the 1970 generation - persian
waters / princes kings and fame
scolaron records 7296, 1967?, style: garage-psych
listen to mp3s: a-side
b-side
** UPDATE ** I received an email this past December from the mysterious 1970 Generation-- in fact, the Seiden Family of California. No info, but the picture to the right was attached...!
This record is one of the most obscure we've got-- we don't know who the artists are, where the record was made, when it was made, or with what intent!
Here's what we do know: this record definitely has the sound of 1967 about it: the A-Side is an instrumental with a raga-ish tempo to it and is highlighted by farfisa-like keyboards and "ahhh"-ing vocals that border on the ominous; though they don't quite get there. The keyboards follow a fairly simple downward scales a couple of times, and occasionally drop out to bring out the raga rhythm. It's a fairly impressive, if unpracticed instrumental of the garage-psychedelic vein.
The B-Side is not quite as good but does provide us with a couple of clues. The vocalists seem to be the same from the A-Side but on this track we have lead vocals from three people: a man, a woman, and a child of about 5 years (presumably a girl). The lyrics seem to involve Snow White, and a lot of that kind of fairytale stuff is mentioned: "mirror, mirror" and the refrain ("sung", if that is the appropriate word, by the child) of "Princes Kings and Fame". The effect is either cutesy or uncomfortable. We can only assume this was meant to be a cute children's record, although the "ahhing" of the vocalists in the background and the off-key singing of the child sound slightly disturbing as well, given that the lyrics mention death and shrieking among other things. The feeling is similar to that of a track on the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's "Where's My Daddy?" LP when a young girl announces the band before a song-- one of many songs on that LP about young girls...
It is conceivable that this record was indeed made after 1970, in honor of a new decade or the child itself, although it would seem that a psychedelic band would name itself after the future and not the past. We also assume by the vocals that this record is American, although it might be Canadian. Either way, all attempts to track down further information using the details on the record itself have failed. Below you will find all of the evidence we have. If you have any information on this group, please contact us by email.
Scolaron Records
7296
A-Side: PERSIAN WATERS | length: 2:18 | written:
Dave Seiden | published: Plunge Pub. Co. (BMI) | produced:
A Plunge Prod. | matrix(?): U4KM-5631 | run-out groove: same
as matrix + "- A" + "PLUNGE"
B-Side: PRINCES KINGS AND FAME || length: 2:58 | written: same as A | published: same as A | produced: same as A | matrix(?): U4KM-5630 | run-out groove: same as matrix + "- B" + "PLUNGE"
notes: both sides list SCOLARON RECORDS (no record of this company exists)
