Erik – ”Blind Street Singer” / ”Tell Me Are The Good Times Gone” (General International Records 352) June 1966

Erik | Teenage Folk Singer In Focus | Second and last single from New York folkie Erik, who was 16/17 years old when this was released and may have been Erik Heller who released the acid folk album ”Look Where I Am” on Vanguard in 1967.

I have searched for evidence to link the recordings but have drawn a blank. If anyone knows for sure let me know, thanks!

”Blind Street Singer” is a pleasant enough folk song which comes across with quite a strong Donovan influence. Quite a catchy number and after repeated plays really becomes hard to clear from your head.

The other side ”Tell Me Are The Good Times Gone” raises the tempo somewhat and has drums, guitar, bass and tambourine backing. The background harmonies could almost be described as ’mod’ern.

Erik – ”One Too Many Mornings” / ”She Belongs To Me” (General International Records 350) October 1965

I was on my Erik Heller trip over the weekend, which leads me to a couple of singles by ”Erik” on General International Records. ”She Belongs To Me” / ”One Too Many Mornings” was released in October, 1965. Both sides are decent Bob Dylan covers, produced and arranged by Alan Lorber.

The release got a plug in Billboard as a potential ”Top 20” record. Although I have no concrete evidence or verification I’m still thinking that this could have been Erik Heller’s debut disc?!!

The Billboard review noted ”a new 16 year old from Ithaca, NY.”

Erik – ”Why Come Another Day” (Vanguard VRS-9267) December 1967

My weekend’s album under the spotlight is this obscurity by folk singer Erik Heller. The recordings for his album date from late 1967 and it appears to have been released during December.

A full page advert promoting the album and a single from it was published in Cashbox trade magazine and Billboard gave it four stars in their new releases column.

The music contained within can best be described as loner folk with orchestration. Erik’s songs are moody and desolate. Most here are stripped down acoustic based folk songs with Erik’s mournful ’spoken’ vocals increasing the anxiety.

Samuel Charters’ production adds psychedelics especially on the song I’ve chosen and my pick from ”Look Where I Am.” 

Some research reveals that the latter produced the first four Country Joe & the Fish albums so he was very familiar with the underground acid scene and in some ways was perfect for Erik.

There is some fuzz on one track, namely ”You Said, But I’ve Got My Way” which is quite a departure from the rest of his material. Rounding up then, this album is not gonna change your world or anything but visitors to my blog will dig it.

A single was pulled as a taster ”Look Where I Am (Well It’s Right Over Here)” / ”Dead Afternoon Song” (Vanguard VRS-35056). Some came housed in a coloured picture sleeve but it’s unlikely to have achieved more than the promo white label stage.