Genre: psych
Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Title: Flat Earth Society
Company: Fleetwood
Catalog: none
Year: 1968
Country/State: Boston, Massachusetts
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: fantastic copy
Available: 1
GEMM Catalog ID: not yet listed
Price: $370.00
The story behind this Boston-based band's lone album is
nothing short of hysterical. Showcasing the talents of bassist Paul Carter,
guitarist Rick Doyle, singer Phil Dubuque, drummer Curt Girard and keyboard
player Jack Kervian,the group started out performed at dances and clubs
around Boston. They somehow managed to attract the attention of the Waleeco candy
company which hired them to cut a commercial. The commercial led to a
full-blown promotional campaign - send in proof of purchase for 6 Waleeco
candy bars and $1.60 and you got their album.
Recorded at Boston's Fleetwood studios (production was credited to Quinn and
Johnson), 1968's "Waleeco"
was simply great - one of those few albums that lives up to the hype
surrounding it. Featuring largely original material (Kervian and Dubuque
were responsible for most of the 11 tracks), the band displayed far more
professionalism and versatility than one would have expected from a
relatively new outfit. While the majority of the set reflected a distinctive
psychedelic orientation, elsewhere the quintet showed off decent folk-rock
moves ('When You Were There'), as well as a knack for conventional rock ('Four &
Twenty Miles' and 'Shadows'). Still, the set's big charm lay in the
band's psychedelic leanings. Highlights included the leadoff 'Feelin'
Much Better', 'Prelude for the Town Monk', 'Portrait In
Grey' and the freak out instrumental 'Satori' (be sure to check this one
out in a dark room wearing quality headphones). Even the lone non-original, a
droning jangle guitar-propelled cover of Wilson Pickett's 'Midnight
Hour' was pretty cool.
While the LP doesn't rake in the type of fervor
you'd expect from collectors, take my word for it, this is classic mid-1960s
American psych. One of the few albums I'd give a five star rating to.
"Waleeco" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Feelin' Much Better (Jack Kervian - Phil Dubuque) - 2:37
2.) Midnight Hour (Wilson Pickett - Steve Cropper) - 3:38
3.) I'm So Happy (Jack Kervian - Phil Dubuque) - 1:57
4.) When You're There (Jack Kervian - Phil Dubuque) - 1:58
5.) Four & Twenty Miles (Jack Kervian - Phil Dubuque) - 1:56
(side 2)
1.) Prelude for the Town Monk (Jack Kervian) - 3:10
2.) Shadows (Jack Kervian) - 1:54
3.) Dark Street Downtown (Jack Kervian) - 3:45
4.) Portrait In Grey (Jack Kervian - Phil Dubuque - Rob Doyle) - 5:05
5.) In My Window (Jack Kervian - Rob Doyle) - 2:11
11.) Satori (instrumental) (Jack Kervian - Phil Dubuque) - 3:30