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!

A Clockwork Pyscho

  The past few weeks, I've been having trouble keeping in touch with reality. Popping pills, smoking, tripping.. I don't know what is real anymore. I believe I've lost contact with the real world; I'd much prefer daydreaming in my own little world, where everything is happy in my mind. I see things that aren't there, I hear things that didn't sound, I feel false feelings.. I'm a mess, and I love it. I feel like a fluid cloud, bubbling and floating on to distances and realities that aren't there.

  Lately I've been into this early 90's shoegaze band named Slowdive. I'm not typically into them, but their songs "Alison," "Crazy For You," and especially their demo "Summer Daze" fill me with chills of nostalgia for a decade I barely belonged in. Summer Daze is especially haunting, and because I learned it on guitar yesterday, I feel even more freaky. Take a look at some of the songs that've been influencing me in a drug-filled craze this week:

Summer Daze by Slowdive (Demo)
Heroin by the Velvet Underground
Shangri-La by Electric Light Orchestra (The last minute or so of this song is so intense, it gives me chills. It is amazing when you're high!)
Maureen by the Beatles (Demo) (The link is to a video from my Youtube account :)
Vienna by Billy Joel
Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary/Title Music from a Clockwork Orange
In the Room Where You Sleep by Dead Man's Bones (This was in The Conjuring, and I've loved it ever since I saw it. Great movie, I highly recommend it)
Alison by Slowdive
The Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson
Life on Mars? by David Bowie

Summer Breeze, Makes Me Feel Fine, Blowing Through the Jasmine in My Mind.

  This summer, I've hardly been doing anything. I get up and either go to work or lounge around the house. But I suppose I'm enjoying my time relaxing and lazing. I'd rather be doing what I want than forcing myself to go to some camp or something of that nature. I've been inspired by psychedelic feels all summer long, and I tried acid (let's not jump to conclusions and judge me I know it was a stupid idea for someone of my age and even though I regret most of it the trip was actually one of the coolest things I've done in my entire life even thought it was NOTHING like what all those hippies were mumbling about) and have been enjoying the summer sun as well as every other aspect of nostalgia. So far, this summer seems pleasantly calm. This is really more of a pointless post but I thought you all might care somehow so yay playlist xoxox

Summer Breeze from itsamodmodworld on 8tracks Radio.

Friday on My Mind

Hello everyone! My spring break officially starts on this Friday at 2:17, when school gets out. (By the way, I feel SO weird calling it "spring break," I usually just call it "April Vacation.") That being said, I have Friday on my mind. This post doesn't really have a point, actually; I just thought I'd use it as an excuse to tell you guys that I'm excited for a break from school, and that I'd share some pictures with you. These pictures have no real theme; Most of them are from Rookie or Tumblr. If you want a specific source from one just let me know and I can find it. Anyway, enjoy it.

 
  Since I was too lazy to make a playlist and upload it here this morning on my personal computer (mainly because I didn't know what my blogpost would be about), here is another manual one. I'm sorry I don't have the files on a site like 8tracks :( I've also included a playlist from playlist.com, I'm not sure how I like it yet. I'd appreciate feedback! I miss 8tracks so much, agh.

1. "Friday on My Mind" by The Easybeats
2. "I Wanna Be With You" by The Raspberries
3. "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse
4. "The Sun Ain't Shining No More" by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
5. "I Want You" by Bob Dylan
6. "Humanoid Boogie" by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
7. "Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan
8. "Peaches En Regalia" by Frank Zappa
9. "Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)" by The Doors

OH! And this is my hair, for those of you who asked. K BYE HAVE A NICE DAY

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