DR. STRANGELY STRANGE
''HALCYON DAYS''
JUNE 25 2007
53:29
1 - Cock-A-Doodle-Doo/4:14
2 - Existence Now/3:49
3 - Good Evening Mr. Woods/4:14
4 - Going To Poulaphouca/2:51
5 - Mirror Mirror/4:11
6 - Sweet Red Rape/5:23
7 - Horse Of A Different Hue/5:38
8 - Lady Of The Glen/3:54
9 - HMS Avenger/5:33
10 - Halcyon Days/4:06
11 - The Invisible Kid/3:00
12 - Le Le Rockin' Sound/2:32
13 - Cock-A-Doodle-Doo (Kip Version)/3:20
Tracks By Ivan Pawle, Except 2, 7, 12 By Tim Goulding
Tim Booth /Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Mandolin, Vocals
Tim Goulding /Electric Organ, Fiddle, Hammond B3, Melodica, One-String Fiddle, Organ, Organ (Hammond), Piano, Piano (Electric), Vocals, Whistle, Whistle (Human)
Neil Hopwood /Additional Personnel, Drums, Percussion
Linus /Additional Personnel, Percussion, Vocals
Jay Myrdal /Additional Personnel, Glockenspiel
Ivan Pawle /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Whistle, Whistle (Human)
Joe Thomas /Additional Personnel, Fiddle, Mandolin
REVIEW
by Richie Unterberger An unsuccessful attempt to assemble an album of live/BBC material by Dr. Strangely Strange (not enough usable stuff could be found), unusually, led to something better -- an entire LP's worth of well-preserved 1969-1970 studio outtakes. Those ten outtakes (with two versions of one song, "Cock-a-Doodle-Doo") form the bulk of this 2007 release, topped off by three 2006 recordings supplied specifically for this project. It's the 1969-1970 material, naturally, that's the main attraction, and it's a surprise to find that -- unlike the unissued cuts excavated for most collections of this sort -- they're pretty much on a par with the two albums this fairly obscure Irish acid-folk-ish band issued during their brief lifetime. That is to say, they sound very much like the Incredible String Band without as much of an edge, a niche that cuts both ways. In some ways, more mainstream listeners (if any are indeed checking out a reissue such as this in the first place) might actually find their whimsical, drifting brand of barely-rock-influenced folk a little more pleasant and accessible than the ISB. That acknowledged, the songs, singing, and arrangements aren't as bold, striking, eclectic, or world music-influenced as those of the band with which they're inevitably compared. But those who like eccentric British Isles folk-rock in this mold, and certainly those who like the two proper Dr. Strangely Strange LPs from the era, will be pleased. The production (mostly by Joe Boyd) and sound are good, if on the low-key side; the songs are good-natured, if sometimes slight and addled; and the instrumentation quite varied, though only occasionally does this fit into what could be called rock music. Best of all, these aren't merely early demos or alternate versions, as the songs weren't used in any form on the two official albums by the band. This fits unexpectedly comfortably, then, into the primary Dr. Strangely Strange discography, though one of the outtakes (the droll disaster tale "HMS Avenger") is atypical even by the unpredictable, goofy standards of this oddball group. The three 2006 songs aren't as impressive (especially in the vocal department), but do fit in fairly well with the others in terms of both vibe and production. A bonus worth noting is the inclusion of very detailed, lengthy liner notes, which have a lot of info not only on these specific tracks, but also on the history of the band in general.
BIOGRAPHY
by Jason Ankeny
An experimental Irish folk group closely affiliated with the Incredible String Band, Dr. Strangely Strange was formed in Dublin in 1967 by vocalist/guitarist Tim Booth and bassist/keyboardist Ivan Pawle (vocals/bass/keyboards). Soon they teamed with multi-instrumentalist Tim Goulding, an aspiring painter, and began living and rehearsing in a house owned by Goulding's girlfriend, backing vocalist Orphan Annie (a.k.a. Annie Xmas), which its tenants nicknamed "The Orphanage." After signing with the Incredible String Band's producer and manager Joe Boyd, Dr. Strangely Strange debuted in 1969 with Kip of the Serenes. While on tour with Fotheringay, they enlisted drummer Neil Hopwood, and later in the year appeared on the String Band's Changing Horses LP. After 1970's Heavy Petting, Dr. Strangely Strange began falling apart: Goulding left to enter to a Buddhist monastery, while Pawle and Booth teamed with Gay and Terry Woods for a brief tour. The group soon disbanded, but they reunited in 1973 for an Irish tour, and briefly reconvened again in the early '80s, Eventually Booth established a second Orphanage which became a springboard for a new generation of Irish rock, helping launch the careers of Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott, Gary Moore and others.
''HALCYON DAYS''
JUNE 25 2007
53:29
1 - Cock-A-Doodle-Doo/4:14
2 - Existence Now/3:49
3 - Good Evening Mr. Woods/4:14
4 - Going To Poulaphouca/2:51
5 - Mirror Mirror/4:11
6 - Sweet Red Rape/5:23
7 - Horse Of A Different Hue/5:38
8 - Lady Of The Glen/3:54
9 - HMS Avenger/5:33
10 - Halcyon Days/4:06
11 - The Invisible Kid/3:00
12 - Le Le Rockin' Sound/2:32
13 - Cock-A-Doodle-Doo (Kip Version)/3:20
Tracks By Ivan Pawle, Except 2, 7, 12 By Tim Goulding
Tim Booth /Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Mandolin, Vocals
Tim Goulding /Electric Organ, Fiddle, Hammond B3, Melodica, One-String Fiddle, Organ, Organ (Hammond), Piano, Piano (Electric), Vocals, Whistle, Whistle (Human)
Neil Hopwood /Additional Personnel, Drums, Percussion
Linus /Additional Personnel, Percussion, Vocals
Jay Myrdal /Additional Personnel, Glockenspiel
Ivan Pawle /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Whistle, Whistle (Human)
Joe Thomas /Additional Personnel, Fiddle, Mandolin
REVIEW
by Richie Unterberger An unsuccessful attempt to assemble an album of live/BBC material by Dr. Strangely Strange (not enough usable stuff could be found), unusually, led to something better -- an entire LP's worth of well-preserved 1969-1970 studio outtakes. Those ten outtakes (with two versions of one song, "Cock-a-Doodle-Doo") form the bulk of this 2007 release, topped off by three 2006 recordings supplied specifically for this project. It's the 1969-1970 material, naturally, that's the main attraction, and it's a surprise to find that -- unlike the unissued cuts excavated for most collections of this sort -- they're pretty much on a par with the two albums this fairly obscure Irish acid-folk-ish band issued during their brief lifetime. That is to say, they sound very much like the Incredible String Band without as much of an edge, a niche that cuts both ways. In some ways, more mainstream listeners (if any are indeed checking out a reissue such as this in the first place) might actually find their whimsical, drifting brand of barely-rock-influenced folk a little more pleasant and accessible than the ISB. That acknowledged, the songs, singing, and arrangements aren't as bold, striking, eclectic, or world music-influenced as those of the band with which they're inevitably compared. But those who like eccentric British Isles folk-rock in this mold, and certainly those who like the two proper Dr. Strangely Strange LPs from the era, will be pleased. The production (mostly by Joe Boyd) and sound are good, if on the low-key side; the songs are good-natured, if sometimes slight and addled; and the instrumentation quite varied, though only occasionally does this fit into what could be called rock music. Best of all, these aren't merely early demos or alternate versions, as the songs weren't used in any form on the two official albums by the band. This fits unexpectedly comfortably, then, into the primary Dr. Strangely Strange discography, though one of the outtakes (the droll disaster tale "HMS Avenger") is atypical even by the unpredictable, goofy standards of this oddball group. The three 2006 songs aren't as impressive (especially in the vocal department), but do fit in fairly well with the others in terms of both vibe and production. A bonus worth noting is the inclusion of very detailed, lengthy liner notes, which have a lot of info not only on these specific tracks, but also on the history of the band in general.
BIOGRAPHY
by Jason Ankeny
An experimental Irish folk group closely affiliated with the Incredible String Band, Dr. Strangely Strange was formed in Dublin in 1967 by vocalist/guitarist Tim Booth and bassist/keyboardist Ivan Pawle (vocals/bass/keyboards). Soon they teamed with multi-instrumentalist Tim Goulding, an aspiring painter, and began living and rehearsing in a house owned by Goulding's girlfriend, backing vocalist Orphan Annie (a.k.a. Annie Xmas), which its tenants nicknamed "The Orphanage." After signing with the Incredible String Band's producer and manager Joe Boyd, Dr. Strangely Strange debuted in 1969 with Kip of the Serenes. While on tour with Fotheringay, they enlisted drummer Neil Hopwood, and later in the year appeared on the String Band's Changing Horses LP. After 1970's Heavy Petting, Dr. Strangely Strange began falling apart: Goulding left to enter to a Buddhist monastery, while Pawle and Booth teamed with Gay and Terry Woods for a brief tour. The group soon disbanded, but they reunited in 1973 for an Irish tour, and briefly reconvened again in the early '80s, Eventually Booth established a second Orphanage which became a springboard for a new generation of Irish rock, helping launch the careers of Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott, Gary Moore and others.