 1967 172
3(C) MASS IN F MINOR (Reprise RLP 6275) 1967 135
4(C) RELEASE OF AN OATH (Reprise RLP 6316) 1968 -
5(D) JUST GOOD OLD ROCK AND ROLL (Reprise RSLP 6347) 1968
NB: (1) and (2) reissued on one CD (Head 3397) 1997. (1) and (2) have also been issued individually on pirate CD's with inferior quality live tracks, from the Stockholm '67 show. (3) and (4) also released in France (Vogue/Reprise CRV 6078 and CRV 6099 respectively) 1968. (3) Later reissued by Midi. (3) also reissued on CD. (4) & (5) issued on one CD. There have also been a number of worthwhile retrospective releases. Long Days Flight (Edsel ED 179) 1986, is a 'best of', later reissued on CD; Stockholm '67 (Heartbeat (CD)HB67) 1997, is an official reissue of a live performance from Swedish Radio, released on vinyl and CD; The Sanctions/Jim And The Lords: The Came The Electric Prunes (Heartbeat (CD)HB65) 2000 is an official reissue of pre-Electric Prunes material; Lost Dreams (Heartbeat (CD)HB68) 2001 is a superb compilation including many rare tracks; and The Singles (Gone Beat EP CD 77013) 1995 is a pirate CD containing 18 singles tracks.

45s:
1 Ain't It Hard/Little Olive (Reprise 0473) 1966
2 I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)/Luvin' (Reprise 0532) 1966 11
3 Get MeTo The World On Time/Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less) (Reprise 0564) 1967 27
4 Dr Do Good/Hideaway (Reprise 0594) 1967 128
5 The Great Banana Hoax/Wind-Up Toys (Reprise 0607) 1967 -
6 Sanctus/Credo (Reprise PRO 277) 1967
7 Everybody Knows You're Not In Love/You Never Had It Better (Reprise 0652) 1968
8 I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night/Get Me To The World On Time (double A re-release) (Reprise 0704) 1968
9 Help Us/The Adoration (Reprise PRO 305) 1968
10 Shadows (one-sided promo) (Reprise PRO 287) 1968
11 Hey Mr President/Flowing Smoothly (Reprise 0756) 1969
12 Sell/Violent Rose (Reprise 0833) 1969
13 Finders, Keepers, Losers, Weepers/Love Grows (Reprise 0858) 1969
14 Vox Wah-Wah Ad (Thomas 08-0001 32-0) 1966/1967
NB: (6), (9), (10), (12), (13), (14) Promo only releases. (7) and (11) also released in France with PS. There are also two rare French EPs with PS.

The Electric Prunes originated from the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, although many bio's mistakenly claim that they came from Seattle, since I Had Too Much Too Dream (Last Night) first broke in Seattle and then Boston. In fact their very first live concert to promote the record was in Seattle, and according to their drummer Preston Ritter, a DJ there started the mis-information, by claiming that the band were from that area.
More commercially successful and classier than the average punk bands, they experimented with different types of music. Their first single Ain't It Hard was a brash punk number written by Roger and Terrye Tillson, members of folk-rock duo, Gypsy Trips. It was not a hit and was not issued in the U.K. but, along with the flip side, Little Olive and both sides of their next single (I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night/Luvin), it appeared on a French EP (Reprise RVEP 60098) which is the rarest 'Prunes item. Their debut album provided two U.S. hit singles: I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) and Get Me To The World On Time. Both also attracted airplay in the U.K. reaching Nos 49 and 42 respectively. The former, starts with a freaky fuzz- box intro - the brain child of their producer, Dave Hassinger. The lyrics and their sound were tailor-made for the druggy days of 1967. Get Me To The World On Time was a driving, urgent rocker, superimposed on top of a culminating whistle sound. Also on the album and the B side to their second single, was Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less) which used echo-drumming techniques to good effect. Some of the other numbers like Onie and Train For Tomorrow, were a little more laid back, but still featured acid guitar work. The album peaked at No 113 in the charts.
The second album, which was not issued in the UK, developed their psychedelic experience further. Recorded for the most part by line-up (A), drummer Preston Ritter recalls that he was given the choice between credited on the cover or being given royalties... In fact his replacement, Quint, only played on five tracks, Children of Rain, Antique Doll, I, Capt. Glory and Long Day's Flight. Despite the line-up changes, the album is more consistent than their debut with fine acid guitar work and effective drumming. Sadly, however, it failed to maintain their stream of hits. Of particular note are the psychedelic rockers The Great Banana Hoax, Long Day's Flight (both unsuccessful singles), - the latter a U.K. only issue, Children of Rain and strange, more subtle tracks like Wind-up Toys, Antique Doll and I Happen To Love You. This was a fine album, and it is a pity the group didn't pursue this direction further. It made No 172 in the U.S. charts. Also of note around this time is a non-LP single Everybody Knows You're Not In Love/You've Never Had It Better. This was also issued in the U.K. and in France. The B side is a fine dance number with a great psychedelic intro.
Another recording of note from 1968 is a second French EP (Reprise RVEP 601 10) consisting of Long Days Flight, Dr. Do Good, The Great Banana Hoax, and Captain Glory.
Towards the end of '67 the band embarked on a European Tour, and for many years a short poor quality tape circulated of a recording from Swedish Radio. Intrigued by the performance, 'Prunes fan Simon Edwards spent years tracking down the master-tapes, and clearing the rights to the material. In 1997 his efforts were rewarded with the release of Stockholm '67 in a lavish gatefold sleeve, with booklet of Gered Mankowitz photographs, and tour reminicences from 'Prunes' James Lowe and Mark Tulin. The album, which was also released on CD, is on a par with the excellent H.P. Lovecraft and Shadows of Knight live albums that have recently resurfaced, and captures the band in full flight - It also includes about 45 minutes of material, approx 20 mins more than was originally broadcast.
Their next album Mass In F Minor was backed by an additional orchestra of studio musicians and as the group's identity started to be swamped by Hassinger and Axelrod's grandiose concepts, members of the original outfit started to drop out of the project. Canadian band The Collectors, then based in L.A. and whose two album's were also produced by Hassinger, were brought in to plug the gaps. Mass... is regarded as one of the first rock operas, a mix of gregorian music and psychedelic pop with vocals in Latin, which was written, arranged and conducted by David Axelrod - a neoclassical musician. The opening track Kyrie Eleison is widely known and backed the acid trip in the cemetery scene of Easy Rider. The album climbed to No 135 and was re-released by Midi in 1974. They made a further album in a similar vein that may have also included members of The Collectors, before breaking up, although Dave Hassinger later attempted an unsuccessful comeback with the LP, Good Old Rock And Roll, which contained none of the band's original members. Recent interviews of some original members, notably in Record Collector and Jeff Jarema's Here 'Tis #8, reveal that they were unaware of subsequent machinations by Hassinger so it seems unlikely that the whole truth of the post-Mass period will ever fully emerge.
The Shadows promo is horrendously rare. Shadows was also included in a little-known movie 'The Name Of The Game Is Kill'. It sounds like the song was originally intended for The Doors. A 'Record Collector' article also revealed that different mixes of their 45s were made for the European and American markets. 'For England, they felt that the music ought to be a little more up, peppier. So we would put the material on the capstan and make the songs faster', James Lowe told journalist Mark Paytress.
In July 2000 Heartbeat have released Then Came The Electric Prunes which unearths pre-Prunes Audiodisc acetates recorded chez Russ Bottomley - twelve tracks from 27th March 1965 by the Sanctions (Jim Lowe, Ken Williams, Mark Tulin and Mike Weakley) and four tracks from 29th September 1965 by Jim And The Lords (with Dave Hargrave added to the previous line-up). The Sanctions' sound is of a garage band with surf roots performing popular covers including Long Tall Sally, Money, Moon Dog, Love Potion Number Nine, What'd I Say, Jack The Ripper and of course Louie Louie. With the Jim and The Lords tracks - Little Olive, I'm Free, I'm Down and Too Many People - the surf influences are replaced by raw harmonica and a raucous punk style ala Stones and Seeds. A folk-rock lilt on I'm Free marks another development since the March sessions. The sound quality is surprisingly good considering the source. With previously unseen photos this is a must-have for any Prunes fan.
In 2001, the retrospective Lost Dreams CD/Dble LP compilation appeared. Produced by Jim Lowe, it contains their debut 45, the Vox wah-wah ad, a selection of the strongest tracks from the first two albums (many in unreleased studio 4-track form) plus three never-released tracks: the mythical Shadows, a demo of the Hollies' I've Got A Way Of My Own and World Of Darkness. The fab double-LP package comes in a gatefold adorned with numerous band photos and a coloured insert sheet depicting 45 labels and pic sleeves from around the world.
The Electric Prunes were undoubtedly pioneers in experimentation with psychedelic and quasi-religious music. They certainly made some fine singles and had they not been overshadowed by San Francisco's own psychedelic sound may well have achieved wider recognition. Their first two albums, both reissued a few years ago, or alternatively the Edsel compilation are highly recommended.
(Vernon Joynson/Max Waller/Stephane Rebeschini)

Tracks:
1. Ain't It Hard
2. Little Olive
3. I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)
4. Luvin'
5. Get Me To The World On Time
6. Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less)
7. Bangles
8. Train For Tomorrow
9. Sold To The Highest Bidder
10. Try Me On For Size
11. Dr Do-Good
12. Hideaway
13. The Great Banana Hoax
14. Children Of Rain
15. Antique Doll
16. I Happen To Love You
17. Long Day's Flight (Til Tomorrow)
18. You Never Had It Better



http://rapidshare.de/files/40647631/The_Electric_Prunes_-_Long_Day_s_Flight.rar.html

Electric Prunes - Release of an Oath (1968)

Λόγω της ημέρας διαλέγω αυτό το αγαπημένο Lp που δέχτηκε πολλές μάλλον κακές κριτικές. Το τι λένε οι κριτικές όμως με αφήνει παγερά αδιάφορο αφού στα δικά μου αυτιά φαντάζει εξαιρετικό. Ως φανατικός θαυμαστής των Electric Prunes που είμαι έχω να πως η δουλειά τους αυτή που κινείται στο χώρο του Jesus rock προφανώς και διαφοροποιείται αισθητά από τις αρχικές. Συγκρίνοντας το με το Mass In Mirror που προηγήθηκε το βρίσκω πάρα μα πάρα πολύ καλύτερο.
Παρά το πρώτο κομμάτι, το Kol Nidre που παραπέμπει σε μία Εβραϊκή προσευχή ο υπόλοιπος δίσκος είναι Χριστιανικός. Οι συνθέσεις ανήκουν στον συνθέτη και παραγωγό David Axelrod που κινήθηκε σε διάφορα ήδη μουσικής με πολλούς μουσικούς και σχήματα.

Personnel:
Howard Roberts and Lou Morrell (guitar)
Don Randi (keyboards)
Carol Kaye (bass)
Earl Palmer (drums)

Tracks:
Side 1
Kol Nidre (Axelrod) 4.14
Holy Are You (Axelrod) 4.05
General Confessional (Axelrod) 4.15

Side 2
Individual Confessional (Axelrod) 2.10
Our Father, Our King (Axelrod) 3.10
The Adoration (Axelrod) 3.48
Closing Hymn (Axelrod) 2.53

http://sharebee.com/0314e8bb

Electric Prunes - Stockholm 67

Όταν πριν μέρες ανέβασα ένα live των H.P. Lovecraft έλεγα ευτυχώς που υπάρχουν και μερικά τέτοια κειμήλια, ώστε οι νεότεροι τουλάχιστον σαν εμάς να πάρουμε καμία μυρουδιά της εποχής διότι μάλλον γεννηθήκαμε σε λάθος εποχή και κράτος.

Στα ίδια ακριβώς πλαίσια εντάσσεται και αυτό το ιστορικό κειμήλιο των αξεπέραστων Electric Prunes. Στις 14 Σεπτεμβρίου το 1967 οι Σουηδοί που είχαν την ευκαιρία να απολαύσουν από κοντά τα «Δαμάσκηνα» μέσω της Swedish Broadcasting Corporation προνόησαν να ηχογραφήσουν την συναυλία και ιδού το δείγμα.

Τι να σχολιάσω? Τους Prunes? Μα είναι δυνατόν. Αφού είναι τέλειοι.

The Electric Prunes' December 14, 1967 show from the Concert Hall in Stockholm, originally taped for broadcast on Swedish radio, fully restored and properly remastered. The result is the finest record ever released by this band, and maybe the best live album of the psychedelic era. It was issued by a private label in England in a double-pocketed CD jacket with a beautifully illustrated booklet, complete with written reminiscences by the surviving members.

The band's lineup is from their second album, Underground: James Lowe (lead vocals), Mark Tulin (bass, organ, vocals), Ken Williams (lead guitar), the late Mike Gannon (rhythm guitar, vocals), and Quint (drums). Calling them tight would be an understatement -- the band does a 45-minute set, parts of which ("Try Me On For Size", "You Never Had It Better") display long instrumental passages showing off Williams' prowess on the fuzz-tone guitar and Quint's powerful drumming to great effect; "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" is here, along with "Long Day's Flight" and "Get Me to the World On Time" and solid covers of "Got My Mojo Workin'" and "Smokestack Lightnin'".

This live show presents the group as much more of a garage-punk band than a psychedelic band, though they still traffic in the currency of the latter, including lots of distorted guitars and organ cadenzas -- the snarl and energy keep things moving, however. Twice as valuable as their Edsel hits compilation

Members:
James Lowe - Lead Vocals

Mark Tulin - Bass, Organ & Backing Vocals

Ken Williams - Lead Guitar

Mike Gannon - Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals

Quint - Drums

Tracks:

1. You Never Had It Better
2. I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)
3. Try Me On For Size
4. I Happen To Love You
5. I Got My Mojo Workin'
6. Long Day's Flight (Til Tomorrow)
7. Smokestack Lightning
8. Get Me To The World On Time

Recorded by Sveriges Radio (The Swedish Broadcasting Corporation) at Konserthuset (The Concert Hall) in Stockholm, Sweden, December 14, 1967.

http://rapidshare.com/files/100715776/Electric_Prunes_-_Stockholm_67.rar.html