Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Two Sides of a Penny
Company: Page One
Catalog: POLS 005
Year: 1968
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+
Comments: UK pressing
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4204
Price: $150.00
Cost: $
We stumbled across this LP at a yard sale and bought it based on a combination of the unique cover and the fact we recognized most of the band line up (guitarist Mike Graham, singer Brian Keith, bassist Tony Murray, drummer Nigel Olsson and keyboard player Paul Raymond). So what do these guys sound like?
Want a two word review? Procol Harum ... Seriously, the first time we played 1968's "Two Sides of a Penny" it repeatedly reminded us of Procol. To our ears the comparison was spawned by Raymond's organ (which recalled Gary Brooker), Graham's thick distorted guitar which recalled Robin Trower and Keith's vocals which occasionally bore a resemblance to Gary Brooker (check out "It's a Good Thing"). Produced by Larry Page (by coincidence the band happened to be signed to Page's Page One label), the album's actually surprisingly impressive. Making it clear the Procol Harum comparison isn't meant as a criticism, Keith and Raymond both had likeable voices that were well suited to the band's mix of pop (Take Me Back), lite-psych (the bizarre "Mrs. Grundy") and rock moves (I Want You). Full of nice melodies, interesting instrumentation (Graham's guitar was a standout) and great harmonies, the only real artistic missteps were needless and largely rote covers of The Association's "Never My Love" and The Beatles "Strawberry Fields Forever". Sure, they did a nice job on the covers, but what was the point?
"Two Sides of a Penny" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Everything I Am () -
2.) Wake Me Up () -
3.) Never My Love () -
4.) Geneviene () -
5.) No Pleasure Without Pain My Love () -
6.) So Much Older Now () -
(side
2)
1.) Mrs. Grundy () -
2.) Take Me Back () -
3.) I Want You () -
4.) It's a Good Thing () -
5.) Strawberry Fields Forever (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) -
In spite of the fact the sweet ballad "Everything I Am" b/w
"No Pleasure without Pain My Love" (Page One catalog number POF
051), provided the band with a top-10 UK hit, the parent LP proved stillborn
and is now fairly rare. We've only seen two copies in 25 years. Maybe
not the most original item in our catalog, but a worthy addition to anyone
collecting UK psych/60s rock ...