Oct 20, 2011

THE END - INTROSPECTION (DECCA 1969) Jap mastering cardboard sleeve + 2 bonus




REQUEST No 2
Although never achieving the success they deserved, the End are best remembered for their Bill Wyman-produced psychedelic-pop that was a masterful mixture of swirling, dream-like numbers, and flowery, but never twee, pop. Their Introspection album is now viewed as one of the finest examples of British psychedelia. Dave Brown and Colin Giffin formed the End in 1965 following the demise of beat group the Innocents. Nicky Graham and John Horton were drafted in from Dickie Pride's backing group, the Original Topics, and the line-up was completed with former Tuxedos drummer Roger Groom. After recording at the now legendary R.G. Jones' Morden studio, successful friend Bill Wyman arranged a tour with the Rolling Stones. They also appeared with Spencer Davis on ITV television's Thank Your Lucky Stars playing "Hallelujah I Love Her So." At this time their music was very much in the club-soul/blue-eyed soul style that was sweeping England by storm. Following the tour, Roger Groom quit to be replaced by Hugh Atwooll, a former school friend of Nicky Graham. John Horton also quit, but the split was amicable as he continued to help out on their second single, "Shades of Orange." Cut by Bill Wyman, with the addition of Charlie Watts on tabla, the song was recorded during the sessions for the Rolling Stones' psychedelic foray, Their Satanic Majesties Request. "Shades of Orange" epitomizes British Psychedelia and is one of the genre's most sought after items.
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Following the single's release, Gordon Smith also left and was replaced by former Mode guitarist Terry Taylor. The band then decamped to Spain, where several singles were released domestically, including "Why," a Top Five hit in April 1967. By Christmas 1968, both Colin Giffin and Hugh Attwooll had left after recording the Introspection album, and although a new drummer, Paul Francis, was enlisted, the writing was on the wall. With the arrival of another Mode refugee, Jim Henderson, the End metamorphosed into the more progressive-sounding Tucky Buzzard. Introspection was delayed for over a year due to a fallout from the Rolling Stones' bust-up with Allen Klein and was musically the type of psychedelia that had gone out of fashion by the time of its December 1969 release. The band had changed name and style, leaving this glorious album to sink without a trace.[allmusic]
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7 comments:

El Isabelino said...

Thanks a lot for the great sounding Jap Remaster. Saludos.

Anonymous said...

Never heard of this but it is amazing...thanks

Miles said...

i was always intrigued by this recording, but i haven't heard it in quite a long time. thanks for the reminder.

vm: bugman

hooch said...

many thanks my friend!

savageYHS said...

What a cool record - thank you!!

adamus67 said...

A great album! One of the most important achievements of British psychedelia. Album was created in spring 1968 and belongs to the same league as maintained in a similar climate plate The Zombies (Odessey And Oracle) and Tomorrow. Then the team turned into Tucky Buzzard
"The End, are widely acknowledged now as one of the finest late-60s UK psychedelic pop bands" - Record Collector.
Among the records included as part of Decca Records release schedule in November 1969 appeared an album that in retrospect should have receive more commercial attention than it attained. The album was "Introspection" by The End, a psychedelic masterpiece that owed its existence due to the patronage of Rolling Stone Bill Wyman and is itself a part of Rolling Stones history. For various reasons the album was left on the shelf for over a year after its completion and in the fast moving musical climate of the late sixties "Introspection" appeared dated in the space of the eighteen months since the album's completion, with psychedelic whimsy now giving way to power trios, heavy rock and emerging "progressive" music. In this whirlwind of constant musical progression, this well crafted album was deleted soon after its release and consigned to the back pages of musical history. Over forty years on and away from any fashionable constraints it is now easier to "Introspection" on its musical merits alone. You hold in your hands a fine album and a classic of the psychedelic genre. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Great stuff. many thanks.