Giant Crab Cool It Helios 1969 USA, Psychedelic Pop , Soul

Подробнее о видео

Giant Crab - Cool It ... Helios 1969 (USA, Psychedelic Pop , Soul)

 
The second and final album from Santa Barbara , released at the end of the same in 1969 . The band's sound remained practically the same , just add wind . A year later, Ernie Orosco form a group of "Big Brother Ernie Joseph".Released a year after their debut, 1969's, "Cool It ... Helios" found Giant Crab seemingly opting to release a concept album. Well, that was certainly the case for the opener 'The Invasion of Helios' which was seemingly based on Greek mythology, though the plotline and relationship to the rest of the album has long alluded me. From that point on the album all but abandoned any semblance of the band's earlier pop-psych moves in favor of straight-ahead radio-friendly pop. Curiously, while the debut featured a largely original collection of material, this time out not one of the sixteen songs was an original composition. In fact this came off as a covers album. The Cowsills had recorded 'Who Can Teach the Songbird How To Sing'. The Peppermint Rainbow had recorded 'Walking In Double Circles'. The Searchers released 'Pop Corn Double Feature'. Horn-propelled numbers such as the giddy 'Help Yourself', 'Hello Yesterday' and 'Welcome To the World' were highly commercial, radio friendly performances that occasionally came too close to MOR sensibilities. Not to throw shade, but you were left with the impression the band had given up their creative ghosts and opted to go for the cash, throwing their lot and reputations in with professional songwriters like Mark Barkan, Scott English and Kenny Young. For their part those songwriters were more than willing to churn out an album of cheerful pop ditties that could occasionally be confused with bubblegum pop. Important to point out I'm a big fan of bubblegum so that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It was just an odd choice for a group that had so much talent. It was even stranger given the direction the Orosco brothers would pursue in a couple of months. Admittedly there were a couple of exceptions to the album's pop diection. There was the just plain weird opener featuring Los Angeles DJ Johnny Fairchild's spoken word narrative. With it's sitar lead, 'Who Can Teach the Songbird How To Sing' and a cover of 'Pop Corn Double Feature' were among the few numbers harkening back to their psychedelic roots. I also have to admit Ron Wolin's fractal cover art was kinda' neat. I hate to admit it, but it was one of the reasons I originally bought the album.
 
Tracks:
01. The Invasion Of Helios - 0:00

02. Cool It - 2:45

03. Hello Yesterday - 5:30

04. Trust Somebody - 7:37

05. Don't Make Me Leave You - 10:30

06. What Became Of Yesterday's Hero - 12:41

07. Welcome To The World - 15:07

08. Help Yourself - 17:15

09. It's Getting Harder - 19:47

10 . Who Can Teach A Sondbird How To Sing - 22:04

11. Everything Comes Sooner Or Later - 24:27

12. Cleo - 26:30

13. Don't Jump To Conclusions - 29:18

14. Popcorn Double Feature - 31:45

15. Walking In Different Circles - 34:30

16. I Don't Want To Live This Way - 37:06

 
Personnel:
Ernie Orosco - lead vocals, lead guitar
Raymond Orosco - bass, clavinet, special effects, vocals
Ruben Orosco - bass, drums, saxophone, special effects, vocals
Kenny Fricia - keyboards, horns, percussion, special effects, vocals
Dennis Fricia - drums, horns, special effects, vocals
+
Bill Holmes - producer