Orphan Egg

Orphan Egg's only release, this self-titled album which appeared on the Carole Record label in 1968, seems to have suddenly attracted the interest of serious psych fans and collectors as the price of an original has recently increased considerably, probably in recognition of both its scarcity value and musical appeal.

The band, formed in 1967 in San Jose, was one of the lengthy list of Bay area groups inspired by the psych movement spreading its tentacles from the sound's spiritual home in San Francisco. The album, which also boasts some strong UK beat/psych influences a la early Status Quo, features lashings of incredible heavy fuzz guitar psych on a number of tracks, several of which were deemed worthy enough to feature in director Maury Dexter's exploitation flick, Born Wild, and which also included a memorable scene of the band strutting their musical stuff at a pool party.

The album consists of several covers including a killer version of the old Everly B r o t h e r s ' hit, Bird Dog. Apart from this, the self-penned tunes really are the stand-outs here, with the feisty fuzz guitar, bass, drums, a little recorder and a smattering of harpsichord, combining, along the beautiful trippy vocals, to produce an ethereal, floating psych sound that makes for a hugely enjoyable listen.

PERSONNEL:

• Jim Bate - (vocals)
• George Brix - (drums)
• Pat Gallagher - (vocals, guitar)
• Barry Smith - (bass)
• Dave Monley - (guitar, harpsichord)

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1 Falling
• A2 That's the Way Love Is
• A3 Mourning Electra
• A4 Bird Dog
• A5 It's Wrong 230
• A6 Ain't That Lovin' You Baby
• SIDE B
• B1 Look at Me
• B2 Deep in the Heart of Nebraska
• B3 Don't Go to Him
• B4 Circumstance
• B5 Unusual State of Mind
• B6 Rock Me Baby