Bubby British psych with the 2007 reissue promoted as "...the finest popsike album ever recorded". While that might be stretching things just a little, it is choc-full of whimsical Englishness and generally good fun all around. Chief songwriters Brian Godding and Jim Cregan are mainly responsible for this nifty gem of psych obscurity.
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Tangerine Dream Kaleidoscope (UK) 1967 [Fontana]
The UK band Kaleidoscope struggled for commercial recognition in their day, but was around long enough to establish a healthy cult following. They put out two long-players before a name change to differentiate themselves from the US band Kaleidoscope. Well played psych - the best songs being 'Flight From Ashiya' and 'Drive Into Yesterday'.
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The Who Sell Out The Who 1967 [Track/Decca]
Like most of the British mod bands that survived, the Who had a brief flirtation with psychedelia. As the cover suggests, it is a mock concept album taking aim at the consumer society. There are some great songs, particularly the soaring 'I Can See for Miles', but the trippy mock commercials tying things together are of marginal interest.
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Tomorrow Tomorrow 1968 [Parlophone]
A vastly underrated gem of British psychedelia, with future Yes guitarist Steve Howe on board this band was always going to have an edge. The two singles 'My White Bicycle' and 'Revolution' are both classics of the genre, with the phased mono and stereo versions of the latter sounding decidedly different. 'Hallucinations' may be their best.
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The Crazy World of Arthur Brown Arthur Brown 1968 [Polydor]
Theatrical psych-rocker who gave more than a few ideas to Alice Cooper and Kiss. Famous for a errant stage stunt which went wrong when methanol poured over his head caught fire and had to doused with beer before serious injury could occur. Of course 'Fire' is the best-known track here, but the rest is pretty wild and woolly too.
An almost forgotten gem of UK psychedelia, July is now mainly remembered for the single 'My Clown' which kicks off this album. Guitarist Tony Duhig, later of Jade Warrior, really uncorks in 'Crying is for Writers'. Elsewhere a raga influence is evident on some topnotch acid fuzz. Not essential, but worth hunting down for completists.
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Skip Bifferty Skip Bifferty 1968 [RCA]
Hailing from Newcastle upon Tyne, a name change for the Chosen Few led to the creation of Skip Bifferty in 1966 with singer Graham Bell coming on board. Their music had a much harder edge to it than was the norm for UK psych. 'Guru' is a thumping bit of psych percussion propelled by tablas. A healthy cult following has kept the band alive.
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Mighty Baby Mighty Baby 1969 [Head/Chess]
When legendary English mod band the Action morphed into a psych outfit after a few lineup changes they were subsequently dubbed Mighty Baby. A delayed release for this fine album saw them miss the wave, but with the CD augmented by five gems from the Action it becomes plainly obvious that this was a quality outfit.
