Colours


Band members               Related acts

- Chuck Blackwell -- drums, percussion (1967-68)
- Jack Dalton -- guitar (1967-69)
- Rob Edwards -- guitar (1967-68)
- Gary Montgomery -- keyboards (1967-69)
- Carl Radle (RIP) -- bass (1967-68)

 

 

 

- Delaney and Bonnie (Carl Radle)

- Derek and the Dominos (Carl Radle)

- Eddie and the Showmen (Rob Edwards)


 

Genre: psych

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Colours

Company: Dot

Catalog: DLP-25854

Year: 1968

Country/State: Oklahoma
G
rade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor edge wear

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4192

Price: $25.00

Cost: $6.00

 

Interestingly some reference works I've come across show this outfit as being English (probably due to the fact their name was spelled with the added English 'o').  Don't be fooled since the band's roots can be traced to Oklahoma where drummer Chuck Blackwell and bassist Carl Radle were buddies with a young Leon Russell.  Guitarist Rob Edwards had previously been a member of Eddie and the Showmen.

 

Best known for the fact their initially lineup included future Derek & the Dominos/Jimmy Buffett bassist Radle, this five piece survived long enough to release a pair of interesting and highly diverse late-1960s albums. The debut is a little heard psych classic; the follow-up a far more conventional and altogether less impressive work.

Produced by Danny Moore and Richard Delvy, 1968's "Colours" offered up a nifty set of Beatles-styled pop-rock. Penned by guitarist Jack Dalton and keyboard player Gary Montgomery, material such as "Love Heals", "Helping You Out", "Where Is She" and "I Think of Her (She's On My Mind)" (the latter baring an uncanny resemblance to the forthcoming Badfinger), offered up a wonderful collection of harmony-rich, radio-ready pop. One of the year's most impressive debuts, the set was full of playful psychedelic touches. Highlights included the droning, raga-influenced "Rather Be Me", the sitar-and-bagpipe (don't ask) propelled "Brother Lou's Love Colony" and the ominous leadoff "Bad Day At Black Rock, Baby" (which found the band effortlessly shifting thought at least a half dozen time changes). Unfortunately with public tastes already moving beyond the summer of love, the collection was overlooked by the press and the buying public. (Dock the set half a star for Jon Borgzinner's pompous liner notes ("Colours have the crystalline sharpness of the Beatles before they turned acid.") and for the tacky Nehru jackets the band sported on the front and back covers.)

"Colours" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) Bad Day At Black Rock, Baby   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 3:06
2.) Love Heals   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 2:38
3.) Helping You Out   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 2:57
4.) Where Is She   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 2:24
5.) Rather Be Me   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 3:55
6.) I'm Leaving   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 2:45

 

(side 2)
1.) Brother Lou's Love Colony   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 3:56
2.) I Think of Her   (She's On My Mind) (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 2:10
3.) Lovin'   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 1:38
4.) Cataleptic   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 3:06
5.) Don't You Realize   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 1:52


 

 


Genre: rock

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Atmosphere

Company: Dot 

Catalog: DLP-25953

Year: 1969

Country/State: Oklahoma

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: mono

Available: 1

GEMM Catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $35.00

 

Following a personnel upheaval, Dalton and Montgomery continued the nameplate with the release of 1969's "Atmosphere". Anyone expecting another slice of psychedelia was in for a major surprise. Produced by Dan Moore (Richard Delvy serving as executive producer), the set found the duo pursuing a surprisingly dull and uninspired mainstream sound. Bland, jazz-rock fusion tinged melodies (check out the single "Hyannisport Soul (Lost You To The Wind)") and  waivery vocals ("Angie").  Elsewhere, hackneyed orchestration ("Grey Day") and dissonant horns did little to salvage material such as "God Please Take My Life" and "When Will You Be Coming Home?". Among the few tracks worth hearing more than once were "You're High" (incidentally the only track to recall the debut) and the soul-influenced "I Tried To Make You Love Me Last Night". A commercial disaster, within a matter of months the group was history.

"Atmosphere" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) Angie   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 3:11
2.) God Please Take My Life   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 5:00
3.) When Will You Be Coming Home?   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 2:27
4.) I Tried To Make You Love Me Last Night   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 3:32
5.) Grey Day   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 3:55
6.) Smilin' In Toronto   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 4:09

 

(side 2)
1.) Hyannisport Soul   (Lost You To The Wind) (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 2:16
2.) Run Away From Here   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 1:58
3.) It's Time To Tell You   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 4:03
4.) Announcement   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 1:54
5.) I'll Be Your Friend   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 2:15
6.) You're High   (Jack Dalton - Gary Montgomery) - 2:37

 

 

 

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