James Ashworth - Contributing Writer
Issue date: 3/25/10
1968 was a tumultuous year for those who remember. The Tet Offensive
started in Vietnam. Valerie Solanas shot Andy Warhol. President
Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Students
protested against the draft boards, racism, and "the establishment".
More importantly, the first wave of psychedelic rock was in it's
golden age. Iron Butterfly, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Vanilla
Fudge, and countless others left the youth culture of the time
drenched in acid and day-glow. Across the Atlantic Ocean, the U.K.
was experiencing a similar phenomenon. Pink Floyd, the Zombies, the
Animals, and the Beatles dictated the course of pop music for decades
to come. Yet, there's one band that was completely forgotten from
this era. Their name was July.
July formed in 1966 in the greater London area. By 1968, they had
completed work on their first and only self-titled release.
Unfortunately, the band broke up later that year after singles from
the album failed to chart. The split occurred because members of the
band were dissatisfied with their recordings. Also, their label,
Major Minor Records, simply did little to promote the band.
Disgruntled from the split, these musicians went on to form two
bands: Unit 4 + 2 and Jade Warrior. Unbeknownst to them, the one
album July made would become a prized possession, especially among
record collectors. It is truly a gem in British psychedelic rock, as
iconic as The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn.
Copies of July's original vinyl pressing have sold for as much as
$1000 on eBay. There is a reason for this exorbitant price tag. Not
only is July-S/T extremely rare, but the music is amazing. Recorded
on used equipment from Abbey Road Studios, the band utilized a
menagerie of styles and effects to produce this album. All the
psychedelic elements are there: phased vocals, bizarre instrumentals,
droned plucking, sitar solos. July thrusts elemental dreamscapes into
your cerebral cortex.
After listening to the record, you feel moved, stoned, and slightly
dreamy. Few recordings can render this sort of feeling. Some standout
singles are Jolly Mary, Dandelion Seeds, and My Clown. Fortunately,
July- S/T has been re-released for all of us to enjoy. Due to
internet buzz, July has gained a whole new generation of fans. They
have reformed and are currently recording a new album. If you're a
fan of psychedelic rock, you should become acquainted with July.
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