The Lemon Pipers psychedelic sounds: The strange world of The Lemon Pipers resonated to the sounds of melodic pop, psychedelia and a dose of acid-rock. Their style was also linked with a minor pop phenomenon termed ‘bubblegum’ by a slightly cynical press.
This unusual and underrated group were out of step with their record label as they saw themselves as a hard-rock/acid type outfit despite being Buddah Records breakthrough into the pop charts.
In this post I delve into my 60s music press archives. Here’s what I found!
“Green Tambourine”
Watch out for a song called “Green Tambourine” which is very catchy and could well be a hit. There are two versions at the moment – the original American one all warm voices and together backing by the Lemon Pipers (Pye Int) and the British one which isn’t quite so pretty by the Sun Dragon (MGM). (Disc & Music Echo, 20/01/68)
I personally think this is great. I stuck in my mind the first time I heard it, just couldn’t forget it. I bought it immediately it was released, and I am still playing it regularly. I think it is a great song and they do it so well. (George Best, Blind Date, Melody Maker, 06/04/68)
The Lemon Pipers psychedelic sounds
“Rice Is Nice”
Following their “Green Tambourine” success, and with a bit of that flavour to boot, the Lemon Pipers return with a rather sweet little song that I like much better than I thought I would.
Being a sucker for strings, I especially liked the arrangement which has strings sweeping in en masse during the chorus to give the whole thing a huge floating quality and take away the sentimental “I want to be married” vocals. (Disc & Music Echo, 06/04/68)
Rice Is Nice; Blueberry Blue (Pye Int. 7N 25454) Follow-up to “Green Tambourine” is this pretty little wedding song with a nice clean string-filled production and a kind of Honeycombs flavour. Catchy, repetitive, and a hit.
Flip: Is another imaginative Buddah production with good sounds all round. (Record Mirror, 06/04/68)
A great sound, in which the Lemon Pipers’ counter-harmonies blend smoothly with the beautifully-scored dancing strings and the pounding mid-tempo beat.
As the title implies, this is a much simpler song than their last – in fact, it’s more of a jingle. But it’s dressed up so admirably, and tailored with such perfection, that you scarcely notice the shortcomings of the song.
Being such a simple melody it registers instantly, and that’s bound to help its chances.
Flip: I would much prefer to see this as the “A” side, as it is in America. It’s a superbly produced disc, with rich sounds from cellos, harp and sitar. The song itself is melodious, and the boys harmonise it to perfection. (NME, 06/04/68)
Any Chinaman would drink a toast to these sentiments. In the families of pre-Communist China, the Chinese peasants were frequently forced to eat tree bark and earth.
Food shortages still affect China but the black days before Mao are fortunately over.
But this doesn’t explain the Lemon Pipers’ obsession with rice. My theory is, it is a reference to the quaint Western tradition of wasting rice by throwing it at newly-weds, and the singers want to get married.
Beautiful tune – a hit. (Melody Maker, 06/04/68)
“Jelly Jungle”
Jelly Jungle; Shoeshine Boy (Pye int. 7N 25464). In contrast to their pretty “Rice Is Nice” hit, this reverts back to the acid sounds of “Green Tambourine”.
Airy sort of feel, thumping beat, loads of echo and psychedelic sounds all round. Very clever production – like to see them do this onstage, though.
Flip: Is slower, steady backdrop, quite a good flip, and gets very heady. (Record Mirror, 15/06/68)
A difficult record to assess – because after the tremendous success of “Green Tambourine,” the Lemon Pipers’ follow-up just didn’t happen. So what of this latest one?
Well, it’s better than “Rice Is Nice,” which struck me as a rushed job to cash in on their first major hit. This has much more substance – a colourful novelty lyric, some cute and gimmicky echo effects, shimmering strings, pounding beat and a melodic content that’s above average.
Has a great deal of commercial appeal, and must stand a chance of restoring them to the Chart. (NME, 15/06/68)
The Lemon Pipers psychedelic sounds
UK Discography:
“Green Tambourine” / “No Help From Me” (Pye International 7N 25444) January 1968
“Rice Is Nice” / “Blueberry Blue” (Pye International 7N 25454) April 1968
“Jelly Jungle (Of Orange Marmalade)” / “Shoeshine Boy” (Pye International 7N 25464) June 1968
“Green Tambourine” LP (Pye International NPL 28112) 1968
“Jungle Marmalade” LP (Pye International NSPL 28118) June 1968
My podcast devoted to the Lemon Pipers first album is available on The Monocled Alchemist.
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