The Creation

You are probably pretty familiar with The Creation. If you are not: The Creation were an amazing Mod/Freakbeat band from UK. Here is their forth 45, "Life Is Just Beginning/Through My Eyes". "Life Is Just Beginning" had previously been released as the B-side to their third, German-only single, a cover of The Capitols' "Cool Jerk". "Life Is Just Beginning" starts with a string orchestra which after about 15 seconds is replaced by some great tambourine bashing and psychedelic guitar work. It then goes on with great vocals. Pure pop art greatness.

The group live, doing their famous "Action painting".

The flip, "Through My Eyes" is a dreamy and spaced-out, wonderful piece of psychedelia. It starts with some great bass and continues with some great guitar licks. Then we have wonderful vocals. Also some great drumming.

Both tracks appear on "The Creation: The Singles Collection", "How Does It Feel To Feel" and probably any other The Creation compilation.

Life Is Just Beginning

Through My Eyes

Skip Bifferty

Skip Bifferty came from Newcastle, UK and released this great LP on RCA Victor in 1968. It starts with the classic "Money Man", a great psych nugget. We then have the calm "Jeremy Carabine", another great song. Next in line is the dramatic "When She Comes To Stay", which features amazing guitar licks after about half the song by the then 17 year-old John Turnbull, who went on to play in Ian Dury's Blockheads amongst others. After that is the spaced-out and Indian-influenced "Guru". Next, the melancholic "Come Around". Then we have one of my personal favourites from the LP, the whimsical "Time Track" and then, the jolly "Gas Board Underdog". 

Then we turn on the record and we hear the wonderful "Inside The Secret", another of my favourite tracks of the LP. "Orange Lace" is a beautiful and easy song. Anyhow, the easyness have a prompt end with the next song, "Planting Bad Seeds", which has a great piano and nice guitar licks. Next is another one of my favourites, the beautiful and tempo-shifting "Your For At Least 24". "Follow The Path Of The Stars" is a beautiful and moody song. Next is "Prince Of Germany The First", another great song. Then we have the last track on the LP, the freaky  "Clearway 51". So, there you go, a short review of a great pop-sike album. The album has been reissued several times, so it shouldn't be hard to find.

The Zipps

The Zipps were a great Nederbeat group from Dordrecht, and here is their debut 45. "Roll The Cotton Down" is a fantastic punky garage-great with amazing Bo Diddley-beat. The vocalist sounds like he's Johnny Rotten's dad! Very nice harmonica and drumming also. 

       

The Zipps: You can tell by the pictures it's great

"Highway Gambler" is also good, again with some amazing harmonica and vocals. Even though, it is not nearly as great as "Roll The Cotton Down". Both sides can be found on the 2000 compilation "Be Stoned! Dig: Zipps" and the newly released "Kicks And Chicks: Ever Stoned".

Roll The Cotton Down

Highway Gambler