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Topic ClosedUltimate Spinach

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Alucard View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Ultimate Spinach
    Posted: August 01 2006 at 10:15

Ultimate Spinach was a Boston based band, that released 3 records between 1968 and 1969, the first two being interesting examples of Psychedelic music, mixed with Rennaissance music, Westcoast harmony singing, jazz rhythms, original instrumentations (Theremin,Sitar, harpsichord) and then some.

The band was founded by Ultimate Spinach mastermind, Ian Bruce Douglas who composed all the material of the first two records and who left then, making the last incarnation of US who recorded one more record a completely diiferrent band with song oriented material reminding the Dobie Brothers. The band was promtoted under the label 'Boston Sound', with the aim to create some alternatives to the Westcoast sound,and which finally doesn't served the band too well (critics thought of the Boston Sound as a marketing hype and reacted negatively).

The very best of Ultimate Spinach (Varese/ Sarabande) gives a good overview over their output with a focus on the first two records + three  short tracks from the third and last record. On the first two records there are mainly longer elaborated tracks that alternate vocal arrangements and beautiful instrumental passages, with the  strong identity of Bruce Douglas's compositions. Ultimate Spinach deserves to be added under Proto Prog.



Edited by Alucard - August 01 2006 at 10:16
Tadpoles keep screaming in my ear
"Hey there! Rotter's Club!
Explain the meaning of this song and share it"

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2006 at 10:39
Yes, definitely proto-prog, mainly on the strength of their superb second album "Behold And See" (1968), which is fullblown progressive in parts. Their self-titled début is a more naïve psychedelic pop album, though still with unusual baroque touches and some great songs. Sadly, the third and final album (also self-titled) was recorded after the departure of the band's leader and visionary Ian Bruce-Douglas and is very dull, at one point relying on a plodding six-minute blues jam to make up the weight.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 09 2006 at 12:13
I've just heard a song from them and it has some proggy moments! Tongue
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