Soft Life

Here's a mix I've had bubbling under for some time. Held back by the unavailability of some of the key tracks, which have now been re-released, in particular the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Left Banke and the Daisy Chain via Sundazed Records, plus the sounds of Inner Dialogue, Joe Byrd and other delights I have joyfully stumbled across.

The genesis of this mix was about 12 years ago when my mate Lyndon Pike gave me an eclectic mix CD of 60's / 70's gear, containing tracks and artists, almost all of which I then proceeded to track down or add to my long list of must haves.
Some of the tracks on the comp, like Dark is the Bark by Left Banke introduced me to the dreamier / darker side of Sunshine pop. I've included several tracks from that mix. Thanks L.

Sunshine Pop, that odd AOR title that has stumped most pop rock enthusiasts. Associated with a clean cut, all American, cravat wearing type. Most likely nice Christian people.
The sound of Burt Bacharach was my reference point, Butch Cassidy and all that, along with the themes to 'Love American Style' and many other "doo doo da doo" styled swingers from movies and television. I knew and loved that sound, it reminded me of being 10.

Around 2004 I was working for Didgeridoo Records as a buyer when I received a package of samples from the label Siesta from Spain. The albums that really stuck out were the reissues of Free Design and Margo Guryan. I was mad for them and wanted to tell the world about them. At that stage the world wasn't ready and we hardly moved any copies, but then Light In The Attic released the Free Design catalogue, beautifully produced chunky vinyl and gatefold sleeves. Sundazed later followed with Margo. It would be a push to say that either act has seen great sales from this, underground kudos maybe, but at least the albums have got out there, not lost somewhere in a vault.

Checking through the Sundazed new releases a few weeks ago I was blown away by seeing the Strawberry Alarm Clock's albums being reissued by Sundazed, including their last album 'World in a Seashell', a title I've been trying to get for an eternity. Disliked and dismissed by the band's members, Seashell boasts the track 'Barefoot in Baltimore' sounding more like Stereolab or Jim O'Rourke in their more swingin' forms. The album is a stone Sunshine Pop classic.

I've focused on the more dreamy and dark side of this genre, though usually these genres only exist in hindsight. In reality the bulk of these tunes and the artist producing them exist in a world of their own. One could not put the Beach Boys, Judee Sill and the Everly Brothers in the same dressing room let alone genre. There must have been something in the water in those days because the sonic connection is there.

Apart from the folks mentioned we have have a super groovy line up of the Association, the Monkees, Nilsson, Sagitarrius, the Cowsills, the Moon and the Mamas and the Papas all soaked with that mysterious sunshine sound. I've slipped in Serge Gainsbourg, from the Cannabis soundtrack, plus an interesting question from the sunshine sage Rod McKuen "do they still make turtles?"

Enjoy Soft Life

1.   Inner Dialogue - Yesterday the Dog Ate the Turtle
2.   The Association - Birthday Morning - Warner Brothers
3.   The Strawberry Alarm Clock - Barefoot In Baltimore - Uni / Sundazed
4.   The San Sebastian Strings, w/- Rod McKuen - Body Surfing With the Jet Set - Warner Brothers
5.   Harry Nilsson - Without Her - RCA
6.   Joe and Bing - Summer Sound - Rev-Ola
7.   Mamas and the Papas - People Like Us - ABC Dunhill
8.   Tony Mottola w/- Free Design - Kites Are Fun - Project 3
9.   Everly Brothers - Illinois - Edsel
10. Daisy Chain - Run Spot Run
11. The Monkees - Porpoise Song - Colgems
12. Tomorrow Your Heart - Honey Ltd - LHI / LITA
13. Serge Gainsbourg - I Want To Feel Crazy - Phillips
14. The Moon - Give Me More - Rev-Ola
15. The Cowsills - Father - MGM
16. Left Banke - Dark Is The Bark - Sundazed / Smash
17. The Beach Boys - Surfs Up - Capitol
18. Judee Sill - The Kiss - 4 Men With Beards
19. Free Design - Dorian Benediction - LITA
20. Joe Byrd and the Field Hippies - Moonsong Pelog - CBS
21. Linda Perhacs - Chimacum Rain - Sundazed / Kapp
22. Bergen White - The Bird Song - Rev-ola
23. Rod McKuen - Happy Times - High Fidelity Records
24. The Beach Boys - Water - Capitol
25. Strawberry Alarm Clock - Sea Shell - Sundazed
26. Sagitarius - Blue Marble - Sundazed
27. The Gates of Eden - No One Was There (Requiem) - WEA