LOST TREASURES – THE KOOBAS

Posted on 28 June 2016

Lost Treasures

THE KOOBAS

“Koobas”

Koobas

Although I am a fan of most pop music, my favorite niche is mid-’60s British psych-pop: Beatles, Zombies, Donovan, Small Faces, The Pretty Things, The Creation and so on. I know most of these bands’ albums so well that I rarely listen to them, so it’s especially great to discover similar bands that are new to me. One such discovery was The Koobas and their 1969 LP Koobas.

 

The band formed in Liverpool in 1962 by guitarists Stu Leathwood and Roy Morris, along with bassist Keith Ellis and drummer John Morris. Originally, they went by The Kubas and played the usual British interpretations of American R&B, even following in The Beatles’ footsteps by playing a stint at the Star Club in Hamburg in December, 1963. Eventually, John Morris was replaced by Tony O’Reilly, and the band signed to a management contract by Brian Epstein, who oversaw a recording contract with Pye Records (Epstein also gave The Koobas an opening slot on The Beatles 1965 (and final) UK tour). Their first single, “I Love Her,” was released in January of 1965. Sometime prior to their second single, a cover of “Take Me For A Little While,” the band adopted the more familiar Koobas spelling. Two more singles followed, but all failed to chart. Still, The Koobas joined the shift from singles to albums that was heralded by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, heading into Abbey Road with Geoff Emerick in 1968 to record their debut—and, indeed, only—album.

Koobas 2

As was often the style in the late ’60s, the songs on the album are connected by brief interludes, typically spoken word, but with some incidental music as well. The links are pure conceit, as they imbue the album with no continuity or theme. I don’t mind them, but they don’t add anything to the experience either. Among the proper songs, the opener is “Royston Rose,” a grinding, sometimes droning pop-rock number that sounds a little like a later-period Monkees song performed by The Yardbirds. It’s one of the best tracks on the album. Next up is “Where Are the Friends?” which bears some of the hallmarks of The Bee Gees’ production, but is melodically and harmonically darker. Another highlight. “Constantly Changing” is a reverb-drenched psychedelic foray into surrealism that is at once heavy and light, with plodding rhythms and ponderous chordal accompaniment topped with soaring close harmonies. “Here’s a Day” is decidedly more upbeat, a soulful piano playing a simple chord progression, again with more stacked vocals. “Fade Forever” is a real hodgepodge (and in a good way!): Beatley bass lines, Moonish drumming, Zombies-esque harmonium interludes, histrionic lead vocals, and a false fade-out all combine to unique effect.

Koobas single 2

Side two opens with “Barricades,” a driving slice of psychedelia that begins like The Foundations, transitions through some Beatley bits, and then breaks into a chorus that is reminiscent of The Herd. Oh, and there’s also a long, pretentious recitation in the middle over an extended freakout. Love it! Next comes a cover of “A Little Piece of My Heart” that provides a very different take than the Janis Joplin version. Imagine P. J. Proby fronting the Mike Curb Congregation. “Gold Leaf Tree” is a beautiful ballad with a great build and pacing. One of the best British psych tracks ever, in my opinion. “Mr. Claire” follows seamlessly and, while it boasts a terrific production, it is a rather slight tune. The album closes with “Circus,” an artful but bizarre sound collage of spoken word, music and sound effects. Perhaps inspired by “A Quick One While He’s Away,” it’s got the psychedelic imagination of The Dukes of Stratosphear, but is so undisciplined that it is likely only entertaining on first listen.

 

Koobas would be the last word from the band; in fact, they actually began to disband during the recording sessions for the LP. Ellis was the first to leave, joining Van der Graaf Generator, but Leathwood, Morris and O’Reilly had all packed it in by the time the album was released. With no act to promote the album, no singles were pulled from Koobas, although “Where Are the Friends” b/w “Royston Rose” was issued in France. After his stint in Van der Graaf Generator, Ellis joined Juicy Lucy, while Leathwood played with March Hare and O’Reilly with Bakerloo.

 

Koobas was reissued on CD by BGO in 2000 and the reissue is well worth seeking out. It includes the entire Koobas album, along with eight single sides, all of which are quite worthy. The album is also readily available in the digital domain. Fans of mid-’60s British pop and psych will not be disappointed

=================================================

Pop Pioneer and “Lost Treasures” writer, Peter Marston is the leader of long-running power pop band, Shplang, whose most recent album, “My Big Three Wheeler” has been described as “the Beatles meet Zappa in pop-psych Sumo match.”  Peter has a new project in 2015 under the name MARSTON.   Marston have a track on the latest “Power Pop Planet – Volume 5” compilation just out now and available at:  www.PopGeekHeavenStore.com.

CHECK OUT SHPLANG out at this link:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shplang

==================================================

 

LINKS:

Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Koobas

All Music Guide: http://www.allmusic.com/album/koobas-mw0000068921

Rate Your Music: http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the_koobas/koobas/

Blog Post:  http://therockasteria.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-koobas-koobas-1969-uk-fuzzy-mod.html

Blog Post: http://7-floor.blogspot.com/2009/04/koobas-koobas-1969.html

VIDEO:

BARRICADES:

CIRCUS:

FADE FOREVER:

Comments are closed.