Fankhauser, Merrell (& H.M.S. Bounty)

Band members               Related acts

- Peter Drodd - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1968-69)
- Merrell Fankhauser - vocals, guitar (1968-69)
- Jack Jordan - bass, backing vocals (1968-69)
- Larry Meyers - drums, percussion (1968-69)

 

 - Merrell Fankhauser (solo efforts)
- Fapardokyl (Merrrell Fankhauser and Peter Dodd)
- The Impacts
- Merrell and the Exiles
- MU

 

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Things!

Company: Shamley

Catalog: SS 701

Year: 1968

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: still in shrink wrap

Available: 1

Price: $100.00

 Following the collapse of Fapardokyl (see separate entry), singers/guitarists Merrell Fankhauser and Peter Drodd continued their collaboration in the Los Angeles-based Merrell Fankhauser and H.M.S. Bounty. Recruiting former Impacts bassist Jack Jordan and drummer Larry Meyers, the quartet was quickly signed by MCA's short-lived Shamley label.

Teamed with producers Norman Malkin, Jack Hoffman and Glen MacArthur, 1968's "Things!" served as a showcase for Fankhauser. In addition to serving as front man, lead vocalist (his voice was surprisingly well suited for commercial material), Fankhauser penned and arranged all 12 tracks. Musically diverse, the set showcased a wonderful mixture of top-40 pop ("Things (Goin' Round In My Mind)" and "Your Painted Lives"), chiming guitar-propelled folk-rock ("Girl (I'm Waiting for You)" and "What Does She See In You"), and psychedelic ("Drivin' Sideways (On a Wrong Way Street)" and "Madame Silky"). Elsewhere, the Eastern-tinged raga "A Visit with Ashiya" and the jazzy "Ice Cube Island" served as precursors to his work with Mu (see separate entry). Easily one of the era's undiscovered treasures, one had to wonder why the album wasn't a major hit. Needless to say, the collection vanished without a trace, followed in short order by the band. Fankhauser and Dodd quickly reappeared in the previously mentioned Mu. (We always liked the nipple cover photo ...)

"Things!" track listing:
1.) Things (Goin' Round In My Mind) (Merrell Fankhauser) - 2:23
2.) Girl (I'm Waiting for You) (Merrell Fankhauser) - 2:18
3.) What Does She In You (Merrell Fankhauser) - 2:20
4.) Lost In the City (Merrell Fankhauser) - 2:03
5.) Your Painted Lives (Merrell Fankhauser) - 2:08
6.) Drivin' Sideways (On a Wrong Way Street) (Merrell Fankhauser)) - 2:18
7.) In a Minute Not Too Soon (Merrell Fankhauser) - 1:50
8.) A Visit with Ashiya (Merrell Fankhauser) - 3:28
9.) The Big Gray Sky (Merrell Fankhauser) - 2:12
10.) Rich Man's Fable (Merrell Fankhauser) - 2:20
11.) Ice Cube Island (Merrell Fankhauser) - 3:17
12.) Madame Silky (Merrell Fankhauser) - 2:20

In 1985 the Time Stood Still label reissued the collection, adding the rare "I'm Flying Home" "B" side. In 1995 the Afterglow label reissued the set in CD format.

 

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