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EPYSODE 05: "Riley, Riley, Wood & Waggett", by Shape Of The Rain

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Release Date: 03/29/2024

EPYSODE 20: EPYSODE 20: "Sussex", by Bent Wind

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guests: Bent Wind band members Marty Roth and Ed Thomas. When the Beatles hit, bands started cropping up everywhere. Sure, the most successful groups came from the US or the UK, but that doesn't mean smaller countries weren't immune to "cool". Bands from these countries had a difficult time breaking through as they were on smaller labels, with smaller budgets and a reluctance from American radio at the time to take a chance on playing "outsider" music. As a result we have a ton of high quality albums that never achieved any level of commercial success at the time of their release, but now are...

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EPYSODE 19: EPYSODE 19: "Psychedelic Lollipop", by The Blues Magoos

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guest: Blues Magoos singer/guitarist Peppy Castro. At the tender age of 14, Peppy Castro was taught the famous E minor chord on an acoustic guitar. "The minute I played that chord, it was like the heavens opened up". He left home, dropped out of school and pursued a different path. A chance meeting introduces him to Ronnie Gilbert and Ralph Scala and the seeds for The Blues Magoos were planted. "We Ain't Got Nothing Yet" is ubiquitous with 60's American garage/psych rock. It's two minutes of rock 'n' roll perfection. The rest of the Psychedelic Lollipop album proves that these guys - kids...

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EPYSODE 18: EPYSODE 18: "Songs For The Gentle Man", by Bridget St. John

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guest: Bridget St. John. When the most famous DJ in the world champions you and decides to open a record label specifically to record and market your music, well, you're doing something right. Bridget St. John's name may not be as widely known as some of her British folk contemporaries, but her music is deserving of attention for any fan of the genre. Recording her first three albums for John Peel's Dandelion label between 1969 and 1972 she released consistently high quality work, garnering excellent reviews.  A fourth album followed for Chrysalis a couple years later and then...silience....

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EPYSODE 17: EPYSODE 17: "Out Of Nowhere", by Henry Schifter

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guest: Henry Schifter. Here we have yet another album by an one-and-done artist. Henry was an American guitarist who released a few singles with a few labels in the sixties. He finally got the opportunity to record a full-length album in 1971, though he had to go to France to do it. He recorded a strong album, and one that should have warranted some follow ups but it never came to pass.   Henry shares some great stories about the recording of the album, his run-in with Johnny Rivers (spolier alert: he didn't like him) and a great tale that includes a great looking belt, a pistol and weed....

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EPYSODE 16: EPYSODE 16: "20 Granite Creek", by Moby Grape

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guest: Moby Grape drummer Don Stevenson. Of all the great 60’s bands that came from the San Francisco area, Moby Grape may have been the best. Their 1967 debut album stands tall among the other giants released that year. Bad luck, terrible management decisions and a record company gaffe for the ages derailed all their momentum (wait until you hear Don’s ‘record company executive’ impression!). By 1969 they had called it quits.  But they got the itch to get back together and record a standout album in their discography...the rare “reunion album” that’s actually good. And...

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EPYSODE 15: EPYSODE 15: "Dragonfly", by Dragonfly

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guest: Dragonfly guitarist Randy Russ. Hooking up with a couple of managers from California, they thought they were on their way to the big time. But while the band was living off a $12/day allowance, the managers were getting their cars reupholstered and buying custom-made alligator briefcases.   They released one album as The Legend - a mediocre effort of cover tunes and songs from outside musicians thanks to decisions made by the management team.  For the second time out though, it was a different story.  Given creative freedom, they created a monster, guitar-centric,...

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EPYSODE 14: EPYSODE 14: "Red Hash", by Gary Higgins

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guest: Gary Higgins. Here's the scenario: you've been convicted of a crime and have only a few weeks before you begin to serve your jail sentence.  What would YOU do with that time? For Gary Higgins, that answer was simple: corrale your musical buddies and knock out a fantastic album.  No time for rehearsal, just get in the studio, quickly work out the tunes and get 'em down.  Gary had just enough time to complete the recordings before he changed his address to the Conneticut State Penitentiary.  His pals completed the mixing, mastering, cover design and got  a few...

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EPYSODE 13: EPYSODE 13: "Fully Qualified Survivor", by Michael Chapman

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guests: Andru Chapman, Bridget St. John & Steve Gunn. In this Epysode we delve into the career of an artist that spanned 5 decades, who recorded more than 50 albums, was adored by generations of musicians and who critics fawned over...yet hardly anyone knows his name.  Michael was an immensely skilled guitarist and an excellent songwriter who released album after album to critical acclaim.  Even his last albums - more than 50 years after his debut were considered among his best.  Here was an artist who never settled, continually pushing musical boundaries...maybe that's why...

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EPYSODE 12: EPYSODE 12: "The Rose Garden", by The Rose Garden

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guests: Rose Garden bandmembers John Noreen and Bill Fleming. Mid 60's Los Angeles; a band called "The Blokes" were knocking out their versions of Beatles and note-for-note, immaculate copies of Byrds songs when a chance meeting with Gene Clark - who had just left the Byrds culminates with him joining the teenagers on stage for a couple of tunes.  Next thing you know, he's giving them some of his songs and writes one specifically for them to record.  He even considers managing them at one point.   Adding a new lead singer, they change their name and record one folk-rock gem that...

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EPYSODE 11: EPYSODE 11: "Back In The HCA", by The Bowes Road Band

Psychedelic Relics & Other Vinyl Treasures

Guests:  All 4 Bowes Road Band Members - Alan Lewis, Phil Rawle, Dave Pescod, Ted Rockley and Jakarta Records label co-owner Jannis Stürtz. In a Rodriguez-like tale, we hear how an album recorded 50 years earlier for a school project gets discovered in the unlikliest of places by the one person who can make a story like this happen.  This "band" didn't even have a name until 2023, and now hundreds of thousands of people have streamed their album and bought vinyl copies.  From an original private press of 50 copies to international attention, it's an amazing story about a...

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More Episodes

Guests: Ian ("Tag") Waggett, Shape of the Rain drummer; David McPhie, Shape of the Rain band manager; with additional audio excerpts used with permission of Keith Riley, Shape of the Rain singer/guitarist/songwriter.

In this epysode, we learn how this fantastic UK band was influenced by the West Coast sounds of Love, HP Lovecraft etc. to create a unique sound all their own. With excellent songwriting from band leader Keith Riley, they incorporated 12 string guitars with a pedal steel guitar - very unusual for a psychedelic band to use at that time.  

Shape of the Rain played with EVERY major band of the day. Only releasing one album in their lifetime, it's the classic tale of a band who had all the components to be major stars. However fate it seems had other plans.

A recent reissue of their lone album is a great addition for fans as it includes not only a remastered version of the album, but a plethora of fantastic unreleased tracks plus a complete live album. Buy this today!  https://www.cherryred.co.uk/shape-of-the-rain-riley-riley-wood-amp-waggett-3cd-digipak#:~:text=It's%20a%20fascinating%20overview%20of,immediately%20post%2DBeatles%20new%20dawn.

 A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT THIS EPYSODE: The Shape of the Rain epysode was completed a few weeks ago. I had intended to release it earlier than this, however on the day before it was set to be published news broke that Keith Riley had passed away. I made the decision to leave the epysode as is, recorded when Keith was still alive.  I felt re-editing would take away from the story. Instead I added a short prologue to commemorate Keith's life. He was an extraordinary talent and I can only hope my love for his music comes across in this epysode. I love this band, I love this album and I love Keith's songwriting. RIP Keith, you will be missed.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions for future epysodes, I can be reached at [email protected].

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Thank you for your support.

I hope you dig "Riley, Riley, Wood & Waggett" as much as I do.

-FJ

Here's a Spotify playlist featuring all the tracks used in this epysode:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2kqvEAJuZLn7OB8FoIe7zz?si=1a845f59435d4f69