"Don't you know that my hate is everlasting, baby?" The story of the Monks is the story of rock & roll...in an alternate reality, perhaps. Take a bunch of bored US servicemen stationed in Germany about to be discharged, put them in a band, and have them decide to freak out the establishment by dressing in black capes, shaving their heads into monk's tonsures and wearing nooses as neckties. Perhaps not so shocking in these days after punk rock, but this was 1965. Oh, and don't forget the electric banjo. What began as a fairly standard surf/beat combo called the Torquays mutated into this band, churning out some of the most nihilistic music you've ever heard, even by German standards.
Interesting early composition/production work from Axelrod. Vaguely calypso-inspired orchestral pop with a very prominent piccolo and what sounds like a French horn solo...I think that I hear a glockenspiel in there, as well. All layered over trademark Axelrod drums and a cool walking bassline.
18 May 02 ·Sem Sinatra: I'd be interested to know exactly what David McCallum did on this track ... maybe the glockenspiel 24 May 02 ·tinks: well, according to the liner notes, he supposedly is the conductor of the thing. i've seen his conducting in action in the film "the big tnt show" and all that i can say is that it looks sorta dubious. 30 Oct 03 ·utada: David McCallum's father played french horn for the london symphony-he played french horn on the Beatles "for no one"-I think this is he and not the son
The Temptations may be first in your mind when you think of psychedelic soul, but this group, featuring former Turnkeys leader Maurice Dollison and the woman we can blame for "Lovin' You", Minnie Riperton, defined it with this single scorching, fuzzy, crunchy, swirling, doped-up masterpiece. Long-time Chess arranger Charles Stepney milks the string section for all it's worth.
from Aladdin (Cadet Concept) available on CD - Aladdin/Dinner Music (Raven)
05 Sep 02 ·Liv: A strange hybrid of styles.. Psychedelic soul? 05 Sep 02 ·tinks: yeah, and it wasn't even the strangest...there was an off-shoot that i'll hereby dub "native soul", which was a blend of psychedelic soul, with it's fuzz guitars and such, and native american drums. the sound is best exemplified by the instrumental group the electric indian, who were from philadelphia (and featured len barry of "1-2-3" fame") and had a moderate-sized hit with "keem-o-sabe". they recorded a couple of lps in the idiom, while all other examples i've heard have been one-off attempts. there's also good stuff out there by a group called the little big horns and a song called "warpath" by the isley brothers which is an all-out masterpiece. 07 Dec 05 ·Swinging London: Thought I didn't like The Rotary connection. Hearing that, I've changed my mind.
It's outa-sight!
French girlie pop of the sort that only Serge was capable of! This is taken from the soundtrack to a television comedy special starring Gainsbourg, Jean-Claude Brialy & Anna Karina, who prior to this had of course been Jean-Luc Godard's primary actress and wife (reportedly, her dalliances with Mssr. Gainsbourg played a pivotal role in the dissolution of their marriage). Rah-rah-rah-roller gairl!
18 Oct 02 ·LetFreedomHappen: What a great song! I was about to recommend it myself. I love her film work with Godard, and was way excited to find out that she sang stuff too. Especially Gainsbourg stuff. This is one of my favorites. How cool, how cool.
05 Dec 02 ·gregcaz: Great track, only "Our Family Portrait" was actually released in 1967, it was their second album. 07 Dec 05 ·Swinging London: Fabulous! Thought the title sounded more '67 than '71...also the very groovy sound, which comes across even on that very short soundbite.
Definitely one I'm going to track down.
