Genre: psych
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Cosmic Bean
Company: SSS International
Catalog: SSS-21
Year: 1969
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): NM / NM
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM Catalog IS: not yet listed
Price: $40.00
Here's another outfit I don't know much about.
At least one music reference work lists them as being a German outfit that relocated to
Columbus, Georgia. Given the set was recorded in Vaparaisa, Florida, I
really don't have a clue ...
What little I know is gleaned from the liner notes on their sole LP, 1969's
"Cosmic Beans". Based
on the LP, they seem to have been a four piece consisting of
singer/guitarist Mike Guthrie, bassist/singer Gary (no last name),
keyboardist Dave (no last name) and drummer Herb (no last name) - Candymen
guitarist guitarist John Rainey provided support on a couple of tracks.
Co-produced by Guthrie and D. Atkins, in
spite of the psychedelic cover, musically the set offered up a weird mix of
styles, including dollops of psych ('I Can See Through You'),
progressive moves ('I've Got the Key'), country-rock ('Indian
Summer') and straight ahead pop ('Penny, Dear'). With Guthrie
credited with writing all eleven tracks much of the set sporting what sounded like a
drug induced daze, the first time I listened to it the set didn't do much
for me. Giving it another chance it began to grow on me. Sure, this ain't no
lost classic, but several tracks including 'Captain Marvel', '(Open Up Your Heart) Nature Boy' and
the classic 'Daddy's Got the
Clap' were worth hearing. Needless to say, the album vanished without a
trace, followed by the band.
"Cosmic Bean" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) I Can See Through You (Mike Guthrie) - 3:19
2.) The Long Stretch of Blue (Mike Guthrie) - 3:21
3.) Fortune and Fame (Mike Guthrie) - 2:23
4.) Daddy's Got the Clap (Mike Guthrie) - 2:07
5.) Really Haven't Got the Time (Mike Guthrie) - 2:51
6.) Penny, Dear (Mike Guthrie) - 4:46
(side 2)
1.) Indian Summer (Mike Guthrie) - 2:38
2.) Listening to the River (Mike Guthrie) - 3:19
3.) I've Got the Key (Mike Guthrie) - 3:58
4.) Captain Marvel (Mike Guthrie) - 4:15
5.) (Open Up Your Heart) Nature Boy (Mike Guthrie) - 5:27\