Like drugs and lovers, ’60s psych pop groups were all about sharing songs. West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band delighted in celebrating the work of their peers with a variety of covers that appeared on Volume One. West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, the more tuneful and pop-oriented response to Andy Warhol’s and the VU’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable, dabbled in many genres: lo-fi garage sounds, baroque pop compositions, rollicking vocal harmonies, sunshine psych pop, and general sonic fuckin’ around. Their original songs were catchy, trippy, and fun, but it was when West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band covered a similar band, often yielding something better than the original version, that the group showcased a more unique, remarkable representation of the free decade of love and sharing.

Unfortunately, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band was short-lived, and the members went on to pursue some pretty uncool careers. I won’t name names, but one of ‘em joined Three Dog Night. Nice.

I have lots of fun comparing and contrasting covers with originals or other covers. Have fun with me, won’t you?

“She May Call You Up Tonight” was originally written by Michael Brown of The Left Banke. Though there’s not much of a discernible different, the polyphonic vocal harmony gives West Coast’s version a more expansive feel. Like with many covers of Bob Dylan songs, their version of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” is closer to the 13th Floor Elevators’ raspy ballad take on the song. West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band dusts the dirge off and gives it a new electric life.

Find West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band’s Volume One, from the reissue saviors themselves Sundazed, here and the 13th Floor Elevator’s Easter Everywhere here. The Left Banke’s There’s Gonna Be a Storm: Complete Recordings 1966-1969, which documents everything Michael Brown did with the Banke (and some things that he didn’t), is hard to find, but you can buy the album as an MP3 here.

MP3 :::
West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – She May Call You Up Tonight
The Left Banke – She May Call You Up Tonight
West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
13th Floor Elevators – Baby Blue

The Left Banke folded after chief song-slinger Michael Brown bounced to form Montage, partly due to the ever present “creative differences,” but primarily because of the Left Banke’s baffling inability to receive much recognition. And as Fortuna is a bitch, Montage didn’t take off either. Though “Walk Away Renee” gained some national attention in ‘67, the group’s small but fervent following was restricted to record store dorks, music majors, and serious longhairs. In 1994, Polygram released a retrospective collection There’s Gonna Be a Storm, featuring pretty much everything they ever recorded. Of course, that disc is now conveniently out of print (being a rare psych rock fan is a pain in the ass sometimes). If you feel like shelling out for a CD copy (not even vinyl) of questionable condition, there’s a few on eBay. Luckily, MP3 blogs like this one are here to correct these wrongs, bringing you the finest in stereophonic sound.

“Desiree” is aerodynamic. The bombastic chorus is beautiful but destructive, like the Alaskan Black Bear or Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill. Proceed with caution. “Desiree” is technically a Left Banke song, written by Brown and banged out by the rest of the band. However, it didn’t see the light of day until Montage’s eponymous record dropped in 1970, and later on the Storm compilation. Brown collects his alimony, for sure. You may notice that Brown’s arrangements sound very reminiscent of Caribou. Well, Caribou’s Andorra album, for all intents and purposes, is basically a fine reinterpretation of the Left Banke – a fair assessment considering that Andorra also features an expansive canticle titled “Desiree.” I can only assume this is an obvious nod to Brown and Company.

“Bartenders and Their Wives” is some Tolkien shit. I can hear Spanish guitar, clean distortion electric guitar, harpsicord, and autoharp. What all do you hear? Again, nothing but epic vocal harmonies, thick textures, highly mobile bass melodies, delicate composition, and a semi-bucolic musical milieu. Majestic and tectonic.

If you don’t know what’s up, and you want to know what’s up, the Left Banke is what’s up. And sweet sassy molassey, Amazon (who I’ve had always had good experiences with) has the Storm compilation available for download on the cheap. Yeah yeah, it’s not the same thing as a physical copy, but unless someone gets all ambitious and starts reprinting this disc (I’m looking at you, Light in the Attic) or releases a new collection of the Left Banke’s singles and 45s, this is the best, most affordable solution for your baroque psychedelic needs.

MP3 :::
The Left Banke – Bartenders and Their Wives
The Left Banke – Desiree

I’m still blown away every time I consider that this album, their one and only eponymous record, was recorded in 1967!

The United States of America was so far ahead of its time that it sounds futuristic even today. “The American Metaphysical Circus” provides a starting point for the marriage of psych pop with soaring melodic choruses, noise flourishes, and electronic structures adopted later by groups like Broadcast, Need New Body, early Stereolab, et al. Also make note of wonderfully drugged out lyrics: “and the price is right, the cost of one admission is your mind.” Word. “Heresy” is a better and more interesting outtake of “Coming Down” off the original release, and almost evokes a very distinct baroque flavor that, despite its major key tendencies, feels somewhat ominous. Hands down one of the most underrated artists of the ’60s.

MP3 :::
The United States of America – Heresy
The United States of America – The American Metaphysical Circus

Happy America Day…

After some heavy research, I figured out that this bootleg is called “The Scarecrow’s Dream” and features a number of songs that were not widely released or recognized, and all recorded during that vital, creative time between Piper and Secrets. Behold “Nightmare,” which later became “Cymbaline,” on Soundtrack From the Film More (the first song ever performed live with the Azimuth Coordinator). This sonic cathedral of a jam is very different than anything heard on their debut or post-Syd sophomore album. The quality isn’t the best, but considering that these songs were passed from person to person by analog tape only, and made it here in 2008 is still quite a feat.

This monumental spookfest is heeeaavvvyyyyy…

MP3 :::
Pink Floyd – Nightmare/Cymbaline