Leathercoated Minds
Encyclopedia
The Leathecoated Minds was a 1966-67 psychedelic
studio-based band masterminded largely by Snuff Garrett
and J J Cale. The band produced one album, A trip down the Sunset Strip, co-produced by Cale and Garrett, and released in stereo and mono versions on Garrett's Viva label in 1967 and on the Fontana label in Europe ; later the mono issue re-released on CD in 2006 , remastering co-produced by Garrett.
The album contains a mixture of cover version
s of psychedelic hits from around 1966, together with four original instrumentals of Cale's composition, illustrating a snapshot of Cale's guitar style at the time.
The album includes instrumental tracks and some quirky, heavily psychedelic vocal takes, together with snippets of conversations and automobile noise between the tracks. These abstract sounds, used almost as a form of Musique concrète
, were recorded on West Hollywood, California
's Sunset Strip
specifically for the album. The band's instrumental take on Puff, the Magic Dragon
suggests a rising level of psychotic intoxication as the track progresses ...
Note: Bill Boatman co-wrote "Soul Food" with Markham. It was recorded by Leon Russell
.
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
studio-based band masterminded largely by Snuff Garrett
Snuff Garrett
Snuff Garrett is a retired American record producer whose most famous work was during the 1960s and 1970s. His nickname is a play on Garrett's Snuff, a brand of snuff....
and J J Cale. The band produced one album, A trip down the Sunset Strip, co-produced by Cale and Garrett, and released in stereo and mono versions on Garrett's Viva label in 1967 and on the Fontana label in Europe ; later the mono issue re-released on CD in 2006 , remastering co-produced by Garrett.
The album contains a mixture of cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of psychedelic hits from around 1966, together with four original instrumentals of Cale's composition, illustrating a snapshot of Cale's guitar style at the time.
The album includes instrumental tracks and some quirky, heavily psychedelic vocal takes, together with snippets of conversations and automobile noise between the tracks. These abstract sounds, used almost as a form of Musique concrète
Musique concrète
Musique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that utilises acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The compositional material is not restricted to the inclusion of sounds derived from musical instruments or voices, nor to elements traditionally thought of as "musical"...
, were recorded on West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
's Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
specifically for the album. The band's instrumental take on Puff, the Magic Dragon
Puff, the Magic Dragon
"Puff, the Magic Dragon" is a song written by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow, and made popular by Yarrow's group Peter, Paul and Mary in a 1963 recording. The song achieved great popularity and has entered American and British pop culture.-Lyrics:...
suggests a rising level of psychotic intoxication as the track progresses ...
Band members
The CD notes bear reference to: J J Cale, Roger Tillison, Terrye Newkirk, Bill Boatman, Gary Gilmore, Chuck Blackwell, Jimmy Junior Markham (erroneously referred to as Peter Junior Markham), and Jimmy Karstein (mis-spelt Carstein in the notes)Note: Bill Boatman co-wrote "Soul Food" with Markham. It was recorded by Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
.
Tracks
All tracks credited to John J. Cale unless otherwise indicated- "Eight Miles HighEight Miles High"Eight Miles High" is a song by the American rock band The Byrds, written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn, and David Crosby and first released as a single on March 14, 1966 . The single managed to reach the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the Top 30 of the UK Singles Chart...
" (Gene ClarkGene ClarkGene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
, Jim McGuinnRoger McGuinnJames Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
, David CrosbyDavid CrosbyDavid Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
) - 2:03 - "Sunset and Clark" * - 1:58
- "Psychotic ReactionPsychotic Reaction"Psychotic Reaction" is an early garage rock song released by the American rock band Count Five in 1966, and also the title of their only album. The song Psychotic Reaction was written by the five members of the Count Five, Craig "Butch" Atkinson, John Byrne, Roy Chaney, Kenn Ellner and John...
" (Ken Ellner, Roy Chaney, Craig Atkinson, John ByrneJohn "Sean" ByrneJohn "Sean" Byrne was an Irish - born American musician, best known for his work with the Count Five. He emigrated to San Jose, California and joined his brother's group, which changed its name to the Count Five to capitalize on the British Invasion. John took on the stage name Sean to...
, John Michalski) - 2:23 - "Over Under Sideways DownOver Under Sideways Down"Over Under Sideways Down" was a single by The Yardbirds released on Columbia in the UK and Epic in the U.S. Chart tops: UK: #10, US: #13.It was the title song to the album Over Under Sideways Down , or Yardbirds which is more commonly referred to as Roger the Engineer...
" (Chris DrejaChris DrejaChris Dreja was the rhythm guitarist, and later bassist, in the 1960s British band, The Yardbirds.-Early life:...
, Keith RelfKeith RelfKeith William Relf , was a musician best known as the lead singer and harmonica player of The Yardbirds. After the Yardbirds broke up Relf formed the acoustic duo Together, with fellow Yardbird Jim McCarty, followed by Renaissance, which also featured his sister, singer Jane Relf, then hard rock...
, Jim McCartyJim McCartyJim McCarty is an English musician, best known as the drummer for The Yardbirds and Renaissance.-Early life:...
, Paul Samwell-SmithPaul Samwell-SmithPaul Samwell-Smith is best known as a founding member and bassist of the 1960s English band, The Yardbirds, a group that spawned such noteworthy musicians as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page...
) - 2:10 - "Sunshine SupermanSunshine Superman"Sunshine Superman" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. The "Sunshine Superman" single was released in the United States through Epic Records in July 1966, but due to a contractual dispute the United Kingdom release was delayed until December 1966, where it...
" (DonovanDonovanDonovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
) - 3:12 - "Non-Stop" - 2:30
- "Arriba" - 2:15
- "KicksKicks (song)"Kicks" is a song by American rock band Paul Revere & the Raiders. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil wrote the song for The Animals, but the band's lead singer Eric Burdon turned it down....
" (Barry MannBarry MannBarry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
, Cynthia WeilCynthia WeilCynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
) - 2:40 - "Mr. Tambourine ManMr. Tambourine Man"Mr. Tambourine Man" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan, which was released on his 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. The Byrds also recorded a version of the song that was released as their first single on Columbia Records, reaching number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and...
" (Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
) - 2:08 - "Puff (The Magic Dragon)Puff, the Magic Dragon"Puff, the Magic Dragon" is a song written by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow, and made popular by Yarrow's group Peter, Paul and Mary in a 1963 recording. The song achieved great popularity and has entered American and British pop culture.-Lyrics:...
" (Peter YarrowPeter YarrowPeter Yarrow is an American singer who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote one of the group's most famous songs, "Puff, the Magic Dragon"...
, Leonard Lipton) - 2:26 - "Along Comes MaryAlong Comes Mary"Along Comes Mary" is a song composed by Tandyn Almer, originally recorded in 1966 by The Association, and released on their debut album And Then... Along Comes the Association. It was their first hit and reached number seven on the U.S. charts. It has been covered by several artists, most notably...
" (Tandyn AlmerTandyn AlmerTandyn Almer is a musician, composer, lyricist, and record producer, most famous for writing the song "Along Comes Mary", the 1966 hit by the Association...
) - 2:00 - "Pot Luck" - 2:04
- "Sunset & Clark" (whilst credited to John Cale) is actually Cale's instrumental interpretation of an earlier Michael Gordon/Jimmy Griffin composition titled "You're So Young"