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1968 Albums

July > July

Artist: July
Label: Epic
Catalog#: BN 26416
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1968
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Hailing from Ealing, in west London, were two R&B groups, The Tomcats and Second Thought. In 1965, they combined, renamed themselves Los Tomcats and headed off to Spain for a couple of years for some moderate success. Returning to London in 1967, psychedelia was in full swing, prompting a change. Rechristened as July, the band included vocalist and guitarist Tom Newman, percussionist Jon Field, lead guitarist Tony Duhig, bassist Alan James and drummer Chris Jackson.

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Music In A Doll's House > Family

Artist: Family
Label: Reprise Records
Catalog#: RS 6312
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1968-08
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Family centered on the talents of guitarist John "Charlie" Whitney and vocalist Roger Chapman, and found early acceptance in the London underground scene. The pair was originally in the Leicester-based Farinas, along with sax/flute player Jim King and bassist Ric Grech. American producer Kim Fowley gave them their name, a reference to their "mafia" appearance. Rob Townsend then arrived on drums, and after recording one single for the Liberty label, they were signed by Reprise Records.

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Odessey And Oracle > Zombies, The

Artist: Zombies
Label: CBS
Catalog#: 63280
Format: Vinyl
Country: UK
Released: 1968
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Formed in 1962 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, The Zombies comprised the talents of keyboardist Rod Argent, vocalist Colin Blunstone, bassist Chris White, guitarist Paul Atkinson and drummer Hugh Grundy. Like most bands of the British Invasion, they combined equal parts soul and beat, yet The Zombies had that something extra: incredible musicality. Released in July 1964, "She's Not There" b/w "You Make Me Feel So Good" was their first and only chart hit in the UK, reaching No. 12. But it eventually rose to No.

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Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake

Artist: Small Faces
Label: Immediate
Catalog#: IMSP 012
Format: Vinyl
Country: UK
Released: 1968
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Hailing from East London, guitarists Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane and drummer Kenney Jones formed Small Faces in 1965, adding keyboardist Ian McLagan a year later. Originally signed to Decca, the band was a mod group to the core, offering hip appearances and hit pop singles. Switching to Immediate Records in 1967, Small Faces' soulful rock began to embrace psychedelia, as the drug-referenced "Here Comes the Nice" b/w "Talk to You" attests.

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Ptooff! > Deviants

Artist: Deviants
Label: Sire
Catalog#: SES 97001
Format: Vinyl
Country: US
Released: 1968

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Rex > Hansson & Karlsson

Artist: Hansson & Karlsson
Label: Polydor
Catalog#: LPHM 46264
Format: Vinyl
Country: Sweden
Released: 1968

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S. F. Sorrow > Pretty Things, The

Artist: Pretty Things
Label: EMI Columbia
Catalog#: SCX 6306
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1968-12
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
An original member of the proto-Rolling Stones, bassist Dick Taylor hooked up with singer guitarist Phil May at London Central School of Art in 1963 to form The Pretty Things. Moving to London, their R&B-influenced rock was an instant success. In June 1964, "Rosalyn" b/w "Big Boss Man" scored the group the first of many hits in the UK, while their self-titled debut album, released in early 1965, would rise to No. 6.

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Senza Orario Senza Bandiera > New Trolls

Artist: New Trolls
Label: Fonit Cetra
Catalog#: LPX 3
Format: Vinyl
Country: Italy
Released: 1968

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Shades Of Deep Purple > Deep Purple

Artist: Deep Purple
Label: Tetragrammaton Records
Catalog#: T-102
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1968

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Shine On Brightly > Procol Harum

Artist: Procol Harum
Label: A&M Records
Catalog#: SP 4151
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1968-09
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Procol Harum's second effort starts off predictably: Gary Brooker's monochromatic wail over Matthew Fisher's swirling Hammond chords on the title track offer elegance, while the pitter-patter of the following "Skip Softly (My Moonbeams)" gives way to something deeper. "Wish Me Well" even attempts some blues, obviously at guitarist Robin Trower's suggestion. Although the first side of the record could have easily come from their debut, the second side, containing the epic "In Held ‘Twas in I," is the real accomplishment here.

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