Jingle Jangle Morning (The 1960s U.S. Folk-Rock Explosion) 

Various Artists: Jingle Jangle Morning (The 1960s U.S. Folk-Rock Explosion) 

Strawberry Records 

3 CD box set 

Out now available here

The Byrds reinventing Mr Tambourine Man might have kicked off America’s folk rock revolution but this box set brings together the best of what was an eclectic and inventive decade long scene. 

When The Byrds decided to rearrange the then unreleased Mr Tambourine Man with jingly jangly 12 string guitar and glorious harmonies they had no idea they were essentially inventing folk rock. That single was the end of the folk revival as the big hitters dumped their acoustics leading to the infamous cry of ‘Judas’ when Dylan dared to strap on his electric guitar at Manchester Free Trade Hall.

Thankfully the pious traditionalists lost that culture war, and this intelligently curated box set offers some of the best of a scene that brought together country rock, introspective singer songwriters who concentrated on making albums and later in the decade folk fused with psychedelia. You do get tracks from the scene’s stars like The Byrds, Dylan, The Mamas & the Papas, Simon & Garfunkel and Buffalo Springfield, but the real fun is hearing long forgotten tracks that are often as good as efforts by the big names.

After a mighty double opening salvo by The Byrds and Dylan we’re straight onto a forgotten gem with Judy Henske’s deep vocal on High Flying Bird, which is perfect for fans of Grace Slick, and there’s some early Mama Cass on The Mugwumps’ Merseybeat influenced Here It Is Another Day. The Lovin’ Spoonful’s Do You Believe in Magic is classic folk pop with a massive hook, but sadly Sonny Bono’s Laugh At Me is the exact opposite as it is so bad you want to weep this tripe was ever recorded.

Barry McGuire’s plodding Eve of Destruction is poor man’s Dylan, and former pop star Dion covering Dylan’s Baby, I’m in the Mood For You is surprisingly good. The Leaves’ Hey Joe is a decent stab at the folk murder ballad Hey Joe, but Hendrix did it better, and Tim Hardin’s eerie Hang Onto a Dream is a superb mournful break up song. It’s great to hear an electric version of Phil Ochs’ I Ain’t Marching Anymore matching Dylan as a top class folkie protest singer, and lord knows why Linda Ronstadt’s stunning voice is so low in the mix on The Stone Poneys’ Bicycle Song (Soon Now).

The Beau Brummels’ baroque folk pop I Want You is a reminder on the second CD of a great lost band and Fred Neil’s The Dolphins is simply beautiful, and later covered to great effect by the late, great Terry Callier and Beth Orton. Woodstock star Richie Havens’ Handsome Johnny is a funky protest song as he rails against his nation’s endless war mongering, and ex Byrd Gene Clark is backed by the Gosdin Brothers on Tried So Hard as he continues to invent country rock.

Grace Slick was possibly the best female vocalist of her generation and West Coast psych gods Jefferson Airplane’s Today still soars, but Scott McKenzie’s San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) is still a skin crawlingly awful cash in. Nico’s distinctive voice battles with big strings during The Fairest of the Seasons and underrated Canuck Gordon Lightfoot contributed Black Day in July before Love’s Alone Again Or, which as every self respecting music fan knows is a stone cold classic.

On the final CD the always inventive Quicksilver Messenger Service adds horns to John Cippilona’s shimmering guitar elevating Pride of Man to greatness. Merell Fankhauser & H.M.S. Bounty’s A Visit With Ashiya had a raga melody favoured by so many in the late sixties, and Dion pops up again with the dignified tribute Abraham, Martin & John playing tribute to the murdered leaders. Judy Collins made her breakthrough with a stately cover of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides, including some harpsichord flourishes, and after leaving The Monkees Michael Nesmith formed the First National Band to record country rock including the quirky vocals of Joanne. After the earlier Stone Poneys debacle on her solo hit Long Long Time Linda Ronstadt showcases her amazing range and emotional intelligence. The Grateful Dead round things off with the country tinged Uncle John’s Band, which clocks in at a mere 4 minutes and 44 seconds.

You’ll have heard all the classics before on hits radio stations, and they are still great, but with the odd exception all the tracks remind you just how creative – and at times brave -these folk rockers were as they stood up for compassion and decency as their country tore itself apart around them.

You can follow Cherry Red on Facebook and Twitter.

~

Words by Paul Clarke, you can see his author profile here.