Released in 1967, Sopwith Camel's debut album is a strange and wonderful beast. It's a mix of psychedelic pop, folk rock, and even early prog rock, with a dash of vaudeville thrown in for good measure. The album is full of catchy melodies, unexpected twists and turns, and some truly memorable moments. These were the days before hard catagorisation of music and as such rock could include almost anything.
The album opens with the hit single "Hello, Hello," (USA #26)which is a perfect example of Sopwith Camel's unique sound. The song is a catchy pop tune with a psychedelic twist, and it features some great vocal harmonies.
The rest of the album is just as eclectic. "Cellophane Woman" is a bluesy rocker, "Frantic Desolation" is a prog rock epic before such a term was invented. No track is over 2:57 long. They made a follow-up in 1973 but the glory days were gone.
They were the second San Francisco group to get a recording contract and the first to have a top 40 hit. That's a quite a legacy in itself.
EU Countries: You've heard of Brexit haven't you? If you haven't, I admire your ability to ignore the real world. It means if you live in the EU, you will have to pay VAT on your order to get it delivered. Please don't waste all of our time by ordering if you aren't prepared to pay it and don't send me indignant emails about it - I can't help it, I hate it more than you, believe me and I have told you!! Right?
