"Poppies" Delves Into Psychedelic Rock

Rock and roll’s psychedelic era produced quite a bit of memorable music. Though the genre has gone in and out of fashion over the years, it has a cadre of loyal fans, including bands such as Tame Impala, Pond and The Flaming Lips, who celebrate the cool vibes of this classic music, and are the current keepers of the flame. There have been some excellent collections of psychedelic music, including the seminal Nuggets series. Craft Recordings, the label responsible for well-received archival releases from artists like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Otis Redding, has put together a fantastic compilation from the era of incense and flower children entitled Poppies: Assorted Finery From The First Psychedelic Age. It’s a wide-ranging collection, featuring a wide range of artists, including singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie, and some early work from performers best known for other genres, including Jerry Jeff Walker, of “Mr. Bojangles” fame.

Cover image courtesy of Craft Recordings

You’ll find touches of rock, pop and folk resonating throughout the thirteen tracks on the record. Influential alt-folkie Sainte-Marie provides the ethereal title tune. The pop-flavored “Smell of Incense” by Southwest F.O.B. floats along on lovely harmonies and Farfisa organ. Two members of that band, singer and sax player Dan Seals, and keyboardist John Colley would later re-invent themselves as England Dan and John Ford Coley. They scored some chart success in the 70s with songs like the Todd Rundgren penned “Love Is The Answer.” The foreboding “Sorcerella” by Jefferson Lee, is a darkly hued slice of garage band-style rock. Circus Maximus, featuring country icon Jerry Jeff Walker (who started the band with guitarist Bob Bruno), is represented by “Bright Light Lovers,” a track that begins as Beatlesque pop, then explodes into guitar-driven, down and dirty, Rolling Stones-style rock and roll.

Other standouts include “Stand In The Shadows” by the Michigan-based outfit The Frost, an epic, eight-minute protest song powered by the guitars of band members Dick Wagner and Don Hartman. Sot Weed Factor’s “Say It Isn’t So,” a fantastic psyched-out folk rocker, comes from a band who originally hailed from the wilds of Tuscon, Arizona, and later moved out to Hollywood to find fame. The Pasternak Progress, fronted by Jeff Pasternak (son of famed movie producer Joe Pasternak) provides us with “Flower Eyes,” a track that feels like a combination of Doors-style poetic rock laced with some early prog-rock flourishes. “Oracle,” by California’s Chapter VI, is one of the most striking tracks on the disc, featuring philosophical lyrics and layers of spiraling, spacey sound.

One of the best things about this release is that most of this music hasn’t been featured on previous compilations, so you’re not getting the umpteenth inclusion of “Incense & Peppermints,” undeniably a great song, but pretty familiar to fans. You’ll be exposed to a whole new world of psychedelic masterpieces on this well-curated collection. The album features informative and comprehensive liner notes by producer Alec Palao. The disc will be released in several configurations, including an exclusive translucent red vinyl version for Record Store Day on April 13, followed by CD and digital versions on April 19. Poppies: Assorted Finery From The First Psychedelic Age is one of the best archival releases I’ve heard this year. It should have strong appeal for devotees of 1960s rock. These tunes and their kaleidoscopic vibes will definitely get stuck in your head, and the album is truly worth adding to your music library. The folks at Craft Recordings promise us there’s more to come, so start your hallucinatory journey now! You can get more info at the Craft Recordings website at: https://craftrecordings.com.