Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Colours
Company: Dot
Catalog: DLP-25854
Year: 1968
Country/State:
Oklahoma
Grade
(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
