Grapefruit

Band members               Related acts

- George Alexander - vocals, bass, sax (1967-69)
- Mick Fowler - keyboards (1969)
- John Perry - vocals, lead guitar (1967-69)
- Geoff Swettenham - drums (1967-69)
- Pete Swettenham - vocals, rhythm guitar (1967-69)
- Bobby Ware - drums (replaced Geoff Swettenham) (1969)

 

 

 - none known

 

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Around Grapefruit

Company: Dunhill

Catalog: DS 50050

Year: 1968

Grade (cover/record): G/VG

Comments: slight ring wear; bullet hole 1" seam split at top

Available: 1

Price: $35.00

 

 

 Having previously recorded with the little heard Tony Rivers and the Castaways (see separate entry), in 1967 guitarist John Perry and siblings Geoff (drums) and Pete (rhythm guitar) Swettenham decided to strike out on their own. Within a couple of months the trio had added bassist George Alexander to the lineup (Alexander was Easybeats founder George Young's older brother). The group quickly began to generate a local buzz, including the attention of John Lennon (who reportedly came up with the "Grapefruit" nameplate). The first group signed to Apple's publishing company (curious they weren't signed to a recording contract), the quartet subsequently attracted the attention of the RCA Victor).

A top-30 English hit, the band's 1968 debut "Dear Delilah" b/w "The Dead Boot" didn't see an American release. Released domestically by the small Equinox label, "Elevator" b/w "Yes" failed to chart in England, but hit #113 on the American charts (their only brush with Stateside success). 

Produced by Terry Melcher, 1969's "Around Grapefruit" found the band trying to find a balance between psychedelia and more mainstream pop. Largely penned by Alexander, tracks such as "Another Game", "Yesterday's Sunshine", the previously mentioned "Dear Delilah" and "Lullabye" offered up heavily orchestrated psych moves, baring more than a passing resemblance to "Magical Mystery Tour" era Beatles. Elsewhere, "This Little Man" and the pretty instrumental "Give It One More Try" were more pop oriented, while the English hit "C'mon Marianne" sounded like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons faking a British accent (perhaps not surprising since The Four Seasons' originally recorded the song). Perhaps not the year's most original offering, the results still made for an engaging set of '60s-styled psychedelia. 

"Around Grapefruit" track listing:
1.) Another Game (George Alexander) - 2:51
2.) Yesterday's Sunshine (George Alexander) - 2:05
3.) Elevator (George Alexander) - 2:05
4.) Yes (John Perry) - 2:20
5.) C'mon Marianne (Brown - Bloodworth) - 
6.) Lullabye (George Alexander) - 3:29
7.) Round Going Round (George Alexander) - 3:00
8.) Dear Delilah (George Alexander) - 2:36
9.) This Little Man (George Alexander) - 
10.) Ain't It Good (George Alexander) - 2:36
11.) Give It One More Try (instrumental) (George Alexander) - 
12.) Someday (George Alexander) - 3:55

 

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