Genre: psych
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Supernatural Fairy Tales
Company: Island
Catalog: 88 395 ET
Year: 1967
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: German pressing; probably from early-'70s
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID:
Price: $75.00
Cost: $40.00
Spooky Tooth is a widely know entity in the States, but Americans are far less familiar with the precursor band Art (with four future Spooky Tooth members).
As members of the
Carlisle, Cumberland, England-based The V.I.P.'s, singer Mike Harrison and
bassist Greg Ridley generated considerable media attention with a series of
three mid-'60s singles. Unfortunately, before the band could record an
album, the band underwent a massive personnel upheaval that saw original
members James Henshaw, Walter Johnstone and Frank Kenyon hit the road,
leaving Harrison and Ridley as the only remaining members. Deciding to
continue the nameplate, the pair quickly recruited a new line up, consisting
of keyboardist Keith Emerson, guitarist Luther Grosvenor, drummer Mike
Kellie and bassist Greg Ridley. The new line up managed to record one
single, before Emerson left to join The Nice. Within a matter of months the
remaining quartet had decided to drop the V.I.P nameplate in favor of Art.
Signed by Chris Blackwell's Island Records, the band's first exposure came
via the single "What's That Sound" b/w "Rome Take Away
Three" (Island catalog number WIP 6019). Interestingly, the
"A" side was a unimaginative cover of The Buffalo Springfield's
"For What It's Worth" - albeit writing credits mistakenly credited
the track to Stephen Mills.
For an LP that's frequently marketed as a major psychedelic artifact, 1967's
Guy Stevens produced "Supernatural Fairy
Tales" proved surprising diverse and accomplished.
There's certainly a psych influence here, witness tracks such as the lead
off selection "I Think I'm Going Weird" and the wispy title track.
That said, propelled by Harrison raw voice and Grosvenor's thick guitar
chords, group penned originals such as "Room with a View" and
"Flying Anchors" offered up a far harder brand of rock, serving as
a good indication of what was about to happen with the forthcoming Spooky
Tooth. Elsewhere, recalling their V.I.P. catalog, "Come On Up" and
"Brothers, Dads and Mothers" offered up R&B/soul influenced
numbers. Among the weird offerings, propelled by Kellie's drumming,
"African Thing" reflected some interesting African polyrhythms.
Meant very much as a compliment, to our ears the set bares a strong
resemblance to Traffic's early catalog. (The eye catching cover was designed
Hapsash and the Coloured Coat members Michael English and Nigel Weymouth.)
"Supernatural Fairy Tales" track
listing:
(side 1)
1.) I Think I'm
Going Weird (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie - Greg Ridley) -
3:19
2.) What's That Sound (For What It's Worth) (Luther Grosvenor - Mike
Harrison - Mike Kellie - Greg Ridley) - 2:47
3.) African Thing (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie - Greg
Ridley) - 4:04
4.) Room With a View (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie - Greg
Ridley) - 3:38
5.) Flying Anchors (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie - Greg
Ridley) - 2:40
6.) Supernatural Fairy Tale (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie
- Greg Ridley) - 3:34
(side 1)
1.) Love Is Real
(Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie - Greg Ridley) - 3:18
2.) Come on Up (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie - Greg
Ridley) - 3:01
3.) Brothers, Dads and Mothers (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike
Kellie - Greg Ridley) - 3:27
4.) Talkin' to Myself (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie - Greg
Ridley) - 1:39
5.) Alive Not Dead (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie - Greg
Ridley) - 2:12
6.) Rome Take Away Three (Luther Grosvenor - Mike Harrison - Mike Kellie -
Greg Ridley) - 3:00
Within a short period the band had added American singer/keyboardist Gary Wright to the line up, metamorphosing into Spooky Tooth (see separate entry).