Now Playing: Creme Soda LP
Topic: Minor change or comment
No major revelations in store, but a few things worth mentioning:
The obscure Eternity whose c1981 LP is given a favorable review in the Acid Archives 2nd Ed recently turned out to have an obscure, pre-LP 45 on the same label (Band Of Gold). I picked this up and it's not bad at all, with a grungy basement rock/hardrock sound similar to the album; arguably even grungier, at least one side of it. Copies float around for $50, any fan of the album will want it. There is in fact an even earlier Eternity 45 on the same label, will try and get a copy of this shortly.
While there was probably no doubt about it, the 45 pulled from the first Mad River album is definitely a MONO mix. Not only that, but both sides ("High All The Time"/"A Gazelle") sound weird as hell, possibly the result of a staid record label trying desperately to extract something commercially viable from this radically uncommercial material. Can't say that I prefer either of the 45 mixes over the stereo LP, but it's certainly different...
While they're not actually in the Acid Archives -- due to them being too damn successful! -- the great Strawberry Alarmclock belong 100% in these pages. Despite being a SAC-fan for almost 30 years, I only recently learned that the band's second biggest hit "Tomorrow" is in fact a completely different version on the 45 visavi the LP. Not just a different mono mix, but a completely different recording, due to the band being dissatisfied. The arrangement is quite similar, but the 45 has a little more teen/garage/Sunset Strip vibe, while the album is more of studio-psych. Both versions are terrific. To make amends for my sloth in this matter, I picked up an ultra-cool Italian PS with a unique (I think) band photo.
The flipside is "Birds In My Tree" in what seems to be the same version as on the first LP, except being in radio-friendly mono. Check out recent issues of Shindig magazine for a detailed account of this terrific, long underrated band.