1968/1969: A Lot of Things

The formula to a better follow-up

The Beatles shouldn't be there, 1968.

Even though The Beatles weren't shaken up by the harsh reviews of their last album, their manager, Brian Epstein, was worried about the way the band was dealing with it in the studios. By moving back George Martin to the role of producer, the group still proceeded with the follow-up for Umbrella. However, problems with John's marriage and his relationship with Yoko Ono were turning the studio upside down.

"John needed to deal with his divorce, and Brian tried to help him and Cynthia, so we continued to record A Doll's House without them for like... two weeks. And then when Yoko got pregnant John had to be even more away. Anyway, I recall when we passed two days straight rehearsing 'Not Guilty' because Ringo couldn't keep a beat there. One of those days I went to visit Cynthia and little Julian, and during the way, I came up with 'Hey Jude', like, 'Hey Jules, don't make it bad...'" 

 -Paul McCartney

The tensions between Paul and George seemed to shrink, while Paul started to accept more of George's songs, and mainly because of John's absence in the studio. "Yeah, without John and his feelings about Yoko we felt... more free to advance with the recordings", Paul McCartney. And another thing ended up keeping John away from the band: Yoko Ono was pregnant with their future son, Roman. As the rumors on Yoko's pregnancy were confirmed, proceedings of divorce started for Yoko too.

The sessions for A Doll's House were mostly without Lennon, with Lennon appearing three weeks before the end to record his parts of the other songs. "Many of the things you listen in A Doll's House are extensive work by George, Paul, and of course... Ringo. After Yoko's pregnancy, John appeared mostly one or two days in each two weeks. He was very busy taking care of Yoko, and since Brian didn't let Yoko come into the studio, so he preferred to take care of her.", Geoff Emmerick.

For Revolution, there were recorded two versions, the spontaneous hard rock version, recorded in a day, and the bluesy version, recorded with a few more takes and cuts, entitled Revolution 1, later released as B-Side for Something. Portion of the takes were later reutilized on Lennon's collaboration with Yoko Ono, entitled Revolution 9. Hey Jude and Revolution were two songs with promotional shots for the upcoming album A Doll's House.

The band finished the sessions in November. After that, there wasn't very much to do, until Paul McCartney's idea to the next Beatle film: a documentary showing how the Beatles record their albums. The idea was approved by the members, and by Brian Epstein as well, but with doubts by George if that was going to work. The release of A Doll's House was set to January for the next year.

The Beatles – A Doll's House

The Beatles - A Doll's House (1969)

Genre: Hard rock, soft rock, folk-rock

Total: 43:59

Side A - 22:00

1. "Back in the U.S.S.R." (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:43

2. "Revolution" (Lennon-McCartney) - 3:21

3. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (George Harrison) - 4:45

4. "Helter, Skelter" (Lennon-McCartney) - 4:29

5. "Not Guilty" (Harrison) - 4:26

6. "Lady Madonna" (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:16

Side B - 21:59

7. "Piggies" (Harrison) - 2:04

8. "Rocky Raccoon" (Lennon-McCartney) - 3:33

9. "Julia" (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:54

10. "Long, Long, Long" (Harrison) - 3:04

11. "Good Night" (Lennon-McCartney) - 3:13

12. "Hey Jude" (Lennon-McCartney) - 7:11

A Doll's House is the tenth studio album by The Beatles, released on 31 January 1969 by Apple Records and produced by George Martin. This is the first album fully recorded at the A.R.S. (Apple Recording Studios). The album is remarked by its unusual tracklist, with more of George's participation (with four songs) and less John's features (absent due to personal problems, such as the divorce with his first wife, and Yoko Ono's pregnancy), contributing with two songs only. The cover art was painted by John Patrick Byrne.

Despite some of the lyrics were written in India (similar to the lyrics of Umbrella), the most was written back in England; while the tracklist was organized by genre. While the first side is mostly filled with heavy, psychedelic music, the second side was organized with folk, pop ballads, and a grand finale with Hey Jude (according to Paul McCartney). The album also shows George's de facto take-off as a prominent writer in later Beatles' albums.

The album was well-received by critics in general, regarding it as a 'comeback album' from The Beatles after the disastrous Umbrella. The promotional single, Hey Jude, and its B-side, Revolution, were two consecutive hits by the band. A Doll's House topped Billboard Top LP's and UK Album Charts, alternating with Bee Gees' The City on the Black Sea each week. It is considered the first of a transitional era comprehending Abbey Road and Get Back.

By going insane, it can give you a great album

Pink Floyd charmingly posing for a promotional photo, 1968.

With the final show in Belgium, Pink Floyd went back to the United Kingdom playing part of the new stuff the band has composed and booking new sessions to the next album. Pieces such as Embryo and Biding My Time were received as potential singles to their upcoming record, though both weren't released. The last live appearance of the band that year was on 2 December, when the band presented the songs, along with a short set of tracks of Keep Smiling People in BBC.

After a brief vacation period between December 1968 and January 1969, Pink Floyd gathered at the Pye Studios looking for their third album. The initial idea was to record the songs written for Barbet Schroeder's upcoming film More, but the commissioned project was canceled, while Pink Floyd kept the songs to record. A few weeks before the vacation, Pink Floyd recorded Point Me at the Sky and Biding My Time, while Embryo was shelved to the next sessions.

"During that time we started to perform a suite called The Man and The Journey but that project was a bit too much for us... *laughs*; by scrapping that we preferred to do a standard Pink Floyd album at the time. We liked to experiment a lot of things in those years, but I believe that Are Going Insane and Basking in the Sunshine [of a Bygone Afternoon] was our peak on experimentalism."

 -Roger Waters, 1998

The Man and The Journey was a short tour between February and April 1969 by Pink Floyd in which included early songs and unreleased material comprehending from "Are Going Insane!" and Basking in the Sunshine of a Bygone Afternoon. In the first two months of tour, Pink Floyd performed the regular The Man and The Journey song set before rearranging to songs from previous albums and promoting "Are Going Insane!".

Poster promoting The Man and The Journey tour.

Pink Floyd returned to Pye Studios between February and March of 1969. The band decided to hire Brian Humphries to engineer the album, while they ditched Norman Smith this time (though he still retained an Executive Producer credit). The name of the album, "Are Going Insane!", appeared after a reaction of Humphries after Roger's idea on the first side of the album.

"Rog was telling us the idea of extending 'Embryo' by adding an unfinished song, which became 'Gabriel's Coming', and two instrumentals, turning it into a extended piece developed around the second coming of a prophet. Then Brian, our engineer, reacted to this like, 'Oh my God, Are You Going Insane?', and we took that as a joke, but eventually it became the title of the album."

-David Gilmour, 1971

The band worked on Second Coming along with other jams recorded during the week, such as More Blues and "We're Going Insane!". During the last week, the band recorded a new song in one take, which was included on the album at the last minute. After the sessions, the band started the UK leg of the tour.

In April, Blackhill Records released Point Me at the Sky as a promotional single, backed by the BBC Version of the song. Reminiscent of psychedelic pop-esque tracks, the success of Point Me at the Sky surprised the band who saw the single reach number 3 in the United Kingdom and achieving success in the rest of Europe. And though the song was successful, the band wasn't afforded to perform it, being discarded later in early 1970.

"Rick and Nick were the ones who sympathized the song, and even they were surprised by the success of something we labeled... outdated. We didn't like to make that sort of song, y'know, we preferred to make something on our own. And "Point Me at the Sky" kind of annoyed afterwards. So then we dropped."

-Roger Waters, 1986

Labeled as one of the most progressive records at the time, "Are Going Insane!" impressed the chairmen of Blackhill Enterprises who decided to promote the album in magazines and radio shows. Ibiza Bar was the second song being released as single, backed by The Nile, becoming another hit by Pink Floyd, which explored the growing heavy metal scene.

Pink Floyd – Are Going Insane!

Pink Floyd - Are Going Insane! (1969)

Genre: Progressive rock, space rock, experimental, blues rock
Total: 43:56

Side A - 23:55
1. "Second Coming" (Roger Waters, Richard Wright, David Gilmour, Nick Mason) - 16:56
a. "Seabirds" - 4:20
b. "Gabriel's Coming" - 4:35
c. "Turnin' Into Wine" - 3:18
d. "Embryo" - 4:43
2. "Crying Song" (Waters) - 3:33
3. "The Nile" (Waters, Gilmour) - 3:26

Side B - 20:01
4. "More Blues" (Waters, Wright, Gilmour, Mason) - 2:12
5. "Ibiza Bar" (Waters, Gilmour) - 3:19
6. "We're Going Insane!" (Waters, Wright, Gilmour, Mason) - 5:37
7. "Biding My Time" (Waters) - 5:18
8. "Point Me at the Sky" (Waters, Gilmour) - 3:35

Are Going Insane! (or alternatively titled "Pink Floyd Are Going Insane!") is the third studio album by the British rock band Pink Floyd. The album was produced by the band, with the help of engineer Brian Humphries, and released in the United Kingdom on 13 June 1969 by Blackhill Records. It is considered as the first reasonably successful record by the band. Portion of the songs were developed during The Man and The Journey tour before the group discard the idea of recording an album around the concept of the tour. Though, a live version of The Man and The Journey would be released in the boxset of The Early Years.

The album was recorded intermittently in four months, November-December 1968 and February-March 1969, with many tracks remaining unfinished; later reutilized on the next album, Basking in the Sunshine of a Bygone Afternoon. The two tracks released as singles, Point Me at the Sky and Ibiza Bar, reached number 3 and 12 in Britain, respectively. Are Going Insane! reached number two in UK Album Charts (losing to Bee Gees' The City on the Black Sea), and reaching number 76 in US Billboard.

When it was released in the United States, the album caused controversy among the most religious people, since the main track deal with an eventual return of Jesus. In the initial presses, Crying Song was included as a section of Second Coming, fixed in later re-releases. Also, the record is most noticed because of the distinct heavy-oriented sound.

"I mean, I am proud of every record I did with the Pink Floyd [Sound], but 'Are Going Insane!' is probably the first one that I was really proud of."

-David Gilmour, 2003

An interview with David Bowie - Press Conference - April 8th, 1969

David Bowie, 1969. Stop smoking David, please.

1. So David, let's talk about your latest album, Cygnet Committee, did you have any concept in mind when writing and recording it?

"Not initially, not initially. I mean, as the time passed by, I noticed how the lyrics connected with each other somehow, so I reorganized the entire thing. It's not that evident though. It's like a hidden concept or something. And I like this."

2. And, what's next? Do you already have your next record in the works?

"I can say a yes, it is. I have a couple of new songs written, which by the way, one of them is recorded, but I plan to use them in that film that my manager [Ken Pitt] was planning to do. We also plan to include some of the songs of Rubber Band and Cygnet Committee as well."

5. In your latest album, it is safe to assume you didn't play all the instrumentation, correct? Who was your backing band?

"Sure, I just played the acoustic guitar and some of the keyboards, but if it wasn't for my friend Marc [Bolan] recommending Tony [Visconti] for me, I was screwed. I just kept Willie Wilson for drums, but Tony helped choosing some other people, that I'm grateful for their work of course, and helped recording some of the bass lines."

8. Mr. Bowie, what influences you'd say that are on Cygnet Committee? And have you listened to your contemporary colleagues recently?

"A bit unsure to say, but some of my personal experiences with buddhism, art and acting helped me a lot. *laughs*; I believe that my misfortunes before and during Rubber Band also shaped the sound of the record. Currently I'm listening to Bee Gees' newest album, I personally think that it is my favorite of this year. The boys of  Pink Floyd [Sound] also have showed me their new album, it is wonderful too."

9. Can you tell us how it is?

"Hey, come on, this would be a low kick! I believe that their sound developed a lot from what it was two years ago. It's a good album, no disappointments." 

14. What can you say about what you've recorded for the next album thus far?

"As I said, I recorded one song so far. But I really didn't like the finished song. Probably I'll record it again, but, like I said, there are a few more songs to record."

16. Do you have plans to collaborate with another artist?

"Well, why not? My doors are always open to an opportunity, it's always interesting to have a guest at the studios. Not if he was from your former band, of course! *laughs*"

17. David, how do you feel about your former bandmate, Syd Barrett's, solo album, and how would you compare it to yours?

"I can't compare, there are many different things from my work to Syd's work. I mean, our lyrics are a bit similar, I can say that mine are supposedly more whimsical, but talking about the style, Syd's work is very, very experimental, sometimes flirting with avant-garde, while mine seems a bit... more lush, I'd say. But I think Syd did a good work there, he's a nice person, and we are good with each other since the break-up."

19. David, do you care to comment about your sexuality?

"Well, why do you ask this? Do you think I'm a sort of alien who came from space to save Earth or something like this? I suppose that I have no problem to tell that someone is beautiful, independent if they're male or female."

20. So, you're a key person on Blackhill Enterprises, right? Who do you talk the most there?

"Yeah... it's kind of honorary title, though. Inside Blackhill, I talk with Marc Bolan, Peter Jenner, the boys from Pink Floyd [Sound], even with Syd, when we have a little time. Most of the people there are nice people."

21. So Mr. Bowie, what are your plans for 1969, and what direction will your music go?

"Hmm... good question. I plan to release my film, likely record another album, read a lot more... There are countless things. I have to see what God reserved to me, really."

Reaching success can cause you problems

The Bee Gees in 1968. (L-R: Vince Melouney, Colin Petersen, Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robin Gibb)

The sessions for The City on the Black Sea were a hard period for The Bee Gees. After recording some more songs with the band, the guitarist Vince Melouney left Bee Gees and joined Fanny Adams after a clash between him and his former band. Nevertheless, the group proceeded to record the album, with Maurice assuming the lead guitarist role left by Vince. In August, the band focused on the orchestral tracks and arrangements, leaving many other songs to be recorded in the next few months.

Another issue during the recording sessions was the argument between Barry and Robin over the release of the next single, which while Robin wanted Lamplight, Barry wanted First of May, leading to Robin's departure for a few days before the end of the sessions. At the time, Maurice worked on adding instrumentation to the remaining songs. Robin returned to record a few more vocals to his tracks.

"The more the things were going, the more we were rolled. The only people inside the studio all the time were Colin, Barry, Mr. Stigwood and I, but mostly we were finishing some songs, doing arrangements and adding new overdubs, y'know? Even when Robin came back he and Barry were bitter with each other. Yeah, hard times indeed."

-Maurice Gibb, 1997

Despite the problems, the sales for First of May has shown that Bee Gees turned themselves into a rising power in music. The single was released and backed by Marley Purt Drive, hitting in the United States, and building a fanbase in Latin American countries (mainly in Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia). The song reached number 6 in Britain, while reached number 18 in US Cash Box.

The City on the Black Sea received a lot of space in media in general, with the RSO spending a great amount of money to promote the album. Entitled the "first opera inside an album by a rock band" (although The Pretty Fairies' S.F. Sorrow was released earlier), Bee Gees' newest album was receiving a big hype and curiosity towards their newest record.

Bee Gees – The City on the Black Sea

Bee Gees - The City on the Black Sea (1969)
Genre: Baroque pop, progressive pop, rock opera, art rock
Total: 71:15
All songs written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb.

Act I - 36:19
Side A - 19:03
1. "Seven Seas Symphony" - 4:09
2. "Odessa (City on the Black Sea)" - 7:33
3. "In the Summer of His Years" - 3:05
4. "You'll Never See My Face Again" - 4:16

Side B - 17:16
5. "I Have Decided to Join the Airforce" - 2:06
6. "Black Diamond" - 3:27
7. "Never Say Never Again" - 3:28
8. "Give Your Best" - 3:26
9. "Sinking Ships" - 2:21
10. "Down to Earth" - 2:28

Act II - 34:50
Side C - 17:23
11. "With All Nations (International Anthem)" - 1:46
12. "Kilburn Towers" - 2:14
13. "Melody Fair" - 3:48
14. "Suddenly" - 2:29
15. "I Laugh in Your Face" - 4:09
16. "I Started a Joke" - 3:03

Side D - 17:27
17. "Sound of Love" - 3:27
18. "When the Swallows Fly" - 2:22
19. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" - 2:55
20. "Lamplight (Keep on Burning)" - 4:47
21. "First of May" - 2:50
22. "The City on the Black Sea (Reprise)" - 1:36

The City on the Black Sea is the sixth studio album by British rock band Bee Gees. It was produced by Maurice Gibb and Robert Stigwood and credited to the Bee Gees. It was released on 30 March 1969 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and by Atco Records in the United States. It is considered by many as Bee Gees' magnum opus, and part of the first wave of conceptual albums along with S.F. Sorrow (by The Pretty Things) and Tommy (by The Who). The album also remains controversial by the hard times which Bee Gees was going through, with the departure of Vince Melouney and the temporary departure of Robin Gibb due to disagreements.

The story of the album is about a survivor of an incident in the fictional British ship Veronica, who returns to his homeland, only to find his wife with another man. After the two break up, the protagonist decides to join the air force, meanwhile, his ex-wife struggles to live without her former partner. Later, when she hears of the protagonist's return, she sends him messages and the two reconcile, returning to live with each other once more.

It remains as Bee Gees' best-selling album (not counting Saturday Night Fever), and a fundamental record to the art music scene. Initially, with a mixed reception, the album later received great appraise by the music press. With the release, the fans reacted with an overwhelmingly positive response, calling it one of the greatest albums of the sixties. The album knocked Cream's Goodbye and topped UK Album Charts for twelve weeks, disputing with The Beatles' A Doll's House. In Billboard, the album reached number 5, a new record broken by the band. At the end of the year, it was labeled as one of the Titans of 1969.

The record remains influential to the indie scene, mainly in the chamber and progressive pop scene. George Harrison later commented with Maurice Gibb the influence of the record on his solo records, praising the album. David Bowie said that The City on the Black Sea was an important album by helping him to get inspirations to Space Oddity and The Man Who Sold the World. In later years, the record would receive a theatrical adaptation. The album is ranked number 33 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

"Regarding The City on the Black Sea, what these guys [Bee Gees] did was a masterpiece, indeed. Reminds me a lot of those times of Rubber Soul and Sgt. Peppers, but they assembled a way to organize the songs into a story, in a beautiful way. And sure, the music did not only influence me, but Phil [Spector]. It was something near the Wall of Sound, Phil and I talked with Maurice one day about this."

-George Harrison, "I, Me, Mine"

 "I think that probably the saddest thing to me is that I never will do the same thing that The City on the Black Sea is. Sure it was hard times, but did compensate when everybody liked the final work. Robin and I reconcilied, after all."

-Barry Gibb, 2007

Sources:

The Beatles - A Doll's House

• The Beatles - White Album [Deluxe Version]
• The Beatles - 1

Pink Floyd - Are Going Insane!

• Pink Floyd - More
• Pink Floyd - The Early Years

Bee Gees - The City on the Black Sea

• Bee Gees - Odessa
• Bee Gees - Idea

1968: Brand New Beginnings

Take a look inside

Greasy Asylum's debut album was expected to be released on December 1968. The lead single, a cover version of The Beatles' With a Little Help from My Friends, reached the top of UK Singles Charts and peaked number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song featured the then-Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page and Procol Harum drummer B.J. Wilson. Backed by Marjorine, it was the first biggest hit of Greasy Asylum, while the upcoming album was being hyped as a potential groundbreaking record.

Greasy Asylum – Look Inside the Greasy Asylum

Greasy Asylum - Look Inside the Greasy Asylum (1968)¹

Genre: Psychedelic rock, blues rock, art rock

Total: 38:20

Side A - 18:51

1. "With a Little Help from My Friends" (John Lennon-Paul McCartney) - 5:12

2. "Indian Style" (Leon Russell, Marc Benno) - 3:46

3. "Change In Louise" (Joe Cocker, Chris Stainton) - 3:22

4. "Death of the Flowers" (Russell, Benno, Greg Dempsey) - 3:15

5. "Sandpaper Cadillac" (Cocker, Stainton) - 3:16

Side B - 19:29

6. "Medley: N.Y. Op./Land of Dog/Henri the Clown" (Cocker, Stainton, Russell, Benno) - 6:07

7. "Marjorine" (Cocker, Stainton) - 2:38

8. "Soul Food" (Bill Boatman, James Markham) - 2:10

9. "Something's Coming" (Cocker, Stainton) - 2:15

10. "The New Age of Lily" (Cocker, Stainton) - 2:15

11. "Thieves in the Choir" (Russell, Benno, Jerry Riopelle) - 4:04

The debut album of Greasy Asylum was produced by Denny Cordell, being released on 17 December 1968. Look Inside the Greasy Asylum was the fifth release of the Apple Records label, and one of the two records released by the group under that label. The album is full of original numbers by the members of the group, except for two cover numbers, With a Little Help from My Friends (by Joe Cocker), and Soul Food (by Leon Russell). It is the best-selling record of the group, followed by Mad Dogs & Englishmen and I Can Stand a Little Rain.

The Greasy Asylum's version of With a Little Help from My Friends was so successful that it became a classic song in their setlist, being included on Joe Cocker's solo tours later. The album peaked in number 10 on UK Album Charts and number 35 on Billboard. Besides the lead single, Death of Flowers was released as single in early 1970 but failed to chart. The album is commonly regarded as very influential in Blues, Soul music, and R&B. Jimi Hendrix listed Look Inside the Greasy Asylum as one of his all-time favorite records.

"I became interested on their sound when they released that single, and then I bought the record and the stuff inside was... mindblowing. [...] I met Joe Cocker at the Woodstock Festival, and we chatted a bit about his career, his group, and he was such a great person..."

-Jimi Hendrix, 1990 

Apples and Umbrellas

Apple Studios, at 3 Saville Row.

Before the trip for India, the band reunited with their manager to persuade him to establish a new company to give them more creative freedom. By reaching an agreement, Brian and The Beatles established the Apple/NEMS, and along with it, the new recording label, Apple Records. The company had a contract with EMI to the distribution of the songs and albums.

"The director's board always had a cordial relationship with Brian and Beatles. The establishment of Apple/NEMS would've been a big loss for EMI and Capitol if they let them just go, but offer the distribution of albums and singles was a big move by the label."

-Bob Spitz, The Beatles: The Biography

The Beatles recording 'Umbrella', 1968.

Following the return from Maharishi's course in India, and with a big quota of new material written, The Beatles gathered at the EMI Studios to once record a new album. Though arguments inside the group were increasing, mainly between George and Paul, Brian Epstein always had to appease the situation.

"George was emerging on his songwriting period, and wanted more space from Paul and John, and both were complaining about it. After the release of Umbrella, I reunited with the boys to determine the issue with the track listings. We've agreed that George could fit four tracks on the albums, three only if Ringo had something in his hands."

-Brian Epstein, 1972.

"Actually was funny in terms. During A Doll's House, John and Paul called me frequently and to try to give me their songs to suppress George's space. But Brian himself discovered that quite quickly and warned both about the problems that they would have later." 

 -Ringo Starr, 2015.

In the same period, John Lennon's relationship with avant-garde artist Yoko Ono was flourishing. In May 1968, both recorded the Two Virgins album in one night. John's relation with Yoko would deteriorate his relationship with Cynthia. One time, John brought Yoko into a recording session, but she was dismissed after Brian wanting John to follow the policy regarding that wives and girlfriends couldn't attend the sessions. Still, Yoko was somewhere at the studios.

The band recorded Umbrella in a three-month-run. One of the songs, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da involved several days of work, which annoyed George and John over Paul's perfectionism for the track, who continuously would work on the track. Both expressed vocally their dislike of the song, with George referencing it later on Savoy Truffle.

Despite Umbrella being finished, The Beatles still proceeded to go to the studios to record the remaining songs for the follow-up of the album. The album was announced in late July, to be released in September of the same year. The band released Savoy Truffle backed with Ringo's rendition of Johnny Mercer's Dream. The song's performance on charts was disappointing, peaking number 4 in Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 in UK Singles Charts.

The Beatles – Umbrella

The Beatles - Umbrella (1968)²

Genre: Rock, pop, folk-rock, blues, lo-fi

Total: 43:42

Side A - 21:08

1. "Glass Onion" (John Lennon-Paul McCartney) - 2:17

2. "O-Bla-Di, O-Bla-Da" (Lennon-McCartney) - 3:08

3. "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" (Lennon-McCartney) - 3:14

4. "Birthday" (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:42

5. "Don't Pass Me By" (Richard Starkey) - 4:45

6. "Why Don't We Do It On the Road?" (Lennon-McCartney) - 1:41

7. "Only a Northern Song" (Harrison) - 3:24

Side B - 22:34

8. "Martha My Dear" (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:28

9. "I'm So Tired" (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:03

10. "Savoy Truffle" (George Harrison) - 2:54

11. "Yer Blues" (Lennon-McCartney) - 4:01

12. "Mother Nature's Son" (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:48

13. "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey" (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:24

14. "Sexy Sadie" (Lennon-McCartney) - 3:15

15. "Honey Pie" (Lennon-McCartney) - 2:41

Umbrella, the ninth studio album by The Beatles, was released on 21 September 1968, produced by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, but credited to The Beatles. The name of the album was introduced by McCartney while the band was in India when he conceived a new record with the songs composed during that period. The album was recorded at the EMI Studios and at the recently inaugurated Apple Recording Studios. The sessions of the album were remarked by growing tensions by the members of the group.

Most of the lyrics of the album were written in India, except for Only a Northern Song, Birthday, Don't Pass Me By and Savoy Truffle. For the sessions of the album, The Beatles wished for full autonomy on production, while they kept George Martin as arranger for the record. With the differences growing between the Fab Four, particularly due to Paul's perfectionism, The Beatles avoided being involved in producing their albums until the 70's.

The performance of the album was disappointing to the band and bad for Apple Records' early reputation. Umbrella topped in the United Kingdom but peaked number 4 on Billboard. After the repercussion, manager Brian Epstein decided to bring George Martin back to the producer role, leaving The Beatles to record the songs. In later years, The Beatles expressed dissatisfaction with the record. Yer Blues was later released as John's solo single, being played at The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus. The album was target from Rolling Stone's controversial article in the following week: The Fall of the Giants. Both the releases of Wild Honey and Umbrella were dubbed as the truce between The Beatles and The Beach Boys.

"You can see by my face in the cover what I feel about the album. I mean, [Umbrella] has very few bad songs in general, but it was stressful and tiresome to produce, and we ended up unsatisfied with the final result. It was a goddamn inconsistent record, a result of all the sessions and our year. Probably the next thing to an 'annus horribilis' to all of us."

-John Lennon, 1976

Apples and oranges, an old woman with a casket...

Syd Barrett in April 1968, in front of a Hendrix poster.

Meanwhile, the former Rubber Band guitarist Syd Barrett was recording his first solo effort after two break-ups with his former bands. He and his backing band, formed by Vincent Crane, fellow drummer Steve Took, and The Deviants' bass player Paul Rudolph, recorded the album throughout February and April, being assisted by Norman Smith, who was in charge of produce the album. In January, Syd recorded Apples and Oranges, Scream Thy Last Scream and Jugband Blues. To Interstellar Overdrive, recorded previously during the sessions of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, it was added overdubs to the song.

During the recording sessions, Syd decided to step back from drugs, realizing that it was influencing his decisions in the music business. His sister, Rosemary, helped him during the rehabilitation period while both lived in the same apartment in London. In the period, Syd decided to call the album: Rooftop in a Thunderstorm Row Missing the Point; a reference to a lost song from Pink Floyd times. After the sessions, teamed with Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Syd went to another tour in the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands.

"I remember using drugs a lot between '66 and '67, L.S.D., sugar cubes, but then I realized that it was harming me and people around me, and I needed to stop for a little while. I still smoked pot until these days occasionally, but not at the same levels of what I was doing at that time."

-Syd Barrett, 2004 

Blackhill Records released Apples and Oranges, backed by Pow R. Toc. H., as a promotional single for Syd's upcoming album. The song peaked in number 3 in Britain but fell out quickly, and reached number 25 on Billboard Hot 100, surprisingly hitting in the Western Coast of the United States. Despite being released without Syd's consent, he expressed happiness by the success of his debut single.

Syd Barrett – Rooftop in a Thunderstorm Row Missing the Point

Syd Barrett - Rooftop in a Thunderstorm Row Missing the Point (1968)³

Genre: Psychedelic rock, space rock, acid rock, psychedelic folk

Total: 43:35

All songs written by Syd Barrett, except when noted.

Side A - 21:39

1. "Vegetable Man" - 2:31

2. "Apples and Oranges" - 3:04

3. "In the Beechwoods" - 4:43

4. "Pow R. Toc H." (Syd Barrett, Vincent Crane, Paul Rudolph, Steve Took) - 4:26

5. "Scarecrow" - 2:11

6. "Scream Thy Last Scream" - 4:42

Side B - 21:56

7. "Interstellar Overdrive" (Barrett, Crane, Rudolph, Took) - 16:40

8. "The Gnome" - 2:13

9. "Jugband Blues" - 3:02

Rooftop in a Thunderstorm Row Missing the Point is the debut studio album by the British singer-songwriter Syd Barrett. The sessions for the album started immediately after the break-up of his band, Rubber Band. The album was released on 19 August 1968 by the Blackhill Records in the United Kingdom and distributed by Capitol in the United States. It was produced by Norman Smith, who produced Rubber Band's final album and was backed by The Deviants' Paul Rudolph, former Rubber Band drummer and friend Steve Took, and Crazy World of Arthur Brown keyboardist Vincent Crane.

Syd's album was successful at the time by reaching number 8 on UK Albums Charts and number 130 on Billboard, with its performance better than Bowie's debut album. The Gnome was released after Apples and Oranges, and it was backed by Pink Theme. The single became very popular among the youth, but eventually, it was noticed ambiguous interpretations of the song, such as allegories to psychedelic drugs to an ordinary fairy tale to children. Syd later commented that the song was based on J. R. R. Tolkien's fiction.

Despite the album being released in August 1968, Syd first played it entirely at the Hyde Park Festival in June, backed by his studio band, and featuring Pink Floyd members Richard Wright and David Gilmour. Besides the songs from Rooftop, Syd also played a set of songs from the Rubber Band years. He also toured in Europe and North America for his first time.

The record became a fan favorite in the following years, with most of the songs from the album being part of the regular set. The album is regarded as highly influential in the Neo-psychedelic and Indie scenes. Along with "Clowns and Jugglers" and the 1972 album, Syd cited the album as his favorite record by its effervescing authenticity and creative freedom at the time.

"The more I was becoming a successful musician, the stress of recording/releasing/touring was becoming intense. That thing started to happen when I was recording Clowns and Jugglers, when the label put me a deadline. That's why I did Have You Got It Yet?, y'know, the pressure that [Peter] Jenner was putting upon me was exhausting! And that's why I like my debut album, because I had time and creative freedom to do what I wanted."

-Syd Barrett, 1979

Flowers to a tyrannosaurus...

Marc Bolan, 1968.

As for Marc, a few things were already set to him to make a debut album. Quicker than Syd and Bowie, Marc grabbed The Flowers' Rick Wills and Willie Wilson founding Tyrannosaurus Rex, with Marc Bolan as the frontman. Tyrannosaurus Rex was, in fact, somewhat of a solo project of Bolan, since he was the major contributing force to the group while Rick and Wilson were just sort-of the backing band for him.

Blackhill hired Tony Visconti, who was appointed by Marc Bolan to produce his debut album under Tyrannosaurus Rex. For Bolan, the album's music represented a rejection of the electric guitar-driven music he'd been playing with his previous band, Rubber Band, and a protest to the suggestions that Bowie and Syd had given back during the sessions.

Throughout the first semester of 1968, Bolan, Wills and Wilson were confined in the Advision Studios recording two albums at once. "I had actually a lot of short songs. The longer ones I generally saved for the end, but most of them were in the two-minute range.", Marc Bolan. The first album was Beyond the Risin' Sun or the Beginning of Doves, while the second one was My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows. The former was far more concentrated on the catalogue back from the pre-Rubber Band days, while the latter was pushed through new content and far more into the psychedelic folk scene.

"Beyond the Rising Sun [or the Beginning of Doves] was not a bad album, but it sure sounded like an audition or a demo album, haha! It clearly is a taste of what would come years after that 'mystical phase'."

 -Marc Bolan

Tyrannosaurus Rex - Beyond the Rising Sun or the Beginning of Doves

Tyrannosaurus Rex - Beyond the Rising Sun or the Beginning of Doves (1968)

Genres: Psychedelic folk, psychedelic rock, blues rock, mod

Total: 30:07

All songs written by Marc Bolan.

Side A - 14:29

1. "Jasper C. Debussy" - 2:11

2. "Observations" - 2:14

3. "Misty Mist" - 1:56

4. "Jasmine Forty-Nine" - 2:27

5. "Rings of Fortune" - 2:33

6. "Black and White Incident" - 1:46

7. "Cat Black" - 1:22

Side B - 15:38

8. "Beyond the Risin' Sun" - 2:18

9. "Lunacy's Back" - 2:17

10. "Pictures of Purple People" - 2:22

11. "One Inch Rock" - 2:16

12. "The Beginning of Doves" - 1:47

13. "Sally was an Angel" - 2:43

14. "Charlie" - 1:55

Beyond the Rising Sun or the Beginning of Doves is the debut album of the British rock band Tyrannosaurus Rex. It is the first album released by Marc Bolan after his departure from Rubber Band, and the first album from a member after Rubber Band. The album was produced by Tony Visconti and released on 13 April 1968 under Blackhill Records. The album merges some of Marc's older works involving rock and roll and mod influences and mystical psychedelia.

Marc's album was midly received by the press at the time, with mixed views, reaching number 24 at UK Album Charts and failing to chart in the US. Marc preferred to not release a single, even though Jasper C. Debussy was released, reaching number 30 on the UK Single Charts. The album cover was made by reusing a poster from earlier gigs with Tyrannosaurus Rex.

To the mainstream public at the time, the album passed virtually unnoticed, but it was warmly received by more Underground fans. In 1972, it was re-released separately, along with the double album with My People Were Fair and Prophets, Seers & Sages, reaching number 15 on the United Kingdom. The rock and roll influence, that would later return on Unicorn and future T. Rex records would be absent for the next two albums.

Notes:
[1] All songs are sourced from Joe Cocker's With a Little Help from My Friends and Leon Russell & Marc Benno's Look Inside the Asylum Choir.

[2] All songs are sourced from The Beatles' White Album, except for Only a Northern Song, from the Yellow Submarine soundtrack.

[3] All songs are sourced from Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, A Saucerful of Secrets, London '66-'67, and The Early Years (1965-1972).

[4] Tyrannosaurus Rex's debut album is exactly the same, except that Mustang Ford was swapped with Debora.

Author's addendum:
1) So basically, the Greasy Asylum have two frontmen, Joe Cocker and Leon Russell. Both represent the group on interviews, and on stage, Cocker and Russell are the only two voices singing beside the background singers... by now. Yeah, Greasy Asylum is rising quickly to the fame.

1968: Records and Festivals

More beautiful than a dustbin

Soft Machine performing at the Ce Soir On Danse, 1968.

David Bowie during a photo session.

Despite not performing in Britain for a while, this was an opportunity to Soft Machine as the opening act for Jimi Hendrix Experience to promote the band, which was receiving attention in Europe. During the break of the tour, the Soft Machine booked sessions throughout April 1968 at the Record Plant in New York to record their first full-length album. The band was helped by Chas Chandler, in charge of production, and Brian Hopper, who was assistant producer and arranger.

At the same time, David Bowie was also recording his debut solo album in the same place in which the band was recording their album. Bowie was finishing a portion of his record since he was there since February 1968, while the band just started to re-record demos which were done during the sessions of Shooting at the Moon and record new stuff which was played during the tour in the US.

"So we were chatting at the studio when Kevin saw that bowl-haired, skinny picture walking around the studio, and that was when we surprisingly met Bowie, who was also recording his album there. We actually hadn't that kind of friendship until that moment, he looked very shy, but excited to meet us, and I can't say that I didn't feel the same for him. *laughs*"

-Robert Wyatt, 2006

"Me and the folks from Soft Machine almost went bankrupt at that time *laughs*. We hanged out almost every day in NY, it was a fun moment until I had to return to London to finish some stuff for my album. It was during the sessions of Cygnet Committee when I developed Lover to the Dawn, and part of the concept of the album. It was a hidden story inside the album, virtually, which came at the last moment."

-David Bowie, 2001

The Soft Machine recorded the album in one month. The title track, Hope for Happiness, along with the Side B was recorded in one take, while Why Are We Sleeping? received overdubs, such as the backing vocals in the chorus. After the sessions, the band left the mixing part with Chas Chandler and Brian Hopper, mixed at the Olympic Studios.

Hope for Happiness was announced by Blackhill Records and quite promoted in magazines and newspapers. A Certain Kind was released as the promotional single for the album, backed by Priscilla. The single became a hit in the United Kingdom and France, topping in the French Single Charts while it peaked in number 6 in Britain. In 2017, singer-songwriter Weyes Blood would release a cover version of the song.

"It was not our best, but it was a satisfying work, though. It's quite strange to see the evolution from that extended play to our debut album, we really looked to ourselves as professionals."

 -Daevid Allen, 2005

As for David Bowie, he still proceeded to record the album back in London with producer Tony Visconti, as suggested by Marc Bolan. Lover to the Dawn was a sort-of whimsical song besides the others, a trigger into Bowie's mind to shift his thoughts towards the album. Bowie worked on the track for one week, recording sixteen takes. The new name of the album, Cygnet Committee, was related to the track, to the revolutionaries and the committee which was formed afterward.

The album was announced with certain anticipation as Cygnet Committee. In the Heat of the Morning was the lead single, receiving good reviews in general, which appointed several similarities with the Bee Gees work. The single was backed by a version of Life is a Circus, by Roger Bunn. In the Heat of the Morning peaked in number 12 in Britain, while it failed to chart in the US, and peaked in number 46 in West Germany.

Soft Machine – Hope for Happiness

Soft Machine - Hope for Happiness (1968)

Genre: Canterbury scene, psychedelic jazz, acid rock, freakbeat

Total: 41:59

Side A - 23:39

1. "Box 25/4 Lid" (Mike Ratledge, Hugh Hopper) - 0:49

2. "Hope for Happiness" (Kevin Ayers, Ratledge, Brian Hopper) - 8:49

3. "You Don't Remember" (Daevid Allen, Robert Wyatt) - 3:42

4. "I'd Rather Be With You" (Ayers) - 3:38

5. "She's Gone" (Ayers) - 2:28

6. "A Certain Kind" (H. Hopper) - 4:13

Side B - 18:20

7. "Save Yourself" (Wyatt) - 2:26

8. "Priscilla" (Ayers, Ratledge, Wyatt, Allen) - 1:03

9. "Lullabye Letter" (Ayers) - 4:32

10. "We Did It Again" (Ayers) - 3:46

11. "Plus Belle qu'une Poubelle" (Ayers) - 1:03

12. "Why Are We Sleeping?" (Ayers, Ratledge, Wyatt, Allen) - 5:30

Hope for Happiness is the debut, full-length studio album by the Canterbury scene band Soft Machine. The record was recorded in April 1968 at the Record Plant Studios in New York, produced by Chas Chandler and Brian Hopper, and released by Blackhill Records in the United Kingdom on 29 June 1968, and by CBS in the United States on 01 August 1968. The album was recorded during the "period-on-exile" by the band since lead guitarist Daevid Allen couldn't enter the United Kingdom for a year.

Soft Machine's record is characterized by long and extended jams (such as the title track and the entire second side), pop, love, and beat-oriented songs, and its whimsical lyrics, mostly by Kevin Ayers, who co-wrote 8 out of 12 tracks. A Certain Kind, the lead single, was a hit in the United Kingdom, France, and parts of Europe, while the second single, Why Are We Sleeping?, was more successful in the United States, but essentially in the West Coast, in San Francisco.

The album was commercially successful, reaching number 4 in the UK Album Charts, topping in France, and peaking in number 79 in the Billboard Top LP's & Records. In later years, Hope for Happiness gained a status as a cult favorite. It is regularly reissued with the Shooting at the Moon EP.

David Bowie – Cygnet Committee

David Bowie - Cygnet Committee (1968)

Genre: Progressive folk, baroque pop, psychedelic rock

Total: 39:45

Side A - 20:52

1. "Uncle Arthur" - 2:07

2. "She's Got Medals" - 2:23

3. "Come and Buy My Toys" - 2:07

4. "Maid of Bond Street" - 1:43

5. "We Are Hungry Men" - 2:59

6. "Lover to the Dawn" - 9:33

Side B - 18:53

7. "Let Me Sleep Beside You" - 3:20

8. "The Gospel According to Tony Day" - 2:46

9. "Little Bombardier" - 3:23

10. "Did You Ever Have a Dream" - 2:05

11. "Karma Man" - 3:03

12. "In the Heat of the Morning" - 4:16

Cygnet Committee is the debut solo album by David Bowie after the break-up of Rubber Band. The album was recorded at the Record Plant Studios in New York between February and April 1968, and at the Trident Studios in London between May and June. The album was produced by Mike Vernon and Tony Visconti and released by Blackhill Records on 27 September 1968 in Britain and on 29 September in the US. The album, along with Space Oddity, is considered a part of the transition of Bowie to the Art rock and Glam rock influences.

According to Bowie, Cygnet Committee has a hidden concept, which is more noticeable on We Are Hungry Men and Lover to the Dawn. Themes of the album focuses around loneliness, anti-war music, dystopian themes, day by day issues and social concerns. By most of the musicologists, Cygnet Committee is the start of a story hidden in a portion of Bowie's records, such as Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold the World, even Ziggy Stardust and Diamond Dogs.

The record was very successful, receiving generally positive reviews by the critics. It peaked in number 3 in Britain, and number 102 in Billboard. In the Heat of the Morning was released as single. In an analysis, the contrast between Bowie's Cygnet Committee, Bolan's Beyond the Rising Sun or the Beginning of Doves, and Syd Barrett's Rooftop in a Thunderstorm Row Missing the Point was evident, since while Bowie shifted towards an art-oriented direction, Syd preferred to move into an experimental verge on his career, and Bolan pursued a more psychedelic folk-sound.

Hyde Park - June 29th, 1968

The Fleetwood Mac performing at the Hyde Park Festival, June 29th, 1968.

In 1968, the Blackhill Enterprises held the first music festival at Hyde Park, between 27 and 30 June of that year. Famous artists and bands in Britain and some American ones were invited to perform at the festival. It was opened by directors Andrew King and Peter Jenner, and following them, Jethro Tull was the first band to perform at the festival.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd at Hyde Park, 1968.

Pink Floyd first appeared on stage on the night of June 28th, around 7PM. The group performed Keep Smiling People entirely and performed four more songs from the previous album as the encore. Live footage was shortly recorded from songs such as Careful With That Axe, Eugene, and The Massed Gadgets of Hercules. Bootlegs are widely available, but Pink Floyd released an official recording in the boxset of The Early Years.

Setlist
Keep Smiling People
1. "Let There Be More Light" (Roger Waters)
2. "See-Saw" (Richard Wright)
3. "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" (Waters, Wright, David Gilmour, Nick Mason)
4. "Corporal Clegg" (Waters)
5. "Julia Dream" (Waters)
6. "The Massed Gadgets of Hercules" (Waters, Wright, Gilmour, Mason)
7. "Paintbox" (Wright)
8. "It Would Be So Nice" (Wright)

Encore
9. "Reactioning" (Waters, Wright, Gilmour, Mason)
10. "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" (Waters)
11. "I Must Tell You Why" (Michael Magne, Gilmour)
12. "Remember a Day" (Wright)


Syd Barrett

Syd Barrett, a few days before the festival.

Barrett's performance started on the evening of June 29th, 5PM. For the highlight of the concert, he invited two of the Pink Floyd members, David Gilmour and Richard Wright, and also Arthur Brown, to play on a few songs from the Rubber Band albums. Syd released some of the recorded stuff from the Festival as B-Sides for his singles. He recalls the concert as one of the most wonderful gigs that he ever made.

Setlist
Rooftop in a Thunderstorm Row Missing the Point (provisionally titled 'Just a Syd Barrett Album')
1. "Vegetable Man" (Syd Barrett)
2. "Apples and Oranges" (Barrett)
3. "In the Beechwoods" (Barrett)
4. "Pow R. Toc H." (Barrett, Vincent Crane, Rick Wills, Willie Wilson)
5. "Scarecrow" (Barrett)
6. "Scream Thy Last Scream" (Barrett)
7. "The Gnome" (Barrett)
8. "Jugband Blues" (Barrett)

Encore (featuring David Gilmour and Richard Wright from Pink Floyd; and Arthur Brown)
9. "Astronomy Domine" (Barrett)
10. "Interstellar Overdrive" (Barrett, Crane, Wills, Wilson)
11. "Matilda Mother" (Barrett, Hilaire Belloc)
12. "Arnold Layne" (Barrett, Bowie)
13. "See Emily Play" (Barrett, Bowie)
14. "The Bike Song" (Barrett)


Soft Machine

Soft Machine with Jimi Hendrix Experience.

During the break of Jimi Hendrix's tour, Soft Machine recorded the debut album and received an invitation of Blackhill to perform at the festival, which all agreed. The group, supported by bass player Hugh Hopper and guitarist Andy Summers, arrived a day earlier, due to problems with Allen's passport, and performed their usual setlist at the time. The group appeared at the festival in the afternoon, about 4PM. In 2004, Soft Machine would release the official live album of the performance.

Setlist
Hope for Happiness/Shooting at the Moon
1. "A Certain Kind" (Hugh Hopper)
2. "Love Makes Sweet Music" (Kevin Ayers)
3. "Memories" (H. Hopper)
4. "That's How Much I Need You Now" (Robert Wyatt)
5. "You Don't Remember" (Daevid Allen, Wyatt)
6. "Jet-Propelled Photograph" (Ayers)
7. "Save Yourself" (Wyatt)
8. "Lullabye Letter" (Ayers)
9. "She's Gone" (Ayers)
10. "Hope for Happiness" (Ayers, Mike Ratledge, Brian Hopper)

Encore
11. "I Should've Known" (Ayers, Ratledge, Wyatt, Allen, H. Hopper)
12. "We Did It Again" (Ayers)
13. "Why Are We Sleeping?" (Ayers)

Sources:

Soft Machine - Hope for Happiness

• Soft Machine - Faces and Places Vol. 7
• The Soft Machine - Volume One

David Bowie - Cygnet Committee

• David Bowie - David Bowie (1967; Deluxe edition)
• David Bowie - David Bowie (aka Space Oddity)

1968: A Different Wave

With a Little Help from my Friends

Joe Cocker and Leon Russell.

The frontman of Grease, Joe Cocker, a band formed along with keyboardist Chris Stainton and drummer Bruce Rowland, enjoys the rising success of his group, with the single Marjorine, the most successful hit of Grease until then. Furthermore, he joined Asylum Choir, of musicians Leon Russell and Marc Benno, eventually merging both bands into The Greasy Asylum, adding Alan Spinner in the bass guitar.

Greasy Asylum was one of the first bands which arouse the interest of Apple Records. Managed by Denny Cordell, Cocker and Russell were greeted by Brian Epstein to sign along the new-established label. Accepted by Cordell, the group started to record their debut album at the Olympic Studios. The band was backed by Yardbirds' Jimmy Page and Procol Harum's Matthew Fisher and B.J. Wilson.

"Back to '68, after a performance in East London... If I remember, Brian [Epstein] came along with me and Leon, chatting about music and our likely future, when he came up with the idea to sign with Apple. We were one of the firsts, along with The Iveys, you know, and our manager was about to sign us with Regal. Actually we all saw the opportunity to rise quickly by joining The Beatles' side, and it was pretty much of it."

-Joe Cocker, 1998. 

It's a Saucerful of Secrets

Pink Floyd, 1968.

Pink Floyd entered at the De Lane Lea Studios in October 1967 to record Paintbox, written by Richard Wright, before taking a break on recording, and subsequently started their first US tour. The tour, entitled Pink Floyd World Tour, spanned from February 1968 until December of the same year, and by June, the band started to promote their second album, Keep Smiling People. Pink Floyd's tour was considered average by the band, except the stolen instruments near San Francisco, in the US leg of the tour.

"The tour was particularly nice, but we had those issues with freaks robbing our instruments, except for Rick instruments and some amplifiers, and we needed to recuperate them. But we stood at a home of Alice Cooper, and we borrowed their instruments. Actually they were very kind with us, and we could recover the instruments later. Some of them were damaged, but we did it, though."

 -David Gilmour, 2015, Wider Horizons.

Pink Floyd entered at the De Lane Lea again in January to rehearsals of Waters-penned songs. On 24-25 January, the band recorded throughout these days, "The Most Boring Song I've Ever Heard Bar 2" (later renamed to See-Saw), Let There Be More Light and Corporal Clegg. In February, the band recorded Wright's It Would Be So Nice and Waters' Julia Dream. In a conflict with Blackhill, the band resolved to release Wright's song and Waters' Corporal Clegg as a double A-side. Both singles were released in April, with It Would Be So Nice peaking in number 11 in UK Singles Charts, but failing to chart in the US.

"It was hard to come with songs for the album. We actually weren't great songwriters at the time, we had written... ten songs at the time, I guess? Counting both Projection and Keep Smiling People, because Gilmour in fact 'borrowed' Michael Magne's compositions. And for a while, King and Jenner saw Wright as the true figure of a frontman for the band, goddamn."

-Roger Waters, 1984.

With not enough material, the band recorded at the studio a jam which was being performed by the band throughout the tour called Keep Smiling People, at the time. In the final sessions, the band added lyrics to the track, changing the name to Careful With That Axe, Eugene. Keep Smiling People was retained as the name for the album. The group also recorded an experimental, avant-garde piece called The Massed Gadgets of Hercules, which was also performed on the tour. Both tracks angered producer Norman Smith, who alleged that the band couldn't fill the rest of the album with a bunch of unintelligible noises.

Avoiding complications with the band's management, Let There Be More Light was released as single b/w the edited section of Syncopated Pandemonium, being successful in the US, peaking in number 29, and peaking in number 11 in UK Singles Charts. It was the lead single for Pink Floyd's second album. The band resumed the tour shortly after finishing to record the album.

Pink Floyd – Keep Smiling People

Pink Floyd - Keep Smiling People (1968)

Genre: Space rock, psychedelic pop, experimental

Total: 39:29

Side A - 20:12

1. "Let There Be More Light" (Roger Waters) - 5:38

2. "See-Saw" (Richard Wright) - 4:36

3. "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" (Waters, Wright, David Gilmour, Nick Mason) - 5:45

4. "Corporal Clegg" (Waters) - 4:13

5. "Julia Dream" (Waters) - 2:37

Side B - 19:17

6. "The Massed Gadgets of Hercules" (Waters, Wright, Gilmour, Mason) - 11:57¹

a. "Something Else" - 3:57

b. "Syncopated Pandemonium" - 3:07

c. "Storm Signal" - 1:34

d. "Celestial Voices" - 3:19

7. "Paintbox" (Wright) - 3:33

8. "It Would Be So Nice" (Wright) - 3:47

Keep Smiling People was produced by Norman Smith and recorded by Pink Floyd, being their second studio album, released on 29 June 1968. It was the second album released under the Blackhill Records label, a subdivision of EMI Records. Although less raw than the debut album, Keep Smiling People is filled with experimentation by Pink Floyd mixed with Psychedelic pop. The Massed Gadgets of Hercules was called a Space anthem. The lyrics of the album vary from Fantasy, troubled relationships, war-themed songs and the everyday.

The album received better reviews than Projection, such as a firmer release by the band, with Psychedelic pop original tunes that go well along with the space and experimental themes through the record. Keep Smiling People reached number 9 in UK Album Charts and went to number 132 in Billboard, slightly better than the last album. David Gilmour played the lead guitar and kazoo, Richard Wright played keyboards and vibraphone, Roger Waters played bass guitar and Nick Mason the drums. Side A is oriented to pop tunes while Side B is mostly filled with The Massed Gadgets of Hercules.

For the fans, the album was acclaimed at the time, with Pink Floyd playing on its own entirety at the Hyde Park concert on 29 June 1968, on the same day that the album was released. Then, the group resumed again with the tour to promote Keep Smiling People across continental Europe. The album was a hit in France and West Germany.

Thank you, Jim, for our exposure to the crowd

Jimi Hendrix with Kevin Ayers, 1968.

After a tour in France, Soft Machine was preparing for the return for the United Kingdom when lead guitarist Daevid Allen had his entry denied. Allen was Australian, and not satisfied with the situation, Kevin Ayers decided to return to France with Allen, while Mike Ratledge and Robert Wyatt returned to the UK. The moment was considered a brief break-up to the band, but in three weeks, the group reconciled, and Soft Machine reallocated their activities to France for the next two years.

Though the incident, the group was reformed after an invitation of Jimi Hendrix to open the concert for the band during the US leg of the tour. Approved by the band, the band performed across the United States with Jimi Hendrix. Soft Machine performed on their set, the extended play with a few more, unreleased, songs, about to be recorded during the break. During the break, the band entered at the Record Plant Studios in New York and recorded the album through the entire April 1968. Through the recordings, they encountered David Bowie, who was also recording his debut album there.

The management of the band decided to release A Certain Kind as single, backed with Jet-Propelled Photograph. The single was approved by the band, the producer and friend Brian Hopper, and by Jimi Hendrix, who called the song a romantic, raw and energetic song. A strong hit in Britain, the single topped the UK Singles Charts while it peaked in number 8 in Billboard Hot 100. The band become quite famous thanks to their new single.

"I felt funny when the song became a hit. Actually I just released for fun, it was really something that I was waiting for. I recall that Hendrix came to me when the song went famous like, 'I knew it, it was a great song, hah!'. It was a good moment, to be honest."

-Kevin Ayers, 2008 

Got to go to a Sunday drive

Bee Gees – Marley Purt Drive

Bee Gees - Marley Purt Drive (1968)

Genre: Baroque pop, country rock

Total: 39:49

All songs written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb, except when noted.

Side A - 19:42

1. "Idea" - 2:51

2. "Jumbo" - 2:07

3. "Whisper Whisper" - 3:24

4. "Indian Gin and Whisky Dry" - 1:55

5. "Marley Purt Drive" - 4:26

6. "Kitty Can" - 2:31

7. "Such a Shame" (Vince Melouney) - 2:28

Side B - 19:07

8. "Let There Be Love" - 3:28

9. "Words" - 3:13

10. "Edison" - 3:07

11. "The Singer Sang His Song" - 3:07

12. "Swan Song" - 2:55

13. "The British Opera" - 3:17

Marley Purt Drive was released as the fifth studio album by the Bee Gees. Produced by the Bee Gees and Robert Stigwood, the album was released amidst tensions between the group and the sessions for what would become the next album. The album is oriented from the traditional Baroque pop that the band was widely known at the time, but some of the tracks were influenced by other styles, such as the title track, Marley Purt Drive, and Such a Shame to country music, and the symphonic remnants of The British Opera.

Barry Gibb frequently calls the album as the leftovers of City on the Black Sea, since most of the songs of both albums were written and recorded around the same period. The record features the only track which wasn't written by a Bee Gee, with Vince Melouney's Such a Shame. The themes of some songs, such as Swan Song and Such a Shame itself reflects the tensions inside the studios. Maurice Gibb participated the most on the production of the album, although it was credited to the band and manager Robert Stigwood. He also played the bass guitar, piano, organ, and the mellotron. Barry Gibb played rhythm guitar, Vince Melouney played the lead guitar, Robin Gibb played organ and Colin Petersen played the drums. Maurice is featured in the cover.

With the release, the album reached number 4 in UK Albums Chart while peaked in number 17 in Billboard. The album is remembered by its successes such as Idea, Jumbo, and Words, the last one being a hit in the United States, Latin America, and Brazil. After the album, the Bee Gees proceeded with the tours and recording City on the Black Sea. Most memorable songs from the album were Words, Idea, Jumbo, and Kitty Can.

Notes:

[1] The Massed Gadgets of Hercules is OTL A Saucerful of Secrets.

1967/1968: Forever and Ever

A magical and mysterous tour...

The Beatles filming Magical Mystery Tour.

Between the Sgt. Peppers the Transcendental Meditation, The Beatles initiated the project Magical Mystery Tour with Paul McCartney. Most of the filming occurred between 11 and 25 September 1967, while the soundtrack was conceived between the Sgt. Peppers sessions and 7 November 1967. The sessions have been characterised by some biographers as aimless and unfocused, with the band members overly indulging in sound experimentation.

The Beatles finished working on Magical Mystery Tour by November of that year, and decided to strenghten the ties with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The band stood in Bangor for ten days, leaving Bangor and directly going to film the movie. Plans to take part on Maharishi's training course in Rishikesh were made to late October, however, at Epstein's urging, they postponed the trip until the new year to work on their Magical Mystery Tour film project.

With the end of the filming sessions, the soundtrack for Magical Mystery Tour was set to be released in 27 November in the United States (as a LP) and 8 December in the United Kingdom (as a double EP). The movie was premiered at BBC1 in 26 December 1967, ultimately becoming The Beatles' first critical failure and commercial flop, albeit the album was generally successful.

The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour

The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

Genre: Psychedelic rock, art rock

Total: 34:47

All songs written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney, except when noted.

This is the LP version of Magical Mystery Tour, originally released in the United States.

Side A (film soundtrack) - 19:05

1. "Magical Mystery Tour" - 2:48

2. "The Fool on the Hill" - 2:59

3. "Flying" (Harrison, Lennon, McCartney, Richard Starkey) - 2:16

4. "Blue Jay Way" (Harrison) - 3:54

5. "Your Mother Should Know" - 2:33

6. "I Am the Walrus" - 4:35

Side B (singles) - 15:42

7. "Hello, Goodbye" - 3:24

8. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" - 2:37

9. "When I'm Sixty-Four" - 2:37

10. "Baby You're a Richman" - 3:07

11. "All You Need Is Love" - 3:57

A premature end

David Bowie and Marc Bolan, a shot of Marc's TV show. An encounter that would only happen in 1977.

After a brief European tour to promote There is a Happy Land, David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Steve Took, and Syd Barrett returned to the studios to record Rubber Band's second album. Teaming up with guitarist Big Jim Sullivan, keyboardist Vincent Crane, and producer Norman Smith, the band already had songs enough to the album. It seemed a perfect scenario if the group simply didn't want to take the band into different directions. While Syd and Took wanted to bring the band in a step to an experimental direction, Bowie preferred to follow a baroque, progressive-esque way, similar to the debut album, and Bolan suggested to go into the psychedelic, folk-y way, resorting in more acoustic and tribal-sounding music, instead of feedbacks and reverberations of Syd and the lushed arrangements of Bowie.

"In the following years I stopped to think about that period, regretting so many things that I said, thinking how would have been different if we shared the same vision, but it was, and still sometimes is, really sad that we didn't follow with Rubber Band. But I'm really grateful for what the guys did with me, and how Rubber Band was a pretty interesting part of our history."

-David Bowie, 2001

"The thing is that, following the sessions, I didn't see neither Bowie, neither Bolan as partners anymore, and I presume that both of them neither. We just became a... group of friends who were desperately seeking for a way to dispatch the Rubber Band quickly. Coincidentally, we improved our relations after we dissolved the band *laughs*. It is kind of ironic though... since the album has experimental and baroque songs of each members, you know?"

-Syd Barrett, 2007

The sessions of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, otherwise from the debut album, were exhausting for both members. The group ended up co-leading a short tour in the UK with the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and later entering into an indefinite hiatus, with both members focusing on their solo careers, to an eventual end. The album was released in April, with lead single See Emily Play, a big hit in United Kingdom and France, and Love You 'till Tuesday, a minor hit in Britain, while a big hit in Italy.

In early 1968, Syd Barrett tried to negotiate a return to Pink Floyd Sound, being denied by the band, more because of his deteriorating relationship with Roger Waters. In February, Syd Barrett entered the studios with the same backing band from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and began to record his debut solo album, provisionally entitled Just a Syd Barrett Album.

"Roger was still angry with Syd, and we already had David replacing him, and it worked fine. Roger then became kind of mad when he saw Syd crawling back to us, and as the leader behind-the-scenes he immediately denied it. Nick and I were quite uncomfortable due to after all that stuff that happened in less than a year before, and David... well, he was there. He didn't talk too much during the early years."

-Richard Wright, 2005

As for David Bowie, he started to record his debut album at the Record Plant Studios, in New York, with overdubs made at the Trident Studios, in London. Tony Visconti, producer who was producing with Tyrannosaurus Rex was recommended by Marc Bolan to help Bowie at the Trident. Tony indicated new people to work with, remaining only drummer Willie Wilson to record the drums for a few songs.

Rubber Band – The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Rubber Band - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1968)

Genre: Psychedelic rock, psychedelic pop

Total: 41:12

Side A - 19:37

1. "Astronomy Domine" (Syd Barrett) - 4:12

2. "Hippy Gumbo" (Bolan) - 2:28

3. "Lucifer Sam" (Barrett) - 3:07

4. "Eastern Spell" (Bolan) - 2:46

5. "Chapter 24" (Barrett) - 3:42

6. "When I Live My Dream" (Bowie) - 3:22

Side B - 21:35

7. "The Perfumed Garden of Gulliver Smith" (Bolan) - 2:45

8. "Silly Boy Blue" (Bowie) - 4:36

9. "See Emily Play" (Barrett) - 2:53

10. "Silly Crazy Child" (Bolan) - 2:27

11. "Sell Me a Coat" (Bowie) - 2:58

12. "The Bike Song" (Barrett) - 3:21

13. "Please Mr. Gravedigger" (Bowie) - 2:35

Produced by Norman Smith, the second and final album of the British band Rubber Band was released on 12 April 1968. Recorded during an unstable period which resulted in the break-up of the group, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was noted by the fairly better production than the debut album by Norman Smith, by the wide experimentation in some music, and by the pop ventures of the group. The lyrics are noted by the acid humor on some tracks, such as Please Mr. Gravedigger, and the mysticism on Chapter 24.

The album was better received than There is a Happy Land, providing two last performances of the group at John Peel Sessions, where both announced that the break-up was likely. Though, the singles See Emily Play and Sell Me a Coat were successful, with the first peaking in number 15 and the second in number 28 in the United Kingdom. The album reached number 4 in the UK Albums Charts and number 85 on Billboard Top LPs.

Piper at the Gates of Dawn is regarded as one of the most influential records in the UK Underground and in the Neo-psychedelic scene and remains as the most popular album of Rubber Band. The band would reunite for multiple times, such as in 1972, at the end of Ziggy Stardust tour (with noted abscence of Marc Bolan), in 1977 at Marc Bolan's TV show, in 1985 in Live Aid, 1996/98 in a reunion tour, and for the last time in 2012.

Prominent band, ambitious project

The Bee Gees in 1967.

L-R: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Vince Melouney, Maurice Gibb, and Colin Petersen.

Noted by the press by their Beatles-esque sound, the Bee Gees were rising as a prominent 60's band filled with baroque and psychedelic sounds reminiscent of Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's, Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, and vocals influenced by Roy Orbison and Frankie Valli. Enjoying the success of their hit singles such as New York Mining Disaster 1941, To Love Somebody and Massachusetts, the band's frontman, Barry, along with his brother, Maurice, envisioned an ambitious project which was called 'an opera inside an album'. The intended album would be postponed by manager Robert Stigwood, who booked new sessions after the Christmas holiday for another album.

Though part of the members of the band didn't want to start the project too soon (Vince Melouney and Robin Gibb), the group ended up starting to record a big amount of songs besides the ones for the upcoming album. The unceasing disagreements between the members, mainly between Melouney and Barry occasioned on the only Bee Gees' track written by one besides the Gibb brothers, with Vince's Such a Shame, recorded for Marley Purt Drive.

"It was a really hard routine, Robert [Stigwood] was a pain in our back. Record something for Marley Purt Drive, then a tour in the UK, then another in Germany, record new things, then a TV performance back in England, it wasn't healthy, and then Barry comes with that Opera-concept for an album, it was really too much pressure."

 -Vince Melouney, 1973.

"Frequently Robin, Maurice and I met at my house to discuss about the songs that would fit for the album [City on the Black Sea]. Songs that were discarded, were recorded for Marley Purt Drive, so then I believe that the album is a bunch of leftovers from City on the Black Sea, though Robert wanted us to record some of the songs we left for the opera."

-Barry Gibb, 1996.

The last session of Marley Purt Drive is considered 25 June 1968, when the group finalized recording Jumbo and quickly proceeded into recording more tracks for another album, with the working name An American Opera. In between the sessions, the Bee Gees toured in the United Kingdom and West Germany performing the songs from Marley Purt Drive, Horizontal, Bee Gees' 1st, and a set of covers.

Eat up, eat up honey

Beach Boys, 1968 sans Brian.

Once finishing Smile, the band already started to record the follow-up, with the working name Smiley Smile. In a month, the group recorded only four short songs at Brian Wilson's home studio. Some of the tapes recorded were later recalled as The Bedroom Tapes, released in future boxsets. At the same time, the group was recording the sequel, they were worried about the psychological conditions of Brian Wilson in his performance at the studio and/or at the concerts.

"We didn't have done pretty much anything but recorded four short songs at that time, and also we were in a hurry to perform at the Monterrey Pop Festival, and then Hawaii. After those sessions at Wally Heider, we reassured to make a standard studio album, as a normal band, like before 'Pet Sounds' or '[The] Beach Boys' Today!'".

-Mike Love, 1985.

"Technically, Mike and I took the lead role on Wild Honey, that's why the album has a wide R&B influence, a different style compared to Smile, Pet Sounds, and even 20/20. We wanted to step back, because the last album was somewhat too much perfectionism of Brian. But still the work had a massive influence of Brian's arrangements."

-Carl Wilson, 1981.

Moreover, Brian Wilson was becoming tired of produce to the Beach Boys, requesting to Carl and Dennis to help in the process. In a break of the sessions, the Beach Boys also joined the course of Transcendental Meditation of the Maharishi, which influenced the tracks recorded after February. Al Jardine recalls that after Maharishi's course, the behavior of the group, and even Brian Wilson, had a significant improvement. Mike Love returned from his retreat a few days after the band, and the band started to record a few remaining songs.

"Then I noticed that... the label [Brother Records] wasn't going well too. We had a distribution contract with Capitol, but we were accumulating debt, sustaining the label without any notion of business. So we needed to call for help from somebody."

-Carl Wilson, 1981.

The Beach Boys – Wild Honey

The Beach Boys - Wild Honey (1968)²

Genre: Psychedelic pop, blue-eyed soul, R&B, lo-fi, bedroom pop

Total: 63:34

Side A - 15:21

1. "Meant for You" (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) - 1:50

2. "I Was Made to Love Her" (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Lula Mae Hardaway, Stevie Wonder) - 2:05

3. "You're With Me Tonight" (B. Wilson) - 2:17

4. "Friends" (B. Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine) - 2:32

5. "Aren't You Glad" (B. Wilson, Love) - 2:16

6. "Rock and Roll Woman" (Stephen Stills) - 2:19

7. "Little Bird" (D. Wilson, Steve Kalinich) - 2:02

Side B - 15:47

8. "Darlin' (Thinkin' 'Bout You Baby)" (B. Wilson, Love) - 2:12³

9. "Transcendental Meditation" (B. Wilson, Love, Jardine) - 1:51

10. "How She Boogalooed It" (Love, Bruce Johnston, Jardine, Wilson) - 1:56

11. "Gettin' Hungry" (B. Wilson, Love) - 2:27

12. "A Thing or Two" (B. Wilson, Love) - 2:40

13. "Be Here in the Mornin'" (B. Wilson, C. Wilson, Love, Jardine) - 2:17

14. "Passing By" (B. Wilson) - 2:24

Side C - 15:54

15. "Wild Honey" (B. Wilson, Love) - 2:37

16. "Here Comes the Night" (B. Wilson, Love) - 2:41

17. "I'd Love Just Once to See You" (B. Wilson, Love) - 1:48

18. "When a Man Needs a Woman" (B. Wilson, D. Wilson, C. Wilson, Jardine, Steve Korthof, Jon Parks) - 2:07

19. "Lonely Days" (B. Wilson, Love) - 1:45

20. "Anna Lee, the Healer" (B. Wilson, Love) - 1:51

21. "Busy Doin' Nothin'" (B. Wilson) - 3:05

Side D - 16:32

22. "Diamond Head" (Al Vescovo, Lyle Ritz, Jim Ackley, B. Wilson) - 3:39

23. "My Little Red Book" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - 2:48

24. "Let the Wind Blow" (B. Wilson, Love) - 2:19

25. "Be Still" (D. Wilson, Kalinich) - 1:24

26. "Country Air" (B. Wilson, Love) - 2:20

27. Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring" (Bobby Group) - 2:33

28. "Wake the World" (B. Wilson) - 1:29

Wild Honey is the thirteenth studio album of The Beach Boys. The album was produced by Brian and Carl Wilson and was the first studio release under the Brother Records label, distributed by Capitol. It was released on 24 June 1968. The album was recorded as an attempt to 'redefine Beach Boys as a democratic band'. Although numerous compositions by Brian Wilson, the album is noted by the significant contribution of the members of the group in the lyrics, and by the Wilson Brothers and Mike Love leadership, since Brian was temporarily away from his functions.

The album was firstly received with mixed to negative reviews by the critics but ended up well-received by the fans and public in general. It was observed a different style since the previous album, by bringing R&B and Soul influences to the album, mixed with general psychedelia similar to the albums which precede Smile and Pet Sounds, named as "exquisite, unorthodox mainstream pop music". The lead single, Darlin', has shown that the popularity of the band was slightly increasing since the stylistic change, hitting number 5 on Billboard Hot 100. Wild Honey topped the UK Album Charts and reached number 7.

Regarded as one of the prettiest Beach Boys albums, Wild Honey is recalled as a step back of Brian Wilson's ambitiousness merging into an oddly satisfying, low-budget record, being sometimes considered even better than Smile. It is considered one of the most influential records on Indie and Lo-fi music.

Notes:
[1] Tracks sourced from Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and David Bowie's self-titled debut album.

[2] Tracks sourced from Wild Honey, Smiley Smile, Friends, and Wake the World: The Friends sessions. Meant for You is an alternate mix including the session intro.

[3]  Thinkin' 'Bout You Baby is the original name of Darlin'.

Author's addendum:
Yeah, ladies and gentlemen, the first break-up of a group. Although were friends, Syd and Bowie couldn't reach an agreement to stay as a competent duo, needing to put into an indefinite hiatus.
And here is the first not-so-common band in alternate histories, Bee Gees! It would be an interesting plot to see what if Robin Gibb didn't briefly leave the band, and what if the Bee Gees' Odessa would've fulfilled its proposal. I've done a little plot with Bee Gees in my other timeline, Projection, but this time I want to work further into a new, and prolonged plot.
And for The Beatles and Beach Boys, I wanted to give roles reversed in a way... with Beach Boys releasing a double album in 1968 instead of Wild Honey and Friends, and set The Beatles to release two albums instead of the White Album.