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Lothar and the Hand People

Band members Related acts

- Paul Conly - guitar (1966-69)
- John Emlin - theremin, percussion (1966-69)
- Tom Flye - vocals, drums (1966-69)
- Rusty Ford - bass (1966-69)
- Kim King - guitar (1966-69)

- none known

Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Lothar and the Hand People Company: Capitol Catalog: ST-2297 Year: 1968 Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Price: $35.00	Formed in 1966 and based in Denver, Colorado, Lothar and the Hand People (guitarists Paul Conly and Kim King, therminist John Emlin, drummer Tom Flye and bassist Rusty Ford), attracted a small, but loyal local following, before deciding to relocate to New York later in the year. Playing the local club circuit, the group attracted fleeting attention by incorporating a theremin into their act (if like us you didn't know, a theremin is an electronic wand which makes an odd noises when you wave your hands around it - the device was commonly used in horror films to generate shrieks and screams). Somehow signed by Capitol, the band released a series of three little heard singles before getting Capital's financial support for an album. Produced by Robert Marguleff, 1968's "Presenting Lothar and the Hand People" was fairly diverse, including stabs at conventional ballads ("This Is It"), martial dance-rock ("Machines"), novelties (the cult classic "Woody Woodpecker") and sci-fi-cum-psychedelia ("It Comes On Anyhow " and "Sex and Violence"). Curiously, having marketed the band on the strength of the theremin, except for occasional song intros and solos (checkout the goofy "Kids Are Little People" and their cover of "Bye Bye Love"), the instrument simply wasn't much in evidence. Elsewhere, "Milkweed Love" and "Paul In Love" may have been among the first efforts to incorporate synthesizers in a lead instrument role. Certainly the lack of a distinctive singer, let alone the absence of strong songwriters didn't help the proceedings. Needless to say, the album quickly vanished and can now best be termed a psychedelic relic. "Presenting Lothar and the Hand People" track listing: 1.) Machines (Mort Shuman) - 2:30 2.) This Is It (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 2:40 3.) This May Be Goodbye (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 2:20 4.) That's Another Story (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 2:00 5.) Kids Are Little People (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 2:18 6.) Ha (Ho) (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 2:40 7.) Sex and Violence (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 2:33 8.) Bye Bye Love (Bryant - Bryant) - 2:12 9.) Milkweed Love (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) -2:48 10.) You Won't Be Lonely (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 2:25 11.) Woody Woodpecker (Idriss - Tibbles) - :41 12.) It Comes On Anyhow (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 3:10 13.) Paul, In Love (instrumental) (Paul Conly) - 2:50 In 1994 the One Way label reissued the debut set in CD format. The track listing was augmented by the "A" and "B" sides from the band's first three non-lp singles.

Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Space Hymn Company: Capitol Catalog: ST-247 Year: 1969 Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: cut out hole; minor ring wear Available: 1 Price: $75.00	Reunited with producer Robert Marguleff, 1969's "Space Hymn" wasn't a major change in direction. Sounding more comfortable in their studio surroundings, the set was quite diverse; their acid-casualty lyrics surrounded by a variety of genre pieces, including stabs at folk-rock ("Midnight Ranger"), blues ("Sister Lonely") and sound-effect dominated ("Sdrawkcab"). Clearly under pressure for Capital to sell product, tracks such as "Heat Wave" (the only non-original) and the sweet ballad "Say, "I Do!"" were an obvious attempt to find a median between commercial acceptability and outright experimentation. To their credit, epitomized by the droning title track (probably their weirdest endeavor), the synthesizer-driven "Today Is Only Yesterday's Tomorrow" and the thermin-propelled instrumental "Wedding Night For Those Who Love" the collection found the band opting for a slightly more experimental mode. Definitely different, but well worth looking for ... Like the debut the set failed to sell and by the end of the year the group was history. "Space Hymn" track listing: 1.) Yes I Love You (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 3:48 2.) Today Is Only Yesterday's Tomorrow (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 5:20 3.) Midnight Ranger (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 3:20 4.) Sister Lonely (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 2:39 5.) Wedding Night For Those Who Love (instrumental) (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 4:24 6.) Heat Wave (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozer - Eddie Holland)- 3:35 7.) Say, "I Do!" (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 2:54 8.) What Grows On Your Head? (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 3:09 9.) Sdrawkcab (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 3:55 10.) Space Hymn (Paul Conly - John Emelin - Tom Flye - Rusty Ford - Kim King) - 7:15

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