The Common People

Originally released in 1968, their sole LP. Soft, floating,swirling psychedelia that in parts gets very intense and fuzzed out. A friend of mine paid $200 for this album by California based group The Common People and was raving about it to me, so I asked him to make me a tape of it, which he did and I’ve been playing this thing for months and I’ll be damned if this isn’t one of the best psychedelic pop records I’ve ever heard! The record begins with a beautiful swirling psychedelic pop song called “Soon There’ll Be Thunder” that sounds like the best of the Strawberry Alarm Clock meeting The Left Banke, the track has brilliant strings supplied by David Axelrod. “I Have Been Alone” is next and follows the same formula and it’s even better, this one has some magical acid guitar lines played against a Love “Forever Changes” like backdrop, this song is a true knockout. “Those Who Love” once again follows the same style to absolute perfection. With “Go Everyway” the psychedelic juice gets turned up full on this brilliant melodic rocker, lead singer Denny Robinett has an unusual but engaging voice that stands out on almost every track. “Why Must I Be” has a Moby Grape/Buffalo Springfield folk rock flavor to it, some understated organ fills add to the song’s appeal. “I Take From You” is a driving folk/punker that again recalls early Love.