The World of Oz
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1968) - David "Kubie" Kubinec -- keyboards - David Reay -- drums, percussion - Christopher Robin (aka Christopher Evans) -- vocals, guitar, keyboards
line up 2 (1968-69) NEW- Rob Moore - drums, percussion (replaced David Reay) - Christopher Robin (aka Christopher Evans) -- vocals, guitar, keyboards NEW- Geoff Nichols -- keyboards (replaced David Kubinec)
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- Black Sabbath (Geoff Nichols) - The Casuals (Christopher Robin and David Reay) - Nicky James Movement (Tony Clarkson) - Kansas Hook (Chris Evans and Geoff Nichols) - Danny King and the Mayfair Set (Christopher Robin and David Reay) - David Kubinec (solo efforts) - Mainhorse (David Kubinec) - The Mayfair Set (Christopher Robin and David Reay) - The Pieces of Mind (David Kubinec) - Principal Edwards (Geoff Nicholls) - Quartz (Geoff Nichols) - The Rats (David Kubinec) - Zeus (Tony Clarkson)
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Genre: psych Rating: 3 stars *** Title: The World of Oz Company: Deram / London Catalog: DES
18022 Country/State: Birmingham, UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: DJ sample stamp on back cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5865 Price: $150.00
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Drummer David Reay and singer/multi-instrumentalist Christopher Robin (aka Christopher Evans), had been members of Danny King and The Mayfairs and then The Mayfair Set. Unable to catch a break in the UK, they spent some time working on Germany's club scene and playing American military base clubs. By mid-'1967 they were back in the UK where the band called it quits. Reay and Robin decided to continue their musical partnership, recruiting bassist Tony Clarkson and former The Pieces of Mind keyboardist David Kubinec for an entity originally known as "Oz". Morphing into The World of Oz, the band relocated to London where they signed with Sparta Music and found a mentor in the form of Foundations manager Barry Class who helped them land a recording contract with Decca's Deram subsidiary.
Rushed into the studios, the band debuted with a 1968 single: - 'The Muffin Man' b/w 'Peter's Birthday' (Deram catalog number DM 187)
Supported by touring and some television exposure, two follow-on 45s were quickly released:
- 1968's "King Croesus' b/w 'Jack' (Deram catalog DM 205) - 1969's 'Willow's Harp' b/w 'Like a Tear' (Deram catalog number DM 233)
Even though the singles did little commercially, in 1969 Deram finally got around to releasing an album - the cleverly-titled "The World of Oz". Produced by Deram president Wayne Bickerton, musically the album was kind of a mess. The good news; exemplified by tracks like 'The Muffin Man', 'The Hum-Drum Tree, and 'We've All Seen the Queen', about half of the album featured entertaining, if not particularly original Toy Town pop-psych moves. I guess an American comparison would be some of Kasenetz and Katz's better bubblegum pop material. Like bubblegum pop, most of the album was highly radio-friendly, though you were occasionally left with the feeling this was more business product than art. Less impressive, the other half of the album sounded like wanna-be Bee Gees tunes. Featured lots of heavy orchestration and Kubinec's warbled vocals, ballads like 'Bring the Ring', 'Jackie', and 'Willow's Harp' may have struck a chord with lovelorn English majors and lonely librarians, but otherwise were simply irritating. If you're into that genre, just pull a couple of the Bee Gees' mid-'60s albums. Unfortunately, adding to the band's problems, personality issues arose in the middle of the recording sessions Speculation on my part, but I'm guessing the disagreements may have had something to do with musical direction - the band apparently weren't thrilled with the album's highly produced pop sound which was at odds with their tougher live sound. Original members Kubinec and Reay, both hit the door with drummer Rob Moore and keyboardist Geoff Nichols stepping in as late-inning replacements. That probably also explains why there were no performance credits on the album (the band members weren't even listed) with all of the songs credited to "Oz" rather than individual writers. That's not to say the album didn't have it's moments, including the raga-flavored 'Like A Tear', but most of this stuff must have already sounded obsolete in the 1968/69 timeframe.
promo photo left to right: Chris Evans - Geoff Nichols - Tony Clarkson - Rob Moore
"The
World of Oz" track listing: 1.) The Muffin Man (David Kubinec) - 2:37 rating: **** stars The sound of horses drawing a carriage and heavy orchestration took a minute to get accustomed to, but then the song exploded into prime toy town pop. And that means you'll either love this weird blend of bubblegum pop and psychedelia, or find it fey and completely annoying. I lean to the first option. As mentioned, the song was tapped as their debut single. For anyone interested, YouTube has a black and white clip of the band lip synching the tune. Very Spinal Tap-ish ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqyd7TWLS0I 2.) Bring the Ring (The World of Oz) - 3:03 rating: *** stars A pretty, if somewhat saccharine, heavily orchestrated ballad, I remember the first couple of times I heard this one wondering if I'd slapped a Bee Gees tune on my mistake. The strained, warbled falsetto and lyric (guy about to be married), certainly underscored the Gibbs comparison. Again, I'll admit the song had a gorgeous melody. 3.) Jackie (The World of Oz) - 2:49 rating: ** stars 'Jackie' offered up another heavily orchestrated ballad, though this time around there wasn't going on in the way of melody, or lyrics - lots of la-la-la-las ... 4.) Beside the Fire (David Kubinec)) - 3:06 rating: ** stars Another Bee Gees-styled ballad. No way around it, this one was pretty terrible. 5.) The Hum-Gum Tree (David Kubinec) - 2:19 rating: **** stars A nice change-up from the stream of ballads, 'The Hum-Gum Tree' found the band returning to Toy-Town territory. Nice pounding melody made this one of the album standout performances. The song was also released as a European single. 6.) With a Little Help (The World of Oz) - 3:15 rating: *** stars Sporting one of the album's prettiest melodies (and a true guitar solo), 'With a Little Help' found the band seemingly trying to find a middle group between Toy Town and Bee Gees pop.
(side
2) Back to Toy Town goofiness with a giddy melody, nice harmony vocals, and some of the album's funniest lyrics. 2.) King Croesus
(The World of Oz) -
3:08 rating: **** stars
3.) Mandy-Ann (The World of Oz) - 2:59 rating: **** stars 'Mandy-Ann' was probably the album's most straightforward commercial tune, though again it must have sounded old school in 1969. How many tunes can you think of that reference plasticine? 4.) Jack (The World of Oz) - 2:26 rating: **** stars Wow, another Toy Town tune, though this time out with some real effects treated guitar. 5.) Like a Tear (The World of Oz) - 3:10 rating: **** stars With a raga flavor and some acid-tinged lead guitar, I'm guessing 'Like Tear' was more in keeping with the direction the band was interested in pursuing. Great tune and one of the album highlights. 6.) Willow's Harp (The World of Oz) - 2:07 rating: *** stars Tapped as the band's third and final single, 'Willow's Harp' also echoed The Bee Gees, but this time with good results. This time around Kubinec's vocals were far stronger, as was the melody and the overall performance.
The revamped band toured the UK and continent in support of the album, but with Deram putting little effort into promoting the group, simply couldn't gain a commercial foothold. They were history by 1970.
Evans and Nichols formed Kansas Hook and recorded a couple of early-'70s singles.
David Kubinec released some solo material and was a member of the bands Mainhorse and The Rats.
Late-inning member Geoff Nichols played in Quartz and Black Sabbath
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