The Psych Ward–Elephant’s Memory
The Psych Ward–Elephant’s Memory
Imagine the Mothers of Invention, Jefferson Airplane, Chicago, and the original cast of Hair having a good, old-fashioned love-in orgy in 1969. Nine months later, Elephant’s Memory could be their mutant child. Known as John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s backing band in the early Seventies, Elephant’s Memory was an underground group on the New York scene long before they were “discovered” by a Beatle.
In the late Sixties, they were known around Greenwich Village as a roving band of buskers who occasionally played shows replete with bizarre costuming and inflatable set pieces. Led by Saxophonist/Clarinetist/Vocalist Stan Bronstein and Drummer Rick Frank (the two musicians met each other on the New York strip club circuit), this outfit defies categorization.
Years before Lennon made them famous on his 1972 Some Time in New York album, the first self-titled album from 1969 stands out as something unique. Not quite as weird as the Mothers of Invention, similar at times to early Chicago with their horny and funky grooves, some of their songs can even be classified as bubblegum pop (“Crossroads of the World”). These folks are categorically hard to pin down…and that’s probably why I like them so much.
The album jumps off with the Blood, Sweat, & Tears/Chase funky vibes of “Don’t Put Me on Trial.” This is an up-tempo song with a roving Sixties beat bass that reaches down into your soul. The choruses feature trading male/female vocals, similar to Jefferson Airplane’s interplay.
“Jungle Gym at the Zoo” is a slippery stone groove. The song was featured in the Oscar-winning film Midnight Cowboy. Using seedy Greenwich musicians for a film about the underbelly of New York is a perfect marriage.
“Super Heep” is musically reminiscent of early Soft Machine with a heaping helping of Frank Zappa’s rhyming schemes. In fact, the guitar solo work on several of this album’s tracks reminds me of Mike Ratledge’s Soft Machine organ work.
The strong Cowsills vibe of “Band of Love” could fit as an alternate track from Hair. The song is co-written by Tony Visconti, just moments before commencing his working relationship with Bowie.
“Old Man Willow” (also in Midnight Cowboy) is a stepping stone to a more modern feminine-vocal band like Broadcast or Stereolab.
If you have 42 minutes to spare, spin this one. Digitally. You can’t afford the vinyl.
Highlights: “Don’t Put Me on Trial,” “Super Heep,” “Takin’ a Walk”
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