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SHINDIG! Issue 68 (Bespoke Print Copy)

£11.99

Dear Shindiggers,

Fifty years ago the outlook of the young was full of positivity – just listen to the pop music being made that spring. The Turtles’ ‘Happy Together’ was a #1 smash – and it was the record that dislodged The Beatles’ ‘Penny Lane’ from the Billboard Hot 100. Bright, breezy, romantic: the sound of bottled sunshine. For a brief moment everything was carefree.Two years earlier, as The Crossfires, the group were peddling surf music before changing name and embracing a heavy fringed, folk-rock protest sound. Many readers of this publication may well prefer the jagged garage-punk punch of 1965 B-side ‘Almost There’ to the band’s softer ’67 side, but I urge you to read Mike Fornatale’s study of The Turtles’ pop reinvention if uncertain. How many acts could bridge the commercial with the insane? ‘Rugs Of Woods And Flowers’ what was that about? Could pop get any purer than ‘Happy Together’? Here were a band that could sweeten The Lovin’ Spoonful’s recipe for pop smashes and out-weird The Mothers Of Invention, all at the same time.

Two years earlier, as The Crossfires, the group were peddling surf music before changing name and embracing a heavy fringed, folk-rock protest sound. Many readers of this publication may well prefer the jagged garage-punk punch of 1965 B-side ‘Almost There’ to the band’s softer ’67 side, but I urge you to read Mike Fornatale’s study of The Turtles’ pop reinvention if uncertain. How many acts could bridge the commercial with the insane? ‘Rugs Of Woods And Flowers’ what was that about? Could pop get any purer than ‘Happy Together’? Here were a band that could sweeten The Lovin’ Spoonful’s recipe for pop smashes and out-weird The Mothers Of Invention, all at the same time.

If you haven’t seen the Howard Kaylan scripted low-budget 2003 movie My Dinner With Jimi, do so. No, it’s not brilliant, but it does focus on a key element of The Turtles’ story told in this issue, and it’s oddly watchable. Our very own Andy Morten is featured in the film too. Those who know in what capacity should get in touch. We love a wise guy/gal!

Along with good-time pop we offer a hefty dose of acid via Kris Needs’ closing Hendrix chapter and informed essay on how Jimi unwittingly kick-started a new movement in black music carried by Funkadelic and a legion of like-minded freaks. Psychedelia truly came in all shapes and sizes, colours and outlooks: from the political to the goofy, the saccharine to the nightmarish. Texan act Cold Sun certainly portrayed music that came from a scary place. Patto’s drugged-up booze-ridden post-hippy jazz-rock couldn’t have happened without psychedelia’s fearlessness. We’ve got all sides of the “revolution” covered.

As always, please keep us informed with your thoughts and follow us on social media. Share and like our posts and listen to the Soho Radio show, either live or on Mixcloud. And please, do remain positive. Keep enjoying the music,

Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills

Editor-In-Chief

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Description

Although no longer in stock we can print a one ‘off’ copy for you, hence the higher price.

Features

Alan Brackett: The Peanut Butter Conspiracy main man remembers Jim Morrison 

Mr Benn: Psychedelic revolution or seismic shift? The cult kids’ show reconsidered

Jimi Hendrix: The Star Bangled Banner and the advent of black rock

Funkadelic:  The acid years

Patto: Jazz-rock… but not as you know it

Cold Sun: Roky related Texan psych… from the darkside

The Turtles: A #1 hit and meeting The Beatles. Their tumultuous 1967

Regulars

Shindiggin’: What’s hot on the Shindig! turntable

Thoughts & Words Your letters and emails

It’s A Happening Thing: Heliocentrics, Seafoam Green, Len Price 3, Black Lips, The Wrong Turns, Daniel Romano

Happening Right Now: The hottest new bands

Family Album: PP Arnold’s 1968 Immediate debut

Songbook:  ‘A Taste Of Honey’

20 Questions: R&B lifer John Mayal

Reviews: The best in reissues, new releases, books and live shows

Vinyl Art: Juicy Lucy’s naked lady with fruit

Prize Crossword: Win new Tumbleweed Records anthology

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