Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: The Smoke
Company: Sidewalk
Catalog: ST-5912
Year: 1968
Country/State: USA
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4104
Price: $100.00
Cost: $45.00
One of those child progenies you read about, by the time he was in his early teens Michael Lloyd had signed a publishing contract with artist/manager Kim Fowley. By the time he was in his late teens, Lloyd had recorded under a number of alias, including a single credited to 'The Laughing Wind' and a stint with the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. Through Fowley he also came into contact with music mogul Mike Curb. Curb in turn quickly hired Lloyd to score a series of teen-exploitation "B" movies being financed by Curb-owned companies..
Having produced a number of rock acts, including The October Country, by 1968 Lloyd had himself become interested in returning to the recording studio. He quickly found a pair of collaborators in the form of former Max Frost and the Troopers alumnus Stan Ayeroff and Steve Baim. Lloyd subsequently approached mentor Curb about financing an album. Curb quickly agreed, resulting in the release of 1968's "The Smoke" on Curb's Capital affiliated Sidewalk label.
Co-produced by Fowley and Lloyd, it's easy to see why this album's become such a sought after collectable (underscored by the fact it didn't see a CD release until 2003). With Lloyd writing the majority of the material, the resulting mix of California pop moves and psychedelic touches stands as a perfect example of the "sunshine pop" genre. Full of subtle and not-so-subtle homage's to the likes of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys ("Cowboys and Indians" and " Self-Analysis") and The Beatles (" Gold Is the Colour of Thought") makes this LP a wonderful candidate to play 'spot the reference'. Elsewhere the LP includes Lloyd's cover of "October Country" which he'd previously written and produced for the band October Country. Personal favorites: the catchy "Fogbound" (which with it's nice "Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds" fade out would have made a great single) and the odd "Umbrella". (As an aside, the back cover shows what appear to be four band members - the fourth being guitarist Jimmy Greenspoon, who didn't actually play on the album and went on to join the newly formed Three Dog Night.)
"The Smoke" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Cowboys and Indians (Michael Lloyd) -
2.) Looking Thru the Mirror (Michael Lloyd) -
3.) Self-Analysis (Michael Lloyd) -
4.) Gold Is the Colour of Thought (Michael Lloyd) -
5.) Hobbit Symphony (instumental) (Michael Lloyd) -
6.) Daisy (Intermission) (instrumental) (Michael Lloyd) -
(side 2)
1.) Fogbound (Michael Lloyd) -
2.) Song Thru Perception (Michael Lloyd) -
3.) Philosophy (Michael Lloyd) -
4.) Umbrella (Michael Lloyd) -
5.) Ritual Gypsy Music Opus 1 (instrumental) (Michael Lloyd) -
6.) October Country (Michael Lloyd) -
7.) Odyssey (Michael Lloyd) -
Always envisioned as a studio entity, the group never toured, nor did they release a follow-on.