The Common People “Of The People/By The People/For The People From”

A well known rarity, The Common People’s Of The People/By The People/For The People is one of the more collectable Capitol releases.  Prior to this LP, the group released two primitive garage singles which are very good but nearly impossible to find.

For many years very little was known about the Common People.  Terrascope’s interview with lead singer Denny Robinett cleared up many unanswered questions regarding the band’s existence and roots.  The Common People hailed from Baldwin Park California (LA area) and played the local club circuit.  “Lord” Tim Hudson, of Lollipop Shoppe and Seeds fame, managed this mysterious psychedelic outfit.  Of The People/By The People/For The People is an interesting mixture of garage pop and orchestrated psych whose reputation has soared in recent years – it’s a bit overrated to these ears but generally a worthwhile LA psych rock trip.

The first three tracks of the album were arranged by David Axelrod and are an amazing mixture of swirling strings and raw lead vocals.  The string arrangements mesh seamlessly with Denny Robinett’s vocals, creating a sound which was very unique for 1969 – an unsettling amalgam of folk-rock, psychedelia, and orchestrated pop.  Had the whole album been arranged and produced by David Axelrod it might have turned out to be a psychedelic masterpiece but unfortunately, the budget tightened up, forcing the band to abandon its original vision for something that’s more run-of-the-mill and less exciting.  It’s even been suggested that Axelrod might have pulled out of these sessions because his wife suffered serious injuries from a car accident.  In the end, the group was forced to move on and complete the album without him.  Most of the remaining tracks are solid garage pop numbers.  The low points are two generic horn rock numbers and one despicable novelty tracked titled, “They Didn’t Even Go To The Funeral.”  By no means a classic or masterpiece, Of The People/By The People/For The People is a flawed but worthy album – a solid psych rock record that will satisfy many fans of the genre.  The buzzing organs and occasional fuzz guitar of  “Why Must I Be,” “Take From You,” “Land of Day” and “Go Every Way” deliver the garage goods in a downbeat, moody fashion.  The album’s key strengths are its mood, Robinett’s gruff vocals, and Axelrod’s soaring string arrangements/production on the LP’s first three tracks.

Denny Robinett claims that Capital never promoted Of The People/By The People/For The People and that it “was never available for sale in any store.”  Australian label Ascension and Fallout have recently reissued this disc on cd.  The Fallout reissue includes the early singles but is a “grey area” release.

Read Terrascope’s interview with Denny Robinett for more information on The Common People.

“Soon There’ll Be Thunder”

:) Original | 1969 | Capitol | search ebay ]
Please do not purchase the illegal Fallout pressing of this record.


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4 Comments.

  • Ian

    about time this album be all up on here

  • I arrange and produced the famous three tracks
    Of the Common
    People album…Dav Axelrod never ever appeared on the studio..his wife was seriously injured in a car crash making it unavailable for him
    To appear in the recording study
    I arrange with strings off the top of my head and hummed the concept to The string quartet
    Flowers
    Lord Timothy Hudson
    X

  • I was involved with
    The moody Blues..,I discovered them spring 64 at the Most house Birmingham UK
    Toured America as a guest of The Beatles1965/
    Shea stadium
    Lordtim.com was the number Dj inholywood in their foe sixties
    The Seeds
    The Weeds/lollipop shoppe
    Joe south..games people play
    Managed Sir Ian Botham to financial/rock and roll sporting success
    The common People
    BiultTheveorld famous Cricket field of Dreams..Thr Birtles Bowl..
    Today Hudson/Lordtim.com..is a major figure in tje outside Art world..with clients and admirers a who’s who of who…from
    Bill Gates to ..President Oboma
    with the world famous Apollo theatre in between..
    Today Lirdtim.com is one of the largest selling painters on the streets of California

  • All my musical collaborations/creations were underground heroes
    The Moody blues
    The Seeds
    The weeds/lollipop shoppe
    The common people
    Joe south
    Hudson theatre of the mind radio shows availsble..,Lordtim.com
    Flowers
    Ltxx

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