2. Jefferson Airplane: Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon
Electric, photogenic, modern, and freaky, Jefferson Airplane found themselves on the cover of Life magazine in 1967 under a heading "The New Rock". Formed by Marty Balin in 1966, the band broke when their sophomore Surrealistic Pillow, which was languishing, was mined for a second single in 1967, "Somebody To Love", which introduced Grace Slick to the world. Both single and album (which also produced the surprise hit "White Rabbit", a psychedelic bolero through the looking glass) eventually reached top-3. Their follow-up was the defiantly experimental and darkly psychedelic After Bathing At Baxters, which contained several excellent long-form numbers that showed off the band's considerable instrumental abilities. "Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon" is a jaunty folk-rock that drifts into a languid, hypnotic drone while the three-part vocals of Marty Balin, Grace Slick, and Paul Kantner harmonize dreamlike, while explicitly condoning LSD. Perfect for a languid Saturday afternoon, or a languid trip. The rest of the album gets a little more scary, so trip at your own peril.
3. Santana: Jingo
Santana broke later than most of the well-known San Francisco bands, commanding much attention for their manic performance of "Soul Sacrifice" during a lull in the rain at Woodstock. Mexican native Carlos Santana, the only constant member through the years, formed the band in 1966 with Gregg Rolie (future-Journey) as Santana Blues Band; by the time of their 1968 debut at the Fillmore, their name shortened to Santana. The band was a sextet when it recorded its first album, Santana, in 1969; it would ultimately peak at #4. "Evil Ways" reached #9 and remains a radio staple; its Latin rhythms and percussion were new to rock in 1969, and Rolie's organ solo remains distinctive, in a psychedelic Zombies sort of way. "Jingo" is perhaps better representative of the band however, as it builds a tribal rhythm to a percussion-and-organ crescendo, erupting in Santana's high pitched guitar wail; the band's polyrhythmic assault is still spine tingling and informs impromptu drum circles to this day.
4. The Charlatans: Codine Blues
Essentially an electric jug-band gone psychedelic, known for their flair for dandified fashion, 20's musical nostalgia, and good-timey sound, The Charlatans were the first band from the Haight Ashbury area to get recognition, and the first to land a record contract (with Autumn records, later Kama Sutra). Led by singer/guitarist Dan Hicks, who would later form Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, the band recorded several singles in 1966, but most went unreleased; their debut album The Charlatans, didn't appear until 1969 after lineup changes had diluted the band's vision; they released one more in 1970. "Codine Blues" is a version of Buffy St. Marie's "Cod'ine Blues" (aka "Codeine", "Codine"), a familiar title to garage band aficianados, and is an excellent version of this chestnut. 1966 vintage, it's a tremeloed garage rocker in waltz time, with fuzzy, echoed guitars, a pounding piano, and good vocals; the song's biting lyrics are believably sung, if done better elsewhere. Somehow, this fails to convey the band's great reputation, but it's still an excellent cut. The Charlatans vintage 1966 stuff can be found on the 1996 compilation The Amazing Charlatans, which helps restore their legend a little.
Article comments
1 - Don
Does anyone know what's going on with Sly? The last I heard is his showing up in costume (bikers helmet) at his sisters concert there in Cali.
2 - uao
No idea; the last two decades are pretty fuzzy. He recorded a flop single in 1987, "Eek-a-Bo-Static", but was jailed for drug possession that year.
He also managed a duet with Martha Davis (of the Motels) "Love & Affection" at about the same time.
He showed up at the Hall of Fame induction in 1993, by all accounts to the surprise of his bandmates.
In 2003, the original Family Stone (without Sly) entered the studio; I don't know if the session amounted to anything.
Freddie Stone is a minister with a website.
Here's the article about Sly showing up at his sister's concert in August 2005, the only news I could find for him for the last decade. He came by 4-wheel Harley wearing a motorcycle helmet, which he kept on all night, and wasn't recognized in the VIP room because most of the VIP's were blind (!)
Al Barger posted this article on Sly's 60th birthday; I was moved by the very personal nature of the comments from fans, friends, and well-wishers that appeared on the thread.
3 - Steve
Visit the John Cipollina website here
4 - uao
That's a beautiful website, Steve. A fine tribute that really gets into all aspects of his career and musicianship. I know you've done him proud.
I'm still preachin' the Quicksilver and San Fran word to the young squirts. Cipollina is a name worthy of remembrance and discovery.
5 - Joanie
Thankfully, we have some great realitvely unknown bands who are carrying on the tradition established during the big Haight era.
6 - Tom Weller
Nice reminiscense on the San Francisco sound. Actually, Country Joe has put out half a dozen albums since 1996. Check out his site (I'm the webmaster).
7 - uao
My apologies for the error, Tom. I've corrected the sentence; I was looking at an outdated discography. Joe deserves his due.
Nice website too!
8 - Dave
FYI, "Loosen Up Naturally" (1968) was the first release from the Sons of Champlin. "The Sons" (1969) is their second release. In addition, they've reformed and have been performing and recording since 1997, with a new release, "Hip L'il Dreams", on August 23rd of this year.
Check out their website at www.sonsofchamplin.com for more info...
9 - uao
Doh!
Sorry Dave. Should have looked for your website first. I can't fix the error here anymore, it has been archived. But I'll fix it on the original blog entry at my blog.
I very much appreciate the webmasters checking in here, though. You've alerted me to the fact you guys are out there, which will help me keep better informed of these musicians (for whom latter-day info is sometimes hard to find or cross-reference for facts). As penance, I think for future playlists of this nature, I'll post links to official websites, when I can find them.
I'm kind of expecting to hear from Joy of Cooking or Dan Hicks next...
It's all meant in loving tribute, though, as well as an introduction for listeners who have never even heard of some of these names.
10 - Hammond Guthrie
Dave - These are excellent album reviews and commentaries. If by chance you also review 60s memoirs please contact me and I would be pleased to send you a copy of my book "AsEverWas" released in 2002 by SAF publishing in London. If you visit their website you can find the pr blip for my book near the bottom of the book index page. In the listing I think you will find books about some of your favored musicians as well - Thanks for taking the time - best of the moment to you and your readers.... Hammond Guthrie
11 - Hammond Guthrie
Sorry for the inadvertant omission - here is the SAF publishing url
http://www.safpublishing.com/
asever - Hammond
12 - uao
I don't review memoirs as a rule, but I do read them on occasion; memoirs of a "Beat Survivor" is germaine as San Fran was beat city before it was psychedelicized. Thanks for the comment Hammond.
13 - Dennis Newhall
The Sons of Champlin's Loosen Up Naturally was their first album. THEN, The Sons (The Sons of Champlin Have Changed Their Name to The Sons)
14 - Temple A. Stark
We can fix the link if you ask uao. Just e-mail the link that gors with this comment.
15 - Temple A. Stark
Late notice but,
This post was chosen by the section editor as a BC pick of the week. Go HERE (link) to find out why.
And thank you
- Temple
16 - Hammond Guthrie
Thanks for your reply - SF takes up a rather small part of the tale - and largely set in Europe late 60s vs. SF. Best to you and your projects.
17 - Blake
great album reviews. I wish i could have lived during the rock/blues and psychedelic era. I agree that blue cheer's lesser known album OutsideInside is better than their debut album, although i love both albums, especially the songs out of focus and babylon.. I also agree with that one guy that the guitarist of quicksilver is amazing and should be remembered next to hendrix, page, clapton... oh man actually there were so many amazing got guitarists that never got the recognition they deserved... like guitarist from tons of garage rock/ garage punk bands.. also from old psychedelic bands.
Mick Abrahms from Bloodwyn Pig and Jethro Tull was great for example.
18 - GoHah
good to hear Dan Hicks, with or without the Hot Licks, still kicking around. I had their LP--might've been called "Stikin' It Rich" or to that effect. All pretty much good-timey music like "The Laughing Song" and I believe "Canned Music was on there too. Then there was the exception--an extended scary number with wigged-out violin titled, appropriately, " I Scare Myself." Truth in advertising, indeed.