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Saturday, June 30, 2012

Various Artists - Fading Yellow Vol.1 - Timeless Pop-Sike And Other Delights (1965-69 uk, revealing atmospheric beat psych pop)



This is a fine example of music that arose after the Beatles caught  "A Ticket To Ride". Running the gamut from jolly mid-60s beat-pop through to heavily orchestrated affairs from '69, "Fading Yellow's" overall concept of 'pop-sike' and more so 'other delights' is fully realised. 

Some may argue that by the end of the year a certain type of collector will be becoming hot under the collar on hearing mention of a rare '67  Ken Dodd acetate that features lush orchestration and sustained fuzz guitars! Diddy Men in the sky with diamonds, indeed! Cynicism aside, the psych/pop compilation is clearly becoming far poppier with the passing of time, and such a fine example as "Fading Yellow" sits perfectly on the cusp of the "Rubble" series most commercial selections and the more recent and uneven "Ripples" compilations (albeit a lot more interesting).

It's practically a gem after gem ride too. Mike 'Remember You're A Womble' Batt's mournful, sweeping ballad "Fading Yellow" is the perfect summation of what's on offer and is certainly worthy of having an entire compilation named after it. The strings, warm guitar parts and soft vocalising are sumptuous, and a good indication of what's in store. It really is a solid set, and possibly the greatest pop-psych comp to come out in years. 

Rather than focus on fifth-division acetate pressings of 'four Lancashire lads trying to be Syd Barret' everything included here is well performed pop saturated in that certain late '60s over-the-top production that so regularly gets classified as psychedelia. And there are plenty of obscure choice cuts to satisfy even the most hardened psych-head. Irish four-piece Jon's "Is It Love" has a great rising chorus, some oriental sounding instrumentation and a middle-eight that has a vague feel of the Troggs psych-pop phase. 

Juan & Junior (of Los Brincos fame) sound uncannily like Magna Carta on their whimsical folk-pop cut 'Andurina'. 'Woe, Is Love Dead My Dear?' the b-side of the Koobas rare Danish only 'Sweet Music' 45 sees the 'pudlians getting introspective on their beautifully performed rendition of this Bert Jansch piece (which he also recorded). And amongst the many other strong cuts from the likes of Eddy Howell, Ronnie Bird, Paul & Barry Ryan is American teen trio The Aerovons incredible "World Of You", which was recorded in Abbey Road in 1969. 

This not only rates as one of the best cuts on this album, but is also among the finest late '60s EMI discs (and yes, we're talking Pretty Things and Pink Floyd here too). (Rumour has it that their unreleased 1969 album will soon be available on Flower Machine).

Not only timeless, but in every aspect wonderful too. If only more compilations were as good as this.
by Jon 'Mojo' Mills


Artists - Tracks
1. Kate - Strange Girl - 3:03
2. Dean Ford & The Gaylords - That Lonely Feeling - 2:40
3. Eddie Howell - Easy Street - 3:00
4. Mike Batt - Fading Yellow - 3:44
5. Steff Sulke - Oh, What A Lovely Day - 3:04
6. John Williams - Flowers In Your Hair - 2:42
7. The Zephyrs - I Just Can't Take It - 2:30
8. Jon - Is It Love? - 2:51
9. Koobas - Woe, Is Love My Dear - 2:27
10.The Orange Bicycle - Competition - 2:40
11.The Gremlins - The Only Thing On My Mind - 2:05
12.Quintin E Klopjaeger And The Gonks - The Long Way Home - 2:28
13.Sundragon - Far Away Mountain - 2:57
14.Juan And Junior - Andurina - 3:10
15.Hamlet - She Won't See The Light - 2:08
16.Paul And Barry Ryan - Madrigal - 2:17
17.Phil Cordell - Red Lady - 2:25
18.Ronnie Bird - Sad Soul - 2:54
19.Ronnie Bird - Raining In The City - 2:36
20.Elliot's Sunshine - 'Cos I'm Lonely - 3:07
21.Peter Janes - Do You Believe (Love Is Built On A Dream) - 2:53
22.The Bliss - Lifetime - 2:47
23.The Jackpots - King Of The World - 2:50
24.Members Of Time - Dreamin' - 2:38
25.Aerovons - World Of You - 2:24

Free Text

15 comments:

  1. This is the genre most beloved by yrs truly; pop-sike everlastingly rules!
    here i attempted a cover of the Juan & Junior tune!

    http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=40082947&ac=now

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  2. Χίλια ευχαριστώ Μάριε!

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  3. wow fabulous! thank you Marios and Cor!

    I still think this is the best of the Fading Yellow comps. What a treat to have it now in flac

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  4. Thanks, but I don't know the password. Can you tell me what it is?

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  5. Gyro1966,
    it's: The_Loner
    also written in the free text.

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  6. Thanks, I didn't think of looking there.

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  7. I´m the maker of the FY series and the more people who download these volumes the chances of more vol´s to be released is less of a chance so buy the real deal, thanx, JJ/Sweden

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  8. απίστευτη συλλογή, υπέροχη. Ευχαριστώ Μάριε!

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  9. Thanx Paralia,
    να υποθεσω ότι το 21 σημαινει κατι?

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  10. Superb Marios

    This is reallu a great series !!!

    Thank you so much

    Albert

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  11. Top!
    Thank you very much,

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  12. There appear to be checksum errors on the entire Fading Yellow series.

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  13. The Pub Cat,
    the pass is different,
    try: The_Loner

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  14. Thanks Marios, schoolboy error on my part.

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