Various Artists - Introspection: Lysergic Mod Echoes (White Trash Soul 60s Psychotropia No.3)

So, here’s another installment in my series about all things Mod becoming freakier and punkier. It is certainly nothing new for connoisseurs, but it's definitely worth checking out if you're new to these sounds. I'd like to remind you that I create these compilations primarily for my own enjoyment, not to demonstrate my extensive knowledge or to seek out the least known band. I mean, I used to like to be a snob bastard once but I'm not interested in that anymore. And of course I'm no expert in anything...

In this new volume, I have also included some bands from the US that are better known as garage punk acts that they were tempted to replace methamphetamines with LSD, and they definitely fit in with these Brits. Speaking of this, there’s a psych update on 'Gloria' as 'Gloria ‘69' for example by the Shadows of Knight with guitar and bass overdubs and without the consent of the band that I have to admit I like it so much! Or a 1967 release of the mighty Attack with their take on a Standells' hit from 1966. Or 'Baby I Need You' a fantastic one-off release by the The Curiosity Shoppe (what a name!) with a heavy organ-driven sound and fuzzy guitars, often compared to the early Deep Purple (I have the same aversion to Deep Purple that I have to Pink Floyd, with one exception: I think of their embryonic Mark1 phases as totally different and brilliant!!).

Of course, I had to include The Action and their full-length version of 'Brain'. Every time I listen to the "Rolled Gold" demos, I try to understand why this amazing band didn’t have the chance to properly record these tunes. They're up there with the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" and the Beatles' "Revolver" and fuck you very much if you disagree. Reg King was, without a doubt, the best vocalist on both sides of the Atlantic and this music, man, I mean ouch! - psychedelic but obviously still in love with Soul and R&B, so much ahead of their times! The End's 'Introspection', parts 1 and 2, which gave this compilation its name, is another example of the era's 'what the fuck?'. Produced and championed by Bill Wyman and Glyn Johns of the Rolling Stones, it is the equal of "Their Satanic Majesties" or "S.F. Sorrow", and far better than "Sgt. Pepper's" (to this day, I still wonder how the Fab Four managed to record such a terrible album that is still widely regarded as a classic - give me a break). Both parts has intricate harmonies, heavy Hammond organ, wild guitars and of course as a previously Mod band, a hard hitting soul groove!  

I can go on forever for Loose Ends’ amazing rendition of ‘Taxman’ with the added organ and the dancefloor friendly sound or Sharon Tandy’s and Les Fleur De Lys ‘Daughter of the Sun’ haunting, occult-themed freakbeat monster or Powder’s take on The Who even though they were from San Fran, or In Crowd’s demo for "Blow Up" before The Yardbirds stole their thunder, but I need to work also, even if I don't want to...

Note: I know I've used some of these songs in previous compilations before, like 'Grounded' by The Syn on Lyres' Under Influence, or different mixes of them like with Pretty Things' 'My Time' in its original form with the brass section this time, but I had to 'cause, you know what, I really fuckin' love them and I wouldn't want it any other way.

1. Barricades - The Koobas
2. Try It - The Attack
3. For All That I Am - The Creation
4. Children Of The Sun - The Misunderstood
5. Evil Woman - The Troggs
6. Baby I Need You - The Curiosity Shoppe
7. Grounded - The Syn
8. Introspection Pt. 1 - The End
9. Introspection Pt. 2 - The End
10. Brain - The Action
11. My Time - The Pretty Things
12. What Shall I Do - The Artwoods
13. Wooden Spoon - The Poets
14. Taxman - Loose Ends
15. Daughter of the Sun - Sharon Tandy & Fleur De Lys
16. Walking Through The Streets Of My Mind - Timebox
17. Don’t Know Which Way To Turn - Force Five
18. I Can See Your Face - Pneumania
19. Just Help Me Please - The Outer Limits
20. Blow Up - The In Crowd
21. Gloria '69 - The Shadows Of Knight
22. Hate To See Her Go - Powder
23. Purple, Purple - Spontaneous Generation
24. Down Down - The Silence
25. A-Minor Explosion - Don Shinn & The Soul Agents
26. Hush - Kris Ife
27. Black Cat - Brian Auger
28. Groovin' Slow - The Sound Barrier
29. I Must Be Mad - The Craig
30. Searchin' In The Wilderness - Allen Pound's Get Rich