Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Another Day, Another Lifetime
Company: VMC
Catalog: V 124
Year: 1967
Country/State: Los Angeles, California
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: mono promo copy; promo sticker and stamp on back cover
Available: 1
GEMM Catalog ID: 4891
Price: $200.00
Cost: $54.00
My personal opinion (worth absolutely nothing) is that these unknown guys deserve to be on the list of purveyors of classic psych albums ... Note that I assigned it a rare four stars rating. Lots of folks will disagree, lumping them into the sell out MOR pile. You'll have to judge their album by your own standards.
The David's another short-lived Southern California act I wish I knew more about. The line up consisted of guitarist Mark Bird, singer/keyboardist Warren Hansen, drummer Tim Harrison and bassist Chuck Spieth. I've got nothing to back it up, but a couple of on-line references indicate that all four were still in their teens when the recorded their first couple of singles and sole LP.
Originally signed to 20th Century Fox, the band debuted with a pair of instantly obscure 45s:
- 1966's '40 Miles' b/w 'Bus Token' (20th Century Fox catalog number 6663)
- 1967's 'People Saying' b/w '40 Miles' (20th Century Fox catalog number 6675)
1967 found the band signed to the small L.A. based Vance Music Corporation (VMC) label which agreed to finance an album.
Produced by Steven Vail, "Another Day, Another Lifetime" showcased a set of ten originals penned by singer/keyboardist Hansen. Much of the album sported a heavy does of orchestrated Baroque/sunshine pop that wouldn't appeal to everyone. That said, unlike competitors such as The Association, Orange Colored Skies, etc., tracks such as 'Another Day, Another Lifetime/I Would Like To Know', 'Now To You' and 'Mirrors of Wood' offered up an intriguing blend of classic pop moves with ample does of psychedelia, then cutting edge eastern musical influences, and cool studio experimentation. The album also distinguished itself from the competition by virtue of the fact almost all of the horn and string arrangements actually added to the collection's appeal - check out 'Tell Me More'. Credit to arranger Gene Page. These guys further benefited from the fact the could rock out. Skeptics need only check out the driving fuzz and organ propelled 'I'm Not Alone', the equally impressive 'Tell Me More', or 'Professor Crawford'. All ten tracks were worth hearing, the only real complaint being that clocking in at a hair over 31 minutes the set was too short. Personal favorites include 'Time M' and 'Of Our Other Days'. (The album sounds great on a high end stereo or thru good headphones.)
"Another
Day, Another Lifetime"
track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Another Day, Another Lifetime/I Would Like To Know (Warren Hansen) - 5:50
2.) I’m Not Alone (Warren Hansen) - 1:48
3.) Sweet December (Warren Hansen) - 4:05
4.) Tell Me More (Warren Hansen) - 2:25
5.) Now To You (Warren Hansen) - 3:58
(side
2)
1.) Professor Crawford
(Warren Hansen) - 2:40
2.) Time M (Warren Hansen) - 4:50
3.) So Much More (Warren Hansen) - 2:16
4.) Mirrors of Wood (Warren Hansen) - 3:40
5.) Of Our Other Days (Warren Hansen) - 2:05
For hardcore fans there are two more singles. Both sides of the third single were pulled from the parent album: 1968's 'I'm Not Alone b/w 'Sweet December' (VMC catalog number V-716).
I've never seen it, but there may be a fourth and final non-LP 45: 1968's 'Don't Slam The Door In My Face' b/w 'Sandy' (VMC catalog number V-717)