The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Vol.1

(Fifo - M101 mono only - 1966)

The recording debut in 1966 featured Michael Lloyd (vocals/guitar), Dennis Lambert (Rhythm guitar), Shaun Harris (bass), Bob Markley (vocals), and Danny Belsky (drums).

It seems that much of the material was already completed by the time Markley became involved. However, the inclusion of certain tracks - 'Don't Break My Balloon' [a prime example of Bob's 'singing'] and 'If You Want This Love' - indicates that he must have had some influence over the sessions and, more to the point, their subsequent release on vinyl.

The rudimentary album included contemporary hits and original compositions and was recorded in a self-made studio in a strore-front place on San Vincente, just outside of Beverly Hills.
Vol.1

  • Somethin' You Got. (C. Kenner)
  • Work Song. (O. Brown Jr.- N. Adderly)
  • Louie, Louie. (R. Berry)
  • Don't Break My Balloon. (Markley)
  • You Really Got Me. (R. Davies)
  • Don't Let Anything!! Stand In Your Way. (Markley-Fowley)

  • I Won't Hurt You. (M. Lloyd - S.Harris - Markley)
  • If You Want This Love. (B. Knight)
  • Insanity. (Fowley-Markley)
  • (It's All Over Now) Baby Blue. (B. Dylan)
  • She Belongs To Me. (B. Dylan)

Notes:
 This album was originally issued in 1966 on the tiny "FIFO" label, which was a Hollywood concern specializing mainly in R&B. Probably only 100 or so were ever made!
A mint original copy of this LP was sold in '95 to a private collector for a substantial sum, who in turn reissued it (unauthorized, of course) on LP and CD. The CD featured three songs as bonus tracks that had turned up on the Raspberry Sawfly "Legendary Unreleased Album" bootleg from 1980, the excellent Sassafras and Obviously Bad (released as a single under the name California Spectrum in 1967) and a cover of the Left Banke's She May Call You Up Tonight.
A reissue of this album (on vinyl) has been released by Scaner Jots Records, Knoxville, Maryland 20787 U.S.A. in 1994.

My Favorites:
Don't Break My Balloon, Don't Let Anything!!..., Insanity, and their first experimental escapades on She Belongs To Me.

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