American music exploded in 1967 as the youth counterculture evolved into new shapes on a daily basis, with the art and music reflecting the unrelenting waves of social change. Psychedelic rock, sunshine pop, early forms of jam bands, biker rock, proto-punk, acid folk, garage rock; it was all happening, and
March of the Flower Children compiles some of the most vibrant examples of well-known and lesser-known acts from this important year in rock history. As with so many of
Cherry Red's deep dive collections, one of the most exciting parts of the curation is the blend of familiar songs and artists with complete unknowns, and this comp is no different. Kicking off with a fuzzy anthem heavy on moody vocal harmonies from
the Peanut Butter Conspiracy,
March of the Flower Children pays special attention to the less famous players of the class of '67. There's groovy and mystical fare from Detroit's
Spike Drivers (featuring a young
Ted Lucas, who went on to make one of the more celebrated private-press psych folk albums of the '70s under his own name), horn-heavy Baroque garage from the obscure Cleveland, Mississippi act
Eternity's Children on "Can't Put a Thing Over Me," blissed-out candy pop from
the Peppermint Trolley Company on "It's a Lazy Summer Day," and tracks from other underappreciated names like
Lemon Fog,
the Balloon Farm, and
the Jackson Investment Co. There are also entries from some of 1967's bigger names:
the Grateful Dead,
the Byrds,
the Monkees, and
Love, as well as some interesting examples of established, more straight-ahead pop stars trying the new psychedelic style on for size. Bubblegum singer
Tommy Roe explores the inner reaches of his mind on hippie chamber pop tune "Paisley Dreams," the
Everly Brothers get hip on "Mary Jane," and wholesome surf rockers
Jan & Dean turn in the jumpy flower power anthem "Love and Hate." To balance out all the incense and peppermints sentiments,
March of the Flower Children includes ample material from some of the era's more snarly and cantankerous artists, with noisy disruptions from
the Velvet Underground,
Captain Beefheart, and
the Mothers of Invention. With 85 tracks and close to four hours of sound,
March of the Flower Children illuminates the entire spectrum of 1967's tuned-in, turned-on, and dropped-out psychedelia. ~ Fred Thomas
![3 in the Attic [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0715187929227_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "3 in the Attic [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]")
![Greatest Hits [Rhino]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0081227219024_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Greatest Hits [Rhino]")
