The Electric Prunes are an American psychedelic rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. Much of the band's music was, as music historian Richie Unterberger described it, possessed of "an eerie and sometimes anguished ambiance." Their most successful material was by songwriters Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz, though the group also penned their own songs. Incorporating psychedelia and elements of embryonic electronic rock, the band's sound was marked by innovative recording techniques with fuzz-toned guitars and oscillating sound effects. In addition, guitarist Ken Williams' and singer James Lowe's concept of "free-form garage music" provided the band with a richer sonic palette and exploratory lyrical structure than many of their contemporaries.
The band was signed to Reprise Records in 1966 and released their first single, "Ain't It Hard", in the latter part of the year. Their first album, The Electric Prunes, included the band's two nationally charting songs, "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" and "Get Me to the World on Time". With the appearance of their second album, Underground, the band was more free to create their own material. However, the original group disbanded by 1968 when they proved unable to record the innovative and complex arrangements by David Axelrod on the albums Mass in F Minor and Release of an Oath. Both albums were released under the band's name, the rights to which were owned by their record producer David Hassinger, but were largely performed by other musicians. Several of the original band members reconvened in 1999 and began recording again. The band still performs occasionally, although the only remaining original member is lead singer James Lowe.
Links to Peel[]
Peel on his last Perfumed Garden show on 14th August 1967, played a track from the band's second album, 'Underground', and also saw the group perform at the Middle Earth in December of that year. Further material from the group were played on his radio programmes, throughout the decades of the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's.
Shows Played[]
- 14 August 1967: Wind-Up Toys (LP - Underground) Reprise RLP 6248 (US release)
- 15 October 1967: Sold To The Highest Bidder (album - The Electric Prunes) Reprise R 6248
- 26 November 1967: Long Day's Flight (7") Reprise RS.23212
- 1968
- 02 June 1968: Kyrie Eleison (album - Mass In F Minor) Reprise RS 6275
- 05 June 1968: Agnus Dei (album - Mass in F Minor) Reprise
- 1972
- 03 October 1972: I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) (2xLP - Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968) Elektra
- 1973
- 04 October 1973: Get Me To The World On Time
- 1979
- 03 April 1979: I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) (single, 1966) Radar reissue
- 1981
- 22 October 1981: Kyrie Eleison
- 1983
- 10 September 1983 (BFBS): I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night
- 1986
- 19 April 1986 (BFBS): 'Luvin' (LP-Long Day's Flight)' (Edsel)
- 1993
- 16 April 1993: ‘Get Me To The World On Time (7 inch)’ (Reprise Records)
- 1994
- 09 April 1994 (BFBS): Kyrie Eleison (album - Mass In F Minor) Reprise
- 1996
- 18 March 1996: I Had Too Much To Dream (single, 1966)
- 1997
- 04 January 1997 (BBC World Service): Kyrie Eleison (album - Mass In F Minor) Reprise
- 27 May 1997: Long Day's Flight (Til Tomorrow) (LP - Stockholm 67) Heartbeat Productions
- 12 June 1997 (BFBS): 'Long Day's Flight (Til Tomorrow) (LP-Stockholm 67)' (Heartbeat Productions)
- 24 June 1997: I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) (album - Stockholm 67) Heartbeat
- 22 July 1997: I Happen To Love You (LP - Stockholm 67) Heartbeat
- 2002
- 26 September 2002: Get Me To The World On Time (LP - The Electric Prunes) Reprise Records