The Deep (band)
Encyclopedia
The Deep was a short-lived American
rock and roll
band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, during the mid-1960s. Their style of rock and roll can be characterized as protopunk
at times, while at others, their music delves into more psychedelic
sounds. In fact, their biggest claim to fame is probably that the title of their sole album, The Psychedelic Moods of The Deep, is most likely the first time the word "psychedelic" was used in an album title.
Information on the band is sparse at best, and the identity of only one member is known for sure: that of lead guitarist, singer, and songwriter Rusty Evans. Evans had performed as a Greenwich Village
folk musician in the late 1950s and early 1960s, recording three albums under his own name, and was later a member of the folk group The New Christy Minstrels. Musician David Bromberg
is also known to have played on The Deep's one and only album, although it is unknown on which tracks he played.
The Psychedelic Moods album was recorded in August 1966 for the Cameo-Parkway label, which was also home to fellow protopunkers Question Mark and the Mysterians. While the exact release date of the album has yet to be definitively established, the record most likely had been shipped to stores by late October 1966, based on the known release dates and catalogue numbers of other Cameo-Parkway albums. This would make it the first album to include the word "psychedelic" in its title, beating out the Blues Magoos
' "Psychedelic Lollipop", released as early as November 1, 1966, and the 13th Floor Elevators
' "The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators", released around the last week of November 1966.
The Deep's Psychedelic Moods did not sell well, and the group did not tour to support it. They seem to have existed as a studio-only band, and, aside from sessions for their album, produced no other recordings under that name. Whatever the case, Rusty Evans left Cameo-Parkway to record a new album for the Columbia Records
label in 1967. Ditching the name The Deep, this second album was credited to the band Freak Scene and entitled Psychedelic Psoul. The sound of this album is very similar to that of The Deep's album, and should be considered a follow-up in all but name. As its title suggests, Psychedelic Psoul is composed of psychedelic rock songs, and is very much a product of its times. Unfortunately, Freak Scene was doomed to the same fate as The Deep. They did not tour, and their album did not chart. The album has been rereleased by Sony BMG through Columbia Records on vinyl.
After this venture, Rusty Evans gave up psychedelic rock and roll for good, returning to his folk roots. He recorded under his birthname Marcus for a self-titled album in 1969, which is often lauded as an early example of psych-folk music. He did not record another album until 1979, when he released "Life's Railway Heaven", another folk effort. Evans has recorded sporadically since then, usually in the style of folk or rockabilly music.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, during the mid-1960s. Their style of rock and roll can be characterized as protopunk
Protopunk
Protopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...
at times, while at others, their music delves into more psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
sounds. In fact, their biggest claim to fame is probably that the title of their sole album, The Psychedelic Moods of The Deep, is most likely the first time the word "psychedelic" was used in an album title.
Information on the band is sparse at best, and the identity of only one member is known for sure: that of lead guitarist, singer, and songwriter Rusty Evans. Evans had performed as a Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
folk musician in the late 1950s and early 1960s, recording three albums under his own name, and was later a member of the folk group The New Christy Minstrels. Musician David Bromberg
David Bromberg
David Bromberg is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Bromberg has an eclectic style, playing bluegrass, blues, folk, jazz, country and western, and rock and roll equally well. He is known for his quirky, humorous lyrics, and the ability to play rhythm and lead guitar at the...
is also known to have played on The Deep's one and only album, although it is unknown on which tracks he played.
The Psychedelic Moods album was recorded in August 1966 for the Cameo-Parkway label, which was also home to fellow protopunkers Question Mark and the Mysterians. While the exact release date of the album has yet to be definitively established, the record most likely had been shipped to stores by late October 1966, based on the known release dates and catalogue numbers of other Cameo-Parkway albums. This would make it the first album to include the word "psychedelic" in its title, beating out the Blues Magoos
Blues Magoos
The Blues Magoos was a rock music group from the The Bronx, New York. They were at the forefront of the psychedelic music trend, beginning as early as 1966.-1964 - 1971:The band was formed in 1964 as "The Trenchcoats"...
' "Psychedelic Lollipop", released as early as November 1, 1966, and the 13th Floor Elevators
13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas formed by guitarist and vocalist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland, which existed from 1965 to 1969...
' "The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators", released around the last week of November 1966.
The Deep's Psychedelic Moods did not sell well, and the group did not tour to support it. They seem to have existed as a studio-only band, and, aside from sessions for their album, produced no other recordings under that name. Whatever the case, Rusty Evans left Cameo-Parkway to record a new album for the Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
label in 1967. Ditching the name The Deep, this second album was credited to the band Freak Scene and entitled Psychedelic Psoul. The sound of this album is very similar to that of The Deep's album, and should be considered a follow-up in all but name. As its title suggests, Psychedelic Psoul is composed of psychedelic rock songs, and is very much a product of its times. Unfortunately, Freak Scene was doomed to the same fate as The Deep. They did not tour, and their album did not chart. The album has been rereleased by Sony BMG through Columbia Records on vinyl.
After this venture, Rusty Evans gave up psychedelic rock and roll for good, returning to his folk roots. He recorded under his birthname Marcus for a self-titled album in 1969, which is often lauded as an early example of psych-folk music. He did not record another album until 1979, when he released "Life's Railway Heaven", another folk effort. Evans has recorded sporadically since then, usually in the style of folk or rockabilly music.
External links
- [ The Deep] at Allmusic