The Open Mind
Encyclopedia
The Open Mind were a London
-based psychedelic rock
band active in the 1960s and 1970s.
, South London
. Initially named The Apaches formed by Tim du Feu, Mike Brancaccio and Philip Fox and their friend Ray Nye. Nye left in 1965 and another friend joined instead Terry Schindler. The band became The Drag Set, who released a little-known single in February 1967, "Day and Night" / "Get Out of My Way". Shortly thereafter, they changed their name to The Open Mind and in July 1969 released a self-titled LP
which has since become a highly sought-after collectible. The band, however, is best known for its druggy August 1969 single, "Magic Potion" (which also marked the introduction of double-bass drums in rock music), which did not appear on the album.
The Open Mind disbanded in 1973; its members wanted to move into jazz
-influenced music, but The Open Mind was too well-known as a psychedelic band. The band members (minus Phil Fox) went on to form Armada, which lasted about three years but did not release any recorded material.
Despite their paucity of recorded material, The Open Mind have proven to be influential in the psychedelic rock genre. The noted 1990s psych group Sun Dial
paid tribute to the band with a cover of "Magic Potion" on their 1993 album Return Journey.
Jon Anderson
briefly sang in the band but left to form Yes
.
The Open Mind was reissued on CD on the Phantom
, Acme Records
and Second Battle label. The two non-LP songs from the single are included as bonus tracks.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts 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 United States and the United Kingdom...
band active in the 1960s and 1970s.
Overview
The band was formed in the mid 1960s by four musicians from PutneyPutney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
. Initially named The Apaches formed by Tim du Feu, Mike Brancaccio and Philip Fox and their friend Ray Nye. Nye left in 1965 and another friend joined instead Terry Schindler. The band became The Drag Set, who released a little-known single in February 1967, "Day and Night" / "Get Out of My Way". Shortly thereafter, they changed their name to The Open Mind and in July 1969 released a self-titled LP
LP record
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
which has since become a highly sought-after collectible. The band, however, is best known for its druggy August 1969 single, "Magic Potion" (which also marked the introduction of double-bass drums in rock music), which did not appear on the album.
The Open Mind disbanded in 1973; its members wanted to move into jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-influenced music, but The Open Mind was too well-known as a psychedelic band. The band members (minus Phil Fox) went on to form Armada, which lasted about three years but did not release any recorded material.
Despite their paucity of recorded material, The Open Mind have proven to be influential in the psychedelic rock genre. The noted 1990s psych group Sun Dial
Sun Dial
Sun Dial is a British space rock band formed in 1990 by Gary Ramon.-History:The precursor to Sun Dial was Ramon's the Modern Art, formed in the mid-'80s with a loose lineup that never played gigs but did see the release of two studio albums...
paid tribute to the band with a cover of "Magic Potion" on their 1993 album Return Journey.
Band members
- Mike Bran, a.k.a. Mike Brancaccio - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Timothy du Feu - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Philip Fox - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Ray Nye - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Terry Martin, a.k.a. Terry Schindler - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
briefly sang in the band but left to form Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
.
Singles
- "Day and Night" / "Get Out of My Way" 7" single (GoGo RecordsGo Records was a small independent Melbourne based recording label which ran from 1964 to 1968. Its releases were manufactured and distributed by the Melbourne-based recording and electronics company Astor....
AJ 11405) May, 1967 - "Horses And Chariots" / "Before My Time" (PhilipsPhilips RecordsPhilips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
BF 1790) May, 1969 - "Magic Potion" / "Cast A Spell" (Philips BF 1805) August , 1969
Albums
- The Open Mind LP (Philips 7893) 1969)
The Open Mind was reissued on CD on the Phantom
Phantom Records
Phantom Records was an Australian independent record label established by Dare Jennings Phantom Records was an Australian independent record label established by Dare Jennings Phantom Records was an Australian independent record label established by Dare Jennings (founder of Mambo (Clothing) and...
, Acme Records
Acme Records
Acme Records, an independent record label based in Hastings, East Sussex, England, was formed in 1994 by Gary Ramon . It is known for reissuing classic progressive rock and psychedelic rock albums from the 1960s and 1970s, including out-of-print and previously unreleased material...
and Second Battle label. The two non-LP songs from the single are included as bonus tracks.
External links
- [ Allmusic entry for the Open Mind]
- June 2001 interview with bassist Timothy du Feu