March 29, 2025

Mutual Understanding



Mutual Understanding is a musical unit from Toronto, Canada. They weren't actual a band but rather a musical collaboration involving local Toronto session musicians, arrangers & producers. They recorded one standard soft sunshine pop album in 1968, "In Wonderland," as well as a Christmas album in 1970. They also released 3 singles.

RECOMMENDED SONG: Look Around (play song below)
ALSO CHECK OUT: You Fascinate Me So

March 16, 2025

Second Hand (a.k.a. Moving Finger)



Second Hand, originally called The Next Collection in the mid-1960's, then Moving Finger, was an obscure British progressive psychedelic band active from the late 60's to early 70's. They eventually changed to their final name of Second Hand as their Moving Finger name conflicted with another more popular UK band, The Moving Finger. The name change to Second Hand was in reference to the fact that all their gear & instruments had been purchased used. The band released one obscure, considered by many a psych masterpiece, album "Reality" on Polydor in 1968 (early copies were credited as Moving Finger) & another in 1971 before calling it quits.


RECOMMENDED SONG: The World Will End Yesterday (play song below)
ALSO CHECK OUT: A Fairy Tale

March 4, 2025

Muffets



The Muffets, a garage band with psychedelic leanings, began in 1966 calling themselves the MoJo's based out of St. Albans & Hurricane West Virginia (USA). As the Mojo's they released one uninspired single. In 1967 they relocated to Columbus, Ohio & changed their name to The Muffets. As The Muffets, their musical output was limited to just two singles in 1968 & 1969 which went largely unnoticed. They eventually changed their name to A.G. Pyme Muffet Company.  From there they recorded nearly an album's worth of material, most of which was never released (except for one more single). They finally renamed themselves Stone Jaw before disbanding in 1970.


RECOMMENDED SONG: Lost (play song below)

March 2, 2025

KFRC Fantasy Fair & Magic Mountain Music Festival (1967)



The KFRC Fantasy Fair & Magic Mountain Music Festival was held June 11 & 12, 1967. It was originally schedule to begin 8 days earlier but was delayed due to poor weather.

610 Top-40 AM radio station KFRC in San Francisco organized the event including the lineup of musicians (total of 34 solo & group acts) to perform, both locally grown & from outside the region.

The event was held at the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre on the face of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California. Though the venue only seated 4,000 people, upwards of 40,000 people actually attended the two-day concert. Tickets were $2 with all proceeds donated to the nearby Hunters Point Child Care Center in San Francisco.

Jefferson Airplane

There was no parking at the event as the Panoramic Highway (leading up to the venue) had been closed to traffic. Instead all musicians & attendees had to be shuttled up the mountain from nearby Mill Valley on what was called "Trans-Love Bus Lines." It's said that those who missed the buses could catch a ride on the back of one of the Hells Angels  Harley motorcycles. NOTE: Though the Hells Angels were not officially hired by the organizers, they were asked to help with security as they saw fit.

The event is believed to be the first large-scale multi-act outdoor rock music event (in the USA & the World). Nowadays they are better referred to as "rock festivals." It was also the first in a series of 1967 San Francisco area "Summer of Love" cultural events. NOTE: The better known (and larger) Monterey International Pop Festival occurred one week after this event.

The Byrds

As with most early festivals during the "hippie" era between 1967 & 1970, safety and crowd behavior was favorably reviewed by the press (some later festivals, such as Altamont, had crowds considered more unruly and rowdy). For the most part attendees at this festival are said to have left the event fairly free of garbage, much like they had found it.

There were two stages for the performers, the main stage for top acts & a smaller stage for lesser known musicians.

The Doors

The list of performers were as follows:

Saturday, June 10:
  • The Charlatans
  • Mount Rushmore
  • Rodger Collins
  • Dionne Warwick
  • *The Doors
  • The Lamp of Childhood
  • Canned Heat
  • Jim Kweskin Jug Band
  • Spanky and Our Gang
  • Blackburn & Snow
  • The Sparrows
  • Every Mother's Son
  • Kaleidoscope (US, not the UK band)
  • The Chocolate Watchband
  • The Mojo Men
  • The Merry-Go-Round
* NOTE: This was The Doors first large show, occurring as their first hit single, "Light My Fire," was rising to the top of the charts.

Sunday, June 11:
  • Jefferson Airplane
  • The Byrds w/ Hugh Masekela
  • P. F. Sloan
  • Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
  • The Seeds
  • The Grass Roots
  • The Loading Zone
  • Tim Buckley
  • Every Mother's Son
  • Steve Miller Blues Band
  • Country Joe and the Fish
  • Sons of Champlin
  • The 5th Dimension
  • The Lamp of Childhood
  • The Mystery Trend
  • Penny Nichols
  • The Merry-Go-Round
  • New Salvation Army Band
NOTE: The Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre is still active today. It's unique because the seats are actually rocks - therefore standing the test of time.

The Amphitheatre as it looks today

March 1, 2025

Montage



Montage was formed in 1967 by The Left Bankes' singer/songwriter Michael Brown, who hired four relatively unknown New Jersey musicians to fill out the band. Though Brown wasn't technically a member of Montage, he did contribute piano and organ as well produce & write most of the music to their one & only 1969 self-titled album. Many say that if The Left Banke had made a second album, it would have sounded like this. Montage can best be described as a baroque pop vocal group with impressive harmonies & lush orchestrations.


RECOMMENDED SONG: I Shall Call Her Mary (play song below + lyrics)
ALSO CHECK OUT: The Song is Love


Lyrics: I Shall Call Her Mary

And when my days were not all they could be
My lonely eyes brought a vision to me

Oh how she sparkles so lovely and small
Yes, if she stays then I think I shall call her

Mary, how you waver in the light
Mary, how you wither from my sight
Ahhh, ahhhhh
Gone away, today
Mary

And in the light, kinda bright in my face
I watch her move in a curtain of lace
Laughing her way from my life to my dreams
And when I reach she is gone so it seems

Mary, how you waver in the light
Mary, how you wither from my sight
Ahhh, ahhhhh
Gone away, today
Mary

Oh how she sparkles so lovely and small
Yes, if she stays then I think I shall call h?r

Mary, how you waver in the light
Mary, how you wither from my sight
Ahhh, ahhh, ahh, ahh