Elephant Ball
(Roaratorio - ROAR37) LP $20.00 (Out-of-stock)
Following Roaratorio’s release of Family Evil in 2012, this West Coast psychedelic band reunited and began playing out again, with their vintage sound intact. This second helping of unearthed material from the band’s archives starts with three tracks from their earliest recording sessions in 1967 – the swaggering garage-rock miniature “Dawn Sermon” and the folk-rock “For All Of My Life” and “Tell Her For Me” – and then moves on to a Fillmore West gig from November 1969, featuring the final incarnation of the group during their original run. With the same complex harmonies, nuanced songwriting and top-drawer musicianship that won Family Evil its accolades, the half-dozen tunes here range from the crunchy riffs of the title track and “It’s Winter” to the lightly jazzy “Don’t Fall Brother” and the Latin-tinged moves of “There Is Light There.” Includes digital download. Listen to two tracks from the album here: https://soundcloud.com/roaratoriorecs
Family Evil
(Roaratorio - ROAR25) LP $18.00 (Out-of-stock)
Originally a Beatles / Byrds-influenced unit called the Morlochs, this “lost” West Coast psych group came together in Merced, California in 1965, but soon shed their original moniker and moved in a more psychedelic direction, becoming a fixture on the ballroom circuit from 1966-1970. Despite nods in the direction of the New Tweedy Brothers and Quicksilver Messenger Service at times, Family Evil is imbued with a distinctive sound that arose from practicing up to six nights a week. The band entertained offers from various labels during their existence, but as they insisted on complete artistic control and ownership of their music, no deals were struck. Contains studio tracks, rehearsal tapes and a live recording from the Fillmore West. Cover art by Norman Orr. Extensive historical liner notes. Includes free download.