“Opus #1” taken from the LP ‘The American Revolution’ | (Flick Disc FLS-45.002) July 1968
The American Revolution | Opus #1 | (Flick Disc) 1968 | I’m currently taking a trip alphabetically through my LP collection and pulled out this one by The American Revolution on Flick Disc.
They were previously called the rather dubious The Band Without A Name and even started recording this album under that moniker but by the end of the sessions they had been renamed The American Revolution.
One of the songs on the LP was written and produced by Michael Lloyd of WCPAEB fame. His ’Cold Wisconsin Nights’ could easily have fit on The Smoke album he worked on as it has that similar orchestrated pop psych sound.
Most of The American Revolution music contained on this disc is indeed sugar coated orchestrated pop with a hint of Los Angeles psychedelia. Mike Duggo interviewed bassist John Keith for his site.
The American Revolution | Opus #1 | (Flick Disc) 1968
It’s interesting to read that the group played very little part with the music as the instrumentation was laid down by heavyweight session players Carol Kaye (bass), Larry Knetchel (piano), James Burton (guitar) and Hal Blaine (drums).
Perhaps the best and most overtly psychedelic cut is ’Opus #1’ co-written by John Keith and singer Richard Barcelona. This is a pure Sgt Pepper trip with John Lennon style vocals, and laid back spacey vibes. What a cool song.
back cover liners:
Rock and roll has been described as “a Communist plot.” The Russians call it “disgusting music, indicative of Western decadence!” A psychiatrist interprets it as “a kind of mass hysteria which is contagious.”
Conversely, a distinguished music critic has called it “The most creative music form today; assimilating with ease—classical, jazz, blues, folk and eastern influences.”
the American Revolution
The American Revolution is a dynamic, driving force indicative of the changes taking hold on the rock scene,. A healthy exciting new group that belongs in the mainstream of American pop music.
The American Revolution is the new music. The young music. It’s straight and it’s honest—full of today’s social and musical goals. And it’s already changed a lot of old ideas . . . while creating some important new ones.
Four guys started The American Revolution as an expression of young peoples’ thoughts everywhere . . . . as both a symbol and a result of the new values being created by the younger generation in order to cope with a world they did not make.
They know because they’re young. Because they’ve got their finger on the pulse of the new beat sweeping across America. And you’ll dig what The American Revolution has to say in these timely, hard-hitting songs of truth.
meet the group
Eddie Haddad — organist, pianist, singer — is the Revolution’s leader. He gives it to you straight with a driving blues beat in “Crying Eyes And Empty Heart.”
Rhythm guitarist and singer, Richard Barcelona, makes you understand why he’s angry in “Love Has Got Me Down.”
John Keith, bass guitarist, turns you on to the fireplace glow of “Cold Wisconsin Nights.”
If you groove on ballads, tune in on drummer Daniel Derda as he puts his heart and your soul into “Keeping Your Love.”
These guys are all part of The American Revolution, a group trying to build a new and better kind of young sound. We think they’ve succeeded.
We’re pretty sure you’ll agree. And we predict that The American Revolution is going to take the country by storm.
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