cktimes.ca Archives for Classic Vinyl


Classic Vinyl

With Allan Day

THE SEEDS

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

The Seeds Album Group Photo

I was watching TV the other night and usually commercials fall on my deaf ears, but the tune blaring out of this commercial, set off my memory search for the classic old 60's tunes---the commercial Axe Body Spray, the song "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" definitely had to be the voice of SKY SAXON, the Band, THE SEEDS.

THE SEEDS were based in Los Angeles, California way back in 1966, another of the great garage bands of the 60's. My first introduction to this band was their huge hit "Your Pushin' to Hard" Sky Saxon was heavily influenced by The Rolling Stones and Mick Jagger's vocal phrasing---the group even promoted the fact that Muddy Waters once called them "America's own Rolling Stones"

The Seeds consisted of members Sky Saxon/vocals and multi instrumentalist, Jan Savage/guitarist, Daryl Hooper/Keyboard and Rick Andridge/drummer---formed in LA in 1965. By the end of 1966 they secured a contract with GNP Cresendo and released "Pushin' Too Hard". The Song hit the Top 40 charts in 1967 with rave reviews of Sky Saxon's raw howling/half spoken lyrics---he would keep that pattern of vocals throughout the group's career. They released two sound alike singles "Mr. Farmer" (my favourite) and "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" shortly after their Pushin Too Hard hit that was well received in the charts, but missed the Top 40

They released eight albums---their singles were very garage-punk, but their albums branched out into improvisational blues-rock and psychedelia. The Future album attempted a psychedelic concept in the vein of Sgt. Pepper---it produced a minor hit "A Thousand Shadows. Their discography consisted of The Seeds '66/ A Web Of Sound '66/ A Full Spoon of Seedy Blues (the Sky Saxon Band) '67/ Future '67/ Raw & Alive in Concert at Merlin's Music Box '68---I think this album was in nearly all of my friends music collection, I also think it sold for around 99cents at the time and that was why) Fallin Off the Edge'77/ Bad Part of Town '82 and Travel With Your Mind '93.

The band today still exists touring with a new line-up and Sky Saxon on vocals, touring Europe/Japan and Australia in 2005 and at the time a new album was in the works. The band have become Cult Icons to the International Psychedelic crowd. Be sure to check out this weeks youtubes for a taste of this Great Classic Garage Band and break out the incense while listening to them---I burn at least 1000 sticks of Nag Champa a year/ my ONLY bad habit I carried over from the great 60's

Youtubes this week---the Seeds "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" on the Dick Clark Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV8KvKYRxig "Pushin Too Hard" on Shebang Show 1967 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmHTyLBIZ1g and "Mr. Farmer" on Shebang 1967 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ywfPT9K3PU

Hope you enjoyed this weeks column and see you in 2 weeks---contact me at bluesslider88@yahoo.ca or at cktimes with any comments you would like to make about classic vinyl



Allan Day----long time acquaintance of John Gardiner----I presently live in Goderich Ontario, retired (oh yeah) and live for the sound of music, especially from the 60's music explosion---I hope you enjoy some of my articles and they bring back some lost memories of bands gone by. Now I have to let you know that I am a HUGE Rolling Stones fan, collector, historian and I hope to hear any stories you might have on this GREAT Band from the 60's----email me at CK Times and let me know what you have or memories you have of this group. I will include stories and short stories on The Stones each week.