Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Odessey & Oracle
Company: Date
Catalog: TES 4013
Year: 1967
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+
Comments: minor edge and corner wear; initials on back cover
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID:
Price: $60.00
Increasingly frustrated with Decca's lack of support and
unwillingness to finance a second album, in late 1967 the group switched to Columbia's recently formed Date subsidiary. The self-produced (and partially self-financed),
"Odessey and Oracle" (their spelling, not ours), was a clear effort to shed their "pop" reputation in order to gain respect as "serious" musicians. Given extensive creative freedom, working separately Argent and White were again responsible for all of the material and while tracks such as "Butcher's Tale: (Western Front 1914)" and "Brief Candles" occasionally bordered on the pretentious, thankfully the group's trademarked etheral melodies and restrained, keyboard dominated sound remained intact. An overlooked era classic, the entire set was worth hearing; to our ears highlights included the weird "Care of Cell 44" (girlfriend about to be released from jail), the pseudo-psychedelic "Beechwood Park", "Changes" and the delicious pop-oriented "I Want Her She Wants Me". Considering the album too uncommercial for American audiences, Date initially decided not to release the album in the States. Date's decision saw the frustrated group elect to call it quits. Ironically, after constant prodding from fan Al Kooper, Date relented, releasing the set in the States posthumously. Unexpectedly the album's first single "Time of the Season" b/w "I'll Call You Mine" (Date catalog number 2-1628) went top-5. Propelled by the single, the parent album hit #95.
"Odessey and Oracle" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Care of Cell 44 (Rod Argent) - 3:54
2.) A Rose for Emily (Rod Argent) - 2:17
3.) Maybe After He's Gone (Chris White) - 2:32
4.) Beechwood Park (Chris White) - 2:43
5.) Brief Candles (Chris White) - 3:30
6.) Hung Up On a Dream (Chris White) - 3:01
(side 2)
1.) Changes (Rod Argent) - 3:15
2.) I Want Her She Wants Me - 2:48
3.) This Will Be Our Year (Chris White) - 2:06
4.) Butcher's Take (Western Front 1914) (Chris White) - 2:47
5.) Friends of Mine (Chris White) - 2:15
6.) Time of the Season (Rod Argent) - 3:30
Date hastily offered the band a large cash bonus to reform and tour in support of the album. Already involved in a new project, Rod Argent refused the offer, but did agree to complete several previously written and partially recorded Zombie tracks. Working with guitarist Rick Birkett, drummer Grundy and bassist Jim Rorford the quartet returned to the studio recording several previously written, but unrecorded numbers. Unfortunately, after "Imagine the Swan" b/w "Conversation on Floral Street" (Date catalog number 2-1644) was released as an unsuccessful single (it peaked at #109), enthusiasm within the band and within Date faded and the project was shelved.
