Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: The Story of Simonpath
Company: Bell
Catalog: 6015
Year: 1967
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: US pressing' still in shrink wrap - we opened it to hear it - played once
Available: SOLD
GEMM catalog ID: SOLD
Price: SOLD
Cost: $66.00
Nah, we're not
talking about the late Curt Cobain and his Seattle brats ...
Born in Waterford, Ireland, singer/guitarist Patrick Campbell-Lyons moved to
England in the early '60s. Originally planning to a college degree by 1965
he'd abandoned the idea in favor or pursuing a career in music. In the wake
of stints with The Teenbeats and Second Thoughts (the latter opened for The
pre-Who High Numbers), 1967 found Campbell-Lyons enrolling in a London art
school. A chance encounter with Greek born keyboardist Alex Spyropoulosa
found the two sharing a common interest in music, leading to the decision to
form a band. Recruiting bassist Brian Henderson and guitarist Ray Singer,
the quartet began performing at local clubs, quickly developing an
interesting hybrid of rock and classical music influences. Catching one of
their performances, producer Jimmy Miller brought the band to the attention
of Chris Blackwell, who promptly signed them to Island Records (Bell Records
acquiring American domestic distribution rights). With the addition of
string players Michael Coe and Sylvia Schuster, the group released a series
of psych-flavored UK singles with little success ("Tiny Goddess"
b/w "I Believe In Magic", "Pentacost Hotel" b/w "Feelin'
Shattered" and "Rainbow Chaser" b/w "Flashbulb" -
the latter a UK top-40 hit).
Given the opportunity to record and album, you have to admire these guys for
their willingness to push the creative envelope. As far as we know, their
Chris Blackwell produced 1967 debut "The
Story of Simonpath" stands as one of the first stabs at
a rock concept LP. With Campbell-Lyons and Spyropoulos credited with penning
all nine tracks, the collection offered up a weird sci-fi plotline (the back
cover kind of describes what's going on - Simon's journey from a
six-dimensional city to a nirvana filled with pleasures of all types. Don't
even ask. We'll readily admit to being confused by the storyline). In spite
of the freaked out plotline and some horribly dated lyrics ("Wings of
Love"), musically the set was supported by a surprisingly commercial
set of songs. Campbell-Lyons and Spyropoulos were both rather
inconsequential singers (they occasionally sounded like a gay Marc Bolan),
but original songs such as "Lonely Boy", "Satellite
Jockey" and "Pentacost Hotel" (apparently a nod of
appreciation to Blackwell and Island Records), were quite melodic and
attractive. In spite of rave reviews from the critics (and a super cool
cover), the collection quickly vanished in both England and the States.
"The Story of Simonpath" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Wings of Love
(Alex Spyropoulos - Patrick Campbell-Lyons) -
2.) Lonely Boy (Alex Spyropoulos - Patrick Campbell-Lyons) -
3.) We Can Help You (Alex Spyropoulos - Patrick Campbell-Lyons) -
4.) Satellite Jockey (Alex Spyropoulos - Patrick Campbell-Lyons) -
5.) In the Courtyard of the King (Alex Spyropoulos - Patrick Campbell-Lyons)
-
(side 2)
1.) He was Just
the One (Alex Spyropoulos - Patrick Campbell-Lyons) -
2.) Pentacost Hotel (Alex Spyropoulos - Patrick Campbell-Lyons) -
3.) He Never Found a Love Like This Before (Alex Spyropoulos - Patrick
Campbell-Lyons) -
4.) Take This Hand (Alex Spyropoulos - Patrick Campbell-Lyons) -
