Cykle produced one album's worth of solid garage rock, and it certainly proves that the band was an enthusiastic bunch of musicians. Despite claims to the contrary, Cykle's music cannot be called psychedelia; instead, it's closer in sound to the garage punk that started to come out a couple years before the album was released, in 1969.
Jimmy Sossamon came up with decent songs, and the band played the hell out of them. Cykle may have been somewhat derivative, but they could occasionally be thrilling, too, and their playing sometimes bursts with a teenage energy that makes the songs fun to listen to. Rave-ups like "If You Can," "Walkout," "Walkin' Through My Mind," and "It's Her" are exciting punkers full of scorching guitar along the lines of the Chocolate Watchband and the great, final raga-fied incarnation of the Vejtables.
This Gear Fab reissue adds some recordings from Sossamon's pre-Cykle band, the Young Ones, who were certainly of their day, combining hints of the Beatles, instrumental party music, soul, and beach music. The album is filled out with a couple of songs Sossamon wrote for and helped record with the Rhodes Scholars. A distinct departure from Cykle, the Rhodes Scholars played straight pop/rock with full brass arrangements -- much closer to the sound of bands like Chicago and the Buckinghams -- and their songs were actually pretty solid, with quite a bit of commercial potential.
by Stanton Swihart
Tracks
1. Too Much Lovin' - The Young Ones (The Young Ones) - 2:12
2. Harbor Melon - The Young Ones (Trad. Arr. The Young Ones) - 2:49
3. Big Teaser - The Young Ones (Sossamon, Hayes, Warwick) - 1:55
4. It's You - The Young Ones (Warwick) - 2:14
5. If You Can - Cykle (Sossamon) - 2:40
6. Walkout (Of My Mind) - Cykle (Sossamon) - 2:13
7. Maiden Girl - Cykle (Sossamon) - 3:06
8. Walkin' Through My Mind - Cykle(Sossamon) - 2:30
9. A Little Faith - Cykle (Sossamon) - 2:49
10.It's Her - Cykle (Sossamon) - 2:01
11.Lesson To Learn - Cykle (Sossamon) - 3:14
12.In Love My Friend - Cykle (Sossamon) - 3:38
13.Do My Thing - Cykle (Sossamon) - 4:03
14.What You Do To Me - Cykle (Sossamon) - 7:26
15.In My Dreams - Jimmy Sossamon (Sossamon) - 2:45
16.In My Dreams - The Rhodes Scholars (Sossamon) - 3:49
17.What's On Your Mind - The Rhodes Scholars (Sossamon) - 2:17
The Young Ones
*Carlton Warwick - Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals
*Johnny Hayes - Bass Guitar, Vocals
*Ronnie Baxley - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
*Jimmy Sossamon - Drums
*Dicky Britt - Organ
Cykle
*Ralph Stephens - Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Backup Vocals
*Ken Allen - Lead Vocals
*Jeff Hardin - Rhythm Guitar, Backup Vocals
*Grady Pope - Bass Guitar, Backup Vocals
*Rick Wilson - Organ, Backup Vocals , Lead Vocals ("It's Her")
*Jimmy Sossamon - Drums, Piano, Harpsichord, Vibraphone
The Rhodes Scholars - 1969
*Mike Emmitt - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Steve McCrae - Keyboards, Lead Vocals
*Bill Hartman - Bass Guitar, Trombone, Vocals
*Scott Beazley - Saxophone, Vocals
*Ray Purvis - Trumpet, Vocals
*Bob Whitfield - Drums, Vocals
The Rhodes Scholars - 1969 -1970
*Cleon Nally - Bass Guitar, Vocals
*John Wayne - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Steve McCrae - Keyboards. Lead Vocals
*Jimmy Sossamon - Drums
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The only one (and sooooo expensive on vinyl album) American band playing rhythmic blend of garage, psychedelia and early ballads, and based on the sound of guitars (sometimes distorted), Vox organ, good drumming and quite rich harmonies. It's really more like 1966 than 1969. At the tail end of the garage rock uprising Cykle created one historic album of garage punk and never recorded again. When the most popular garage bands of the day were moving further and further away from the genre's "less is more" production ideal, Cykle offered a raw, authentic take on what garage rock was meant to sound like. This record is the sound of a band at its best, unspoiled by big-money record contracts and fame. Cykle bursts with teenage energy, giving garage addicts a rarely heard dose of unadulterated rock.
ReplyDeleteDuring the spring of 1968, songwriter and drummer Jimmy Sossamon heard a local group, the Glory Cykle, that impressed him so much that he approached them about becoming their manager, which they agreed to. The band -- guitarists Ralph Stevens and Jeff Hardin, bassist Grady Pope, organist Rick Wilson, and drummer/vocalist Ken Allen -- practiced at the studio Sossamon had built in his parent's garage, and by the end of the year, Sossamon had assumed the drumming duties to free up Allen as lead vocalist. They also shortened the band name to Cykle, and in early 1969, began recording an album consisting entirely of Sossamon originals. The resultant eponymous LP was pressed in small quantities later that year. Not long after, Sossamon moved to Charlotte to take a position as songwriter and session drummer for a studio.
Thx Marios!
Incredible album. Very very good.
ReplyDeleteI have the Cykle album on vinyl (an 80's bootleg)... Actually it is not a great record but I really appreciate your post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNew to me ! Many thanks, Marios !!
ReplyDeleteΑν θυμαμαι καλα εχω το δισκο σε ελληνικο βινυλιο πειρατη απο τη δεκαετια του 80, αλλα με τα 10 κομματια, οπως πρωτοκυκλοφορησε. Αναπαντεχα τα εξτρα 7 κομματια. Σε ευχαριστω πολυ για την αναβαθμιση.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Marios, and thank you for unselfishly continuing to provide the best in Psych, Garage and Beat Rock out there.
ReplyDeleteHi Marios,
ReplyDeleteI'm getting late but I progress slowly.Thanks for re-up,the link is dead.
.....Cykle...ReCykle.....
ReplyDeleteHeya Marios,
ReplyDeleteWould you be so kind as to repair the broken link, please? It is much appreciated. Greetings!
Anonymous, Cykle - 1969 repaired...
ReplyDelete