60's Pop/Folk/Psychedelia

Xervello

Well-known member
This song, an obscure acoustic ballad from 1969 called "In Hollywood", was by a little known folk-rock band dubbed The Fifth Avenue Band. They only released one self-titled album before disappearing like so many others into the haze of the 1970s. This is one of my favorites. This reminds me of the band America years before they'd even formed. A slow, pensive number that sounds as if it was written in the hills of Laurel Canyon; just a bunch of hippies getting together, smoking some weed, talking about peace and love, and making lovely, gorgeous music. Notice the subtle use of glockenspiel, the calming piano, the uplifting saxophone. And those beautiful, beautiful harmonies.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJXdfbQYmJU
 

Xervello

Well-known member
Let's try some psychedelic garage rock fuzz, shall we! Courtesy of an obscure band called The New Lime, this song "Ain't Got No Soul" is a pure orgy of energy and organ greatness. And dig the last verse how the organ drops out and you get to hear that sweet marimba tickling the melody. This one makes me wanna get like John Travolta in Pulp Fiction and start dancin' for that trophy!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vYktJzz6jQ
 

Xervello

Well-known member
This next song is by the great John Hartford. Even for 60's folkies he might be a little under the radar for some, and this song, "In Like Of", is pretty obscure even among the John Hartford devotees. It's a jazzy ballad with John on the banjo, which like everything John does is an unorthodox mix, with his trademark witty but heartfelt lyrics about how he's in like of a woman so much that he's almost in love with her. It's a personal favorite mine, probably not for everyone, but I wanted to include it for those that might not otherwise have heard of John, or listen to much banjo playing. It's from '68 off his Housing Project album.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQXDAoe_shU
 

Xervello

Well-known member
Here's another folkie, Donovan, but unlike most of his ballads or psychedelic pop fair, this song is a fast-driven acoustic ditty that really gets the toe-tappin'. A pretty obscure gem hidden in his vast catalogue called "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)". It's just Donovan fast-picking his acoustic with a harmonica peppering the riff throughout. And what sounds like someone hitting the back of a folding chair as percussion, ha ha. I hope you dig the fastness of it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tfb5Ndqg9Y
 
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