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The Ophelias for Eclectic Prog
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sabbacc108 View Drop Down
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    Posted: July 12 2021 at 23:49
The Ophelias (from San Francisco - not to be confused with the recent Cincinnati band of the same name) were originally active from 1984-1989, releasing one LP through Strange Weekend Records, before being signed to Rough Trade's US branch for two LPs and an EP. Their music covers a lot of stylistic ground, but features strong psychedelic and progressive elements.

"Holy Glow"

"Glory Hog"


The Ophelias were the brainchild of singer/guitarist Leslie Medford, who (along with bass player Terry von Blankers) would be the only member to appear on all of the band's releases. Combining a love of 60s psychedelia with the progressive tendencies of Van Der Graaf Generator (whose vocalist, Peter Hammill, is clearly a major inspiration for Medford), the Ophelias recorded a three-track demo tape which got them enough traction on local stations for one of their songs ("Mr. Rabbit") to be included on the 1985 S.F. Unscene compilation album. A full, self-titled LP followed in 1987 on independent label Strange Weekend records. Subsequently, the band secured a contract with Rough Trade records' US arm in early 1988, releasing an EP and two further LPs. Unfortunately, the financial collapse of Rough Trade US dragged the band down with it, and shortly thereafter lead guitarist David Immergluck split to join The Monks of Doom, Camper Van Beethoven, and eventually Counting Crows.

The band had a number of member changes, but the "classic" lineup featured on their two Rough Trade LPs is:
Leslie Medford: Lead vocals, guitar, trumpet
David Immergluck: Guitars, synthesizer, backing vocals
Terry von Blankers: Bass
Edward Benton: Drums

Discography:
-The Ophelias. (1987 Strange Weekend)
-The Night of Halloween (EP 1988 Rough Trade)
-Oriental Head (1988 Rough Trade)
-The Big O (1989 Rough Trade)
-Bare Bodkin (Compilation 2017 digital release, late 2021 CD Independent Project Records)
-O List! (Live Compilation 2018 digital release)
-Green Girl (Live Compilation 2019 digital release)
-Out of Thy Star (Compilation 2020 digital release)
-2021 Thus Spake Psilocybin (Compilation 2021 digital release)

The band's albums were out of print for many years following the dissolution of Rough Trade US, but have recently been reissued on digital platforms. The group also got signed to Independent Project Records in January 2020, with a compilation CD delayed to late 2021 release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.




Edited by sabbacc108 - July 14 2021 at 19:06
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yam yam View Drop Down
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Points: 5823 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote yam yam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2021 at 18:25
More info at https://theophelias.com/homepage/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ophelias_(California_band).

Uwe has added them to progfreak quite recently, so maybe there has been some discussion about them in the collab zone? Not sure whether I'd ask the Psych/Space team (now part of PSIKE) to have a listen in the first instance, but I reckon there's a fair chance that they'd suffer the same fate as The Bevis Frond and The Flaming Lips, who have both been discussed in the forums in the past (The Flaming Lips a good few times) and never made it onto the site.
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Points: 17583 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rivertree Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 14 2021 at 02:15
my deep respect concerning the audio editing, but I don't hear the prog
the crossover team may take this for evaluation anyway


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DamoXt7942 View Drop Down
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Points: 17468 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 14 2021 at 02:28
Not Crossover. Kinda mixture of post-punk, funk, slight psych pop. Eclectic maybe?
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sabbacc108 View Drop Down
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Points: 32 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sabbacc108 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 14 2021 at 19:07
Originally posted by DamoXt7942 DamoXt7942 wrote:

Not Crossover. Kinda mixture of post-punk, funk, slight psych pop. Eclectic maybe?

Good call! Post topic is updated. 
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Points: 17468 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DamoXt7942 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 15 2021 at 22:00
Rejected in Crossover and Eclectic both.
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