Sam's Current Obsessions: #2 - The Fool

  The Fool were a design collective and a band during the mid-sixties to early seventies who influenced psychedelic rock and art BIGTIME. Although their band didn't really make it big, their art definitely did. They painted the Beatles' famous Apple Boutique building (before it was ordered to be painted over in 1968), designed a lot of the clothing for the store, and painted many other famous psychedelic art during the late sixties.

Apple Boutique as it appeared in 1967.

Apple Boutique after the repaint in 1968.

Apple Boutique models. The blonde is Pattie Boyd, George Harrison's
wife and my favorite person ever!

Marijke Koger of The Fool.

Marijke Koger.

Apple Boutique models.

The Fool with John Lennon painting his psychedelic piano.

Mama Cass among The Fool and others.

Jenny Boyd working in Apple Boutique.

Marijke Koger.

  If you didn't get your fix of the Fool yet, enjoy these videos and have a lovely week, darlings!

Dark Poem of Addiction

  Let me just get this post started by saying I love Lou Reed. One of the first albums I ever bought from the record store was the Velvet Underground & Nico, and it rocked. There's a famous quite (supposedly by Brian Eno) "The Velvet Underground's first album only sold a few thousand copies, but everyone who bought one formed a band." Although it has been confirmed that around 1969 (about two years after the album's initial release) that about 58,476 copies were sold, rather than just a "few thousand," I feel that this quote still holds true power. Just listening to anything by the band and you will absolutely love it. It will transport you to a futuristic world in which music cannot be defined by year or genre. And you will love it.
  That being said, I don't plan on making this a depressing tribute post to the lovely life of Lou and all his work. I plan on making this a celebratory post on everything going on in my life right now, and I hope you all will appreciate it.
  This past Thursday and Friday were.. heavenly. I was finally happy, for one of the first times in the past year, and for no particular reason, either. Actually, on both Thursday and Friday I couldn't stop listening to the Velvet's "Heroin" and "Sweet Jane." Both those songs always mellow me out.. I'm listening to them as a type, and the sweet sixties vibe is calming me down. It's strange.. they're an upbeat rock band, yet they make you feel like you're floating on a groovy cloud. I wasn't planning on making this a Lou post, but fuck.. listening to the Velvet Underground again is bringing back so many memories. They just have a sound that's so unique, I can't even describe it. Screw ranting about my life. Everyone go listen to Lou Reed!

Daydream Believers

Look how trippy this sleeve looks! How can you not dig it? :)

  Last year when I was obsessed with The Beatles (see previous post, haha), I naturally became obsessed with their almost knockoff band, The Monkees. Now, I am NOT saying that the Monkees were ripoffs. What I am saying is that they were very similar to The Beatles and were created to be a TV show version of the band.

The Monkees! From left to right: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith

  For those of you who don't know the Monkees, they were a band that had their own TV show, which ran for two seasons from late 1966 to early 1968. There were four members- Mike Nesmith, the "leader," Micky Dolenz, the quirky also-sometimes-leader, Davy Jones, the lovable tiny one with a British accent, and Peter Tork, the slightly dumbed down yet just as lovable one. Their TV show episodes usually consisted of the group getting into typical sitcom drama, quirks and whatnot, which usually resulted in a song, performed by the band.

Look at those groovy hats!

  There are a few reasons why The Monkees receive so much hate. The first is because people believe they were directly copying The Beatles. Yes, there are a few similarities- Both band's names are about animals, they both misspell one letter in their band names on purpose, there are four members, each member took a turn at singing lead vocals, etc- but the bands are actually quite different. Whereas The Beatles got their start in Hamburg in the late 50's and early 60's performing both skiffle and rock n' roll, The Monkees started their career when sixties psychedelia was just blooming, and therefore most of their music was entirely psychedelic or poppy and upbeat. The Monkees as a band broke up in 1970, the same year as The Beatles. But I personally believe The Beatles had much more musically variety than The Monkees, as The Beatles covered not only psychedelia but also pop, soft rock, country (See "Don't Pass Me By, heh), hard rock, blues, ballads, and much more. That's not to say The Monkees were musically lacking, but of course, The Beatles covered more genres.

The Monkees on their beachy TV set. Groovy!

  Another reason people typically bash on The Monkees is because they were a band specifically created for a TV show. Whereas Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork identified themselves as musicians, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones classified themselves as actors when asked. They were pieced together by producers rather than finding each other on their own and forming a band first. At first they also didn't play their own instruments on recordings and often didn't write their own lyrics, either. But after long struggles with their producers, they were finally able to play instruments on some recordings. Not all, but some.

  So, judge for yourself- are The Monkees an actual band? I think so. Although they were created for commercial purposes, they did play their own instruments eventually and did actually sing. They also toured as The Monkees, too, before Davy's unfortunate death in February of 2012. And if you didn't know who The Monkees were before this post, I'm glad I could introduce you too a new band!

  I hope you liked the post, have a fabulous Thursday!

Zor & Zam from itsamodmodworld on 8tracks Radio.

For this playlist I've included a few Monkees songs, Beatles songs that may or may not have inspired Monkees songs, Monkees solo career songs (mainly by Mike Nesmith), and just a few other 60's pop songs I thought fit in. Enjoy!

1. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" by The Monkees
2. "I Feel Fine" by The Beatles
3. "How Can You Kiss Me" by Mike Nesmith
4. "Let's Spend the Night Together" by The Rolling Stones
5. "Pictures of Lily" by The Who
6. "Ticket to Ride" by The Beatles
7. "Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan
8. "For Pete's Sake (Closing Theme)" by The Monkees

If you like The Monkees, check out these other awesome songs by them that I like:

• "Randy Scouse Git," which is actually about The Beatles. (Specifically the line 'The four kings of EMI.')
• "Your Auntie Grizelda," featuring a rare vocal performance by Peter Tork.
• "Daily Nightly," a trippy number that I happen to adore.
• "Words," another psychedelic one (I know I've used that word a lot in this post, bear with me!) that sounds almost dark and dreary at first.
• "I'm a Believer," a classic in Monkees tunes, and I think in tunes in general.
• "Daydream Believer," the Davy Jones classic!
• "Valleri," starts off with a Spanish acoustic guitar riff that rocks my world. Love it!
• "You Told Me" pays hommage to the beginning of The Beatles' "Taxman."
• "Daddy's Song" just.. pure fun!

Awaiting My Own Summer of Love

  Although it's not quite summer yet, I can only dream. I work at an ice cream place and we've just recently opened up for the season after closing in December. This can only signal the start of both spring and summer, as well as a much warmer season. Yesterday it was 62°F here (which is pretty fucking warm for MA), the warmest it's been since probably September. This season had been ridiculously cold; I've had six snow days. Thankfully the snow is all melting and the air is becoming less crisp.

From Rookie; I can only wish I could go on a road trip as beautiful as this during the summer.

  For me, summer reminds me of psychedelia. I long to live in a place like San Francisco where every day is summer. I know San Francisco isn't the same as it was c. 1967, but I'm sure it's a much better place to live than the dark and gloomy state of Massachusetts. It's always freezing here. In winter, the average is about 10° (which isn't all that cold, I'm just a wuss), in spring around 40-50° (although it's been much colder due to the SIX SNOW DAYS), and in summer, it can be anywhere from 65 to 100°. It really depends on the air's mood, I guess.

Screencap from Harold and Maude, 1970. Seeing Harold playing banjo in the warm summer air only makes me miss it more!

  But yes, for me, summer represents psychedelia, and vice versa. If you think about it, summer is when all the concerts are, all those fun vacations with friends and families, all the fun memories (well, for me at least.) I remember last summer I went to more concerts than I'd ever been to before, ranging from Ringo Starr & his All-Starr Band to Aerosmith. This summer I'm planning on seeing The Beach Boys and if I can afford it, Paul McCartney. But enough about me. Summer = psychedelia in my mind.

I'm sorry, I forgot the source; Anyways, this image is a perfect example of trippy photography from the late sixties. And just check out their pants! Fashion inspirations.

  If you look at psychedelic posters and photographs from the late sixties, you'll see they often have one common theme; usually bright-colored, chunky font, and groovy clothing. Oh, how I wish I could be a 1967 poster! Just take a look at them and see, I guarantee you'll fall in love with the summer of love.

1970 Music Connection poster

Spock! Check out those groovy colors.

Source Unknown, Swimming Pool c. late sixties, future home inspiration

Found on Google Images; I seriously NEED these shoes. I have a soft spot for red, yellow, and blue together in basic yet bold patterns.

From Rookie. Gotta love the trippy font!

There's Something Happening Here. from itsamodmodworld on 8tracks Radio.

Songs in bold are my personal favorites from this playlist. (Although I must admit this playlist was hard to pick just five from, I love them all!)

1. "For What it's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield
2. "Strange Brew" by Cream
3. "Season of the Witch" by Donovan
4. "2000 Light Years From Home" by The Rolling Stones
5. "She Just Satisfies" by Jimmy Page
6. "Do You Believe in Magic?" by The Lovin' Spoonful
7. "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" by Scott McKenzie
8. "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys
9. "Technicolour Dreams" by Status Quo
10. "Beck's Bolero" by Jeff Beck

When Psychedelia Takes Over

Jefferson Airplane, 1967

Probably from either 1967, 68, or 69. Love this room!

Source unknown, 1967.

Paula Boyd, Jenny and Pattie Boyd's youngest sister 

George Harrison in psychedelic clothing, looking quite stoned. 

Led Zeppelin's John Bonham. I know this isn't from 1967 when psychedelia  was at its peak, but still, gotta love John's outfit!

"First Day of School", 1967

Jeff Beck.

The Who in 1967. Look at Roger Daltrey's jacket!

Source unknown, 1967

Source unknown, c. 1966-67