LPA Classic Golden Years

BOBBY DARIN - "If I Were A Carpenter"

Original released on LP Atlantic 8135

(US, December 1966)

Bobby Darin has been praised by some critics for his courage in moving to folk-rock in late 1966, at a time when his core audience would probably have been much happier if he'd continued to be the all-around mainstream pop singer. But let's get this straight: this is much more a pop album of folk-rock songs than it is a pure folk-rock album. In addition, the scope of Darin's folk-rock repertoire at this time was almost wholly limited to songs by Tim Hardin and John Sebastian; indeed, five of the 12 songs here are Hardin compositions, two (the hit title track and "Red Balloon") of which Hardin had not yet released. What's more, there's some reason to believe - no pun intended - that the record would not have taken the shape it did had there not been something of a conscious effort on his part to emulate Hardin's approach. Hardin himself was convinced that Darin had copied his vocal style by listening to his yet-to-be-issued version and the album as a whole boasts a production similar to the orchestrated folk-rock heard on the debut album in question, though it sounds like an inferior copy. Leaving aside the issue of whether Darin was trying to cop Hardin's style, this is a fair but unexceptional record. Darin falls short of the originals on Buffy Sainte Marie's "Until It's Time For You to Go" and the Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream." In fact, aside from "If I Were a Carpenter," the standout is the odd low-charting single "The Girl Who Stood Beside Me," with its odd muted psychedelic bagpipe effects constantly buzzing in the background of an actual fairly strong folk-rock tune. (Richie Unterberger in AllMusic)

GEORGE MARTIN With 4 Beatle Girls

Original released on LP United Artists UAS 6539

(US, November 1966)

OTIS REDDING: "The Soul Album"

Original released on LP Volt 413

(US 1966, April 1)

Otis Redding's talent began to surge, across songs and their stylesand absorbing them, with the recording of "The Soul Album". In contrast to "The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads", which was an advance over its predecessor but still a body of 12 songs of varying styles and textures, rising to peaks and never falling before an intense, soulful mid-range, "The Soul Album" shows him moving from strength to strength in a string of high-energy, sweaty soul performances, interspersing his own songs with work by Sam Cooke ("Chain Gang"), Roy Head ("Treat Her Right"), Eddie Floyd ("Everybody Makes a Mistake"), and Smokey Robinson ("It's Growing") and recasting them in his own style, so that they're not "covers" so much as reinterpretations; indeed, "Chain Gang" is almost a rewrite of the original, though one suspects not one that Cooke would have disapproved of. He still had a little way to go as a songwriter - the jewel of this undervalued collection is "Cigarettes and Coffee", co-authored by Eddie Thomas and Jerry Butler - but as an interpreter he was now without peer, and his albums were now showing this remarkable, stunningly high level of consistency. Also significant on this album was the contribution of Steve Cropper, not only on guitar but as co-author of three songs. (Bruce Eder in AllMusic)

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND Debut Album

Original released on LP Elektra EKS 7322

(US 1966, June 30)

The debut release from the original Incredible String Band trio - Robin Williamson (violin / whistle / mandolin /guitar / vocals), Clive Palmer (banjo / guitar / vocals), and Mike Heron (guitar / vocals) - was also their most simple. It is this minimalism that allowed the natural radiance of the band's (mostly) original material to be evident in the purist sense, and likewise without many of the somewhat intricate distractions and musical tangents that their future work would incorporate. Immediately striking is the group's remarkable and collective prowess on seemingly all things stringed - hence, their apropos moniker. With an unmistakable blend of distinct instrumentation and harmony vocals, the Incredible String Band take inspiration from traditional music on both sides of the Atlantic. Their impish charm and tongue-in-cheek fairytale mythology also add to their folkie mystique. This first long-player contains a bevy of songs that, while steeped in conventional folk music, are completely unique. This likewise holds true for the three traditional pieces, "Schaeffer's Jig," "Whistle Tune," and the rare Clive Palmer instrumental solo, "Niggertown." Palmer, formerly of the highly underrated Famous Jug Band, would exit the Incredible String Band after this record, and thus the perpetually rotating personnel that would guide the group for the remainder of its existence began, perhaps aptly, at the beginning. The original songs range from light and airy love ballads - such as the Williamson solo "Womankind" or the understated mischief of "Dandelion Blues" - to the high and lonesome sound of Mike Heron's mandolin-driven "How Happy I Am." There are likewise darker - yet no less poignant - tunes such as "Empty Pocket Blues" and the haunting "Good as Gone." While this album is a tremendous launch pad for potential enthusiasts, be aware that every Incredible String Band recording is also extremely individual and reflects the current membership of the group. (Lindsay Planer in AllMusic)

Look At LONG JOHN BALDRY

Original released on LP United Artists UAS 9013

(UK, 1966)

SOFTROCK NUGGETS (4 CD Collection)

MARIANNE FAITHFULL: "Live at BBC"

Original released on CD Decca 5307959

(UK 2008, July 14)

SOUNDS INCORPORATED: The First 2 Albums

Original released on LP Columbia (EMI) 33 SX 1659

(UK, 1964)

Original released on LP Columbia (EMI) TWO 144

(UK, November 1966)

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - VOLUME 45