The Peanut Butter Conspiracy
Encyclopedia
The Peanut Butter Conspiracy was an American
psychedelic pop
/rock
group in the 1960s.
They formed in Los Angeles in August 1966 out of the folk-rock group "The Ashes", who included John Merrill (guitar/ vocals), Barbara "Sandi" Robison (vocals), Alan Brackett (bass/ vocals), Spencer Dryden
(drums), and Jim Cherniss (guitar/ vocals). The group had earlier been known as The Young Swingers, who released two obscure singles. The Ashes released a first single in Feb. '66 on the Vault label, "Is There Anything I Can Do?" written by Jackie DeShannon
. Dryden left The Ashes (May '66) to replace Skip Spence
in Jefferson Airplane
, Robison left (June '66) to give birth, and the group temporarily disbanded.
Alan Brackett hooked up with a new guitarist, Lance Baker Fent, and a new drummer, Jim Voigt, naming the new trio "The Crossing Guards". Merrill and Robison rejoined, and the five-piece band became The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.
The group signed with Columbia Records
in late 1966, releasing a single "It's A Happening Thing", produced by Gary Usher
, which reached #93 on the national pop chart. The band's first album, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading, followed, also produced by Usher who brought in studio musicians including Glen Campbell
and James Burton
to bolster the group's sound. Their late 1967 single "Turn On a Friend (to the Good Life)" failed to chart. However, they toured nationally, added a new guitarist, Bill Wolff, and recorded a second album for Columbia, The Great Conspiracy, generally regarded as their best. The group recorded songs for movies including: Angels from Hell, Run Angel Run, Jud, Cherry Harry and Raquel, Hell Ride, 2000 Years Later, and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
.
In 1968 they moved to the Warner Bros. Records
subsidiary label Challenge, with a revamped line-up featuring ex-Clear Light
organist Ralph Schuckett and drummer Michael Ney (Stevens), recording their final album For Children of All Ages. The record was written and conceived by Brackett. Meanwhile, Merrill had reformed a version of Ashes, whose only LP was eventually released in 1970 on the Vault label.
The Peanut Butter Conspiracy undertook a final tour and split up in about 1970. Merrill and Brackett continued writing and producing for other artists. Alan Brackett worked as a music publisher and produced Randy Meisner's first solo LP after leaving the Eagles. He also produced Laramy Smith, and he wrote and performed songs for scores of movies and television shows including Witness, Happy Days, and Top Gun. Robison also toured in the 1970s, but died in 1988.
Guitarist Lance Baker Fent continues to create rock-and-roll through his GreenManMedia label. The three surviving members of The Peanut Butter Conspiracy performed at Amoeba Records on September 22, 2009 Alan Brackett's song, "Eventually". The song was originally recorded in 1966 and is part of the Rhino box set, Los Angeles the Nuggets series, Where the Action Is, along with Laramy Smith for the title song "Los Angeles" featuring x-Byrd Gene Clark
as a member of the group Phoenix, all three were Grammy nominated artists. A new female singer, Karen Mitchell and drummer Jim Laspesa joined original members Alan Brackett, John Merrill and Lance Fent in the re-formation of The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychedelic pop
Psychedelic pop
Psychedelic pop is a psychedelic musical style inspired by the sounds of psychedelic folk and psychedelic rock, but applied to a pop music setting...
/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...
group in the 1960s.
They formed in Los Angeles in August 1966 out of the folk-rock group "The Ashes", who included John Merrill (guitar/ vocals), Barbara "Sandi" Robison (vocals), Alan Brackett (bass/ vocals), Spencer Dryden
Spencer Dryden
Spencer Dryden was an American musician best known as the longest-serving drummer for Jefferson Airplane. He also played with New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Dinosaurs, and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.-Early life:...
(drums), and Jim Cherniss (guitar/ vocals). The group had earlier been known as The Young Swingers, who released two obscure singles. The Ashes released a first single in Feb. '66 on the Vault label, "Is There Anything I Can Do?" written by Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. She was one of the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period.- Life and early career :...
. Dryden left The Ashes (May '66) to replace Skip Spence
Skip Spence
Alexander Lee "Skip" Spence was a Canadian-born musician and singer-songwriter. He was co-founder of Moby Grape, and played guitar with them until 1969. He released one solo album, 1969's Oar, and then largely withdrew from the music industry...
in Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, Robison left (June '66) to give birth, and the group temporarily disbanded.
Alan Brackett hooked up with a new guitarist, Lance Baker Fent, and a new drummer, Jim Voigt, naming the new trio "The Crossing Guards". Merrill and Robison rejoined, and the five-piece band became The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.
The group signed with 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...
in late 1966, releasing a single "It's A Happening Thing", produced by Gary Usher
Gary Usher
Gary Usher was an American surf rock musician, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:Usher's early life was spent in Grafton, Massachusetts. He attended Norcross Grammar School with his sister, Sandra, who was in the same class and was likely his twin. Gary was kiddingly called "Chicken Feed"...
, which reached #93 on the national pop chart. The band's first album, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading, followed, also produced by Usher who brought in studio musicians including Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
and James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
to bolster the group's sound. Their late 1967 single "Turn On a Friend (to the Good Life)" failed to chart. However, they toured nationally, added a new guitarist, Bill Wolff, and recorded a second album for Columbia, The Great Conspiracy, generally regarded as their best. The group recorded songs for movies including: Angels from Hell, Run Angel Run, Jud, Cherry Harry and Raquel, Hell Ride, 2000 Years Later, and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a 1970 American schlock melodrama film starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John LaZar, Michael Blodgett and David Gurian...
.
In 1968 they moved to the Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
subsidiary label Challenge, with a revamped line-up featuring ex-Clear Light
Clear Light
Clear Light was a psychedelic rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1966.-History:In 1966, The Brain Train formed and was managed by Sunset Strip hipster Bud Mathis. They recorded one single before changing their name to Clear Light and signing to Elektra Records; Doors' on which producer Paul A...
organist Ralph Schuckett and drummer Michael Ney (Stevens), recording their final album For Children of All Ages. The record was written and conceived by Brackett. Meanwhile, Merrill had reformed a version of Ashes, whose only LP was eventually released in 1970 on the Vault label.
The Peanut Butter Conspiracy undertook a final tour and split up in about 1970. Merrill and Brackett continued writing and producing for other artists. Alan Brackett worked as a music publisher and produced Randy Meisner's first solo LP after leaving the Eagles. He also produced Laramy Smith, and he wrote and performed songs for scores of movies and television shows including Witness, Happy Days, and Top Gun. Robison also toured in the 1970s, but died in 1988.
Guitarist Lance Baker Fent continues to create rock-and-roll through his GreenManMedia label. The three surviving members of The Peanut Butter Conspiracy performed at Amoeba Records on September 22, 2009 Alan Brackett's song, "Eventually". The song was originally recorded in 1966 and is part of the Rhino box set, Los Angeles the Nuggets series, Where the Action Is, along with Laramy Smith for the title song "Los Angeles" featuring x-Byrd Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
as a member of the group Phoenix, all three were Grammy nominated artists. A new female singer, Karen Mitchell and drummer Jim Laspesa joined original members Alan Brackett, John Merrill and Lance Fent in the re-formation of The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.
Discography
- The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading (Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia 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...
, 1967) - The Great Conspiracy (Columbia, 1968)
- For Children of All Ages (Challenge RecordsChallenge Records (1950s)Challenge Records was founded in Los Angeles in 1957 by cowboy singer Gene Autry and former Columbia Records A & R representative Joe Johnson. Autry's involvement with the label was short lived as he sold his interest to the remaining partners in October 1958. The label's first success came with...
, 1969)