Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
Company: Track
Catalog: SD-8190
Country/State: UK
Year: 1968
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear
Available: 1
GEMM Catalog ID: not yet listed
Price: $20.00
Here's a simple equation that serves as a decent career summary for Arthur Brown:
English + musician + eccentric = Arthur Brown
Today Brown's largely unknown, particularly to American audiences. If they recognize his name at all, it's almost certain as a result of his sole American hit; 1968's "Fire". That's unfortunate since over some three and a half decades, Brown's generated an extensive recording catalog; most of it unknown to all but hardcore collectors.
Having been expelled from the University of London, the mid-'60s found Arthur Wilton (aka Arthur Brown) pursuing a law degree at Reading University. Having formed a band to play parties and local clubs while earning some spending cash, graduating from college Brown dropped out of music and went into teaching. Having spent a couple of years working 9-to-5, in 1967 Brown decided teaching had been a mistake. Deciding music was his true calling he recruited keyboardist Vincent Crane, bassist Sean Nichols and drummer Drachian Theaker for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Featuring an eccentric combination of comedy, theatrics and rock and roll, the band quickly garnered exposure on the London club circuit, including the trendy UFO Club. Among fans, The Who's Pete Townshend took an active interest in the band, eventually convincing executives at Track Records (the Who's label) to sign Brown and company to a recording contract.
Produced by Kit Lambert with Townshend lending a hand, "The Crazy World of Arthur
Brown" stood as one of the year's strangest offerings. The combination of Brown's ranting vocals, Crane's fire breathing keyboards, combined with an-over-the-top stage show was unlike anything else on the market. Featuring a hodge-podge collection of musical genres, the album found the band taking stabs at a broad spectrum of styles, including psychedelia, hard rock, jazz, Sinatra-styled crooning ("Come & Buy"), and even R&B (a wild cover of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell On You"). Elsewhere, while it wasn't billed as such, the first five tracks actually served as a concept piece. Artistically fearless, Brown and company took enthusiastic shots at every genre;
indiscriminately mixing the ingredients on freak-out tracks such as "Prelude - Nightmare" and "Fanfare - Fire Poem" (geez, talk about a bad acid trip ... ). While not always successful, there was no denying the set's bizarre appeal. Released as a single Brown's frenzied performance on
"Fire" b/w "Rest Cure" (Track catalog number 45-2556) provided the band with an unexpected American hit. In support of the fluke hit, the band undertook an American tour, their theatrical presentation - Brown frequently performed with a painted face while wearing psychedelic clothes and a flaming helmet, generating a wave of media attention. The hit and supporting tour propelled the parent album to #7. As an interesting side note, Brown's wild stage show and over-the-top image set him at odds with many conservatives; some who even branded him satanic. That was ironic since Brown was an admittedly deeply religious Christian, who worked Christian themes into much of his catalog (check out tracks such as "Time/Confusion" and "Child of My Kingdom").
"The Crazy World of Arthur Brown" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Prelude/Nightmare (Arthur Brown) - 3:28
2.) Fanfare/Fire Poem (Arthur Brown - Vincent Crane) - 1:51
3.) Fire (Arthur Brown - Vincent Crane - Finesilver - Ker) - 2:54
4.) Come and Buy (Arthur Brown - Vincent Crane) - 5:40
5.) Time/Confusion (Arthur Brown - Vincent Crane) - 5:11
(side 2)
1.) I Put a Spell on You (Screaming Jay Hawkins) - 3:41
2.) Spontaneous Apple Creation (Arthur Brown - Vincent Crane) - 2:54
3.) Rest Cure (Arthur Brown - Vincent Crane) - 2:44
4.) I've Got Money (Arthur Brown) - 3:09
5.) Child of My Kingdom (Arthur Brown - Vincent Crane) - 7:01
Unfortunately, success took its toll. First Brown was hit with a copyright lawsuit; subsequently losing most of the royalties associated with "Fire." Adding to the group's problems, while at a party Crane was dosed with LSD. Left severely impaired, Crane had to drop out of the group and seek psychological help. (His replacement for the rest of the tour was Doug
Henningham.)
