8. Moby Grape: Hey Grandma
Moby Grape could've been contenders, even should've been contenders, but some essential missteps and bad luck hurt their career early on. Singer/guitarist Skip Spence, a charismatic loose cannon, had been kicked out of Jefferson Airplane (with whom he played drums) in 1966 for erratic drug-induced behavior; Airplane manager Matthew Katz decided to form a band around Spence, capitalizing on his local popularity. Poached from the Frantics were guitarist Jerry Miller and drummer Don Stevenson; guitarist Peter Lewis was plucked from The Cornells, while bassist Bob Mosley was a veteran of many local groups. The band was signed to Columbia, who hyped them mercilessly; all of the songs on the album were simultaneously released as singles, killing the chances of all of them. Still, their 1967 debut, Moby Grape, remains a stellar, shining classic. Songwriting from all members and sharp playing resulted in thirteen perfect little gems, all manic and electric and capturing much of the intensity of the times the slower jams of the era don't. Also rare was that nearly all of the songs clocked under 3 minutes, four were under two. It's hard to pick a representative one, but "Hey Grandma", the album opener is a good place to start, with its rollicking tempo and three-part harmonies. The band's subsequent career was full of hard knocks; Spence suffered from mental illness he never really recovered from. Mosley up and joined the Marines suddenly in 1969. They fueded with their manager. Still, they released albums regularly through 1972, and permutations of the group play gigs to this day.
9. Big Brother & The Holding Co.: Summertime
Janis Joplin might have gotten all the acclaim, but in their day, Big Brother and The Holding Co. was an excellent band as well. They weren't virtuosos, although each was a good player. But they did manage to combine in a remarkable acid-rock, full of cracking guitars and reckless feedback, lumpen bass, crashing drums that made them as essential to Joplin's art as she was to theirs; even after she unceremoniously dumped them in 1968, they continued to make good music, although her departure robbed them of some of their drive, as well as most of their sales. In other respects, Big Brother is also the quintessential Haight band; a celebration of acid drenched feedback, mutant amplified blues and folk, and a dash of hillbilly. Formed in 1965, the band consisted of guitarist Sam Andrew, guitarist James Gurley, bassist Peter Albin, and drummer David Getz; Joplin joined in 1966 at the suggestion of promoter Chet Helms. Their appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 broke them nationally; "Ball and Chain" was a showstopper. Cheap Thrills, from 1968, reached #1 and is still essential listening. "Summertime" the George Gershwin chestnut, is a good example of how Joplin was capable of being delicate just as much as she could belt, and the band's ornate psychedelic noodling that erupts in a resonant feedback galvanization is peak. After her departure, Big Brother managed three more albums, all charted in the mid-100's; they gave up the ghost in 1971. A biker favorite, Hell's Angels "endorses" Cheap Thrills on the R. Crumb cover.
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.