West Coast Consortium's late 1960s 45s were sophisticated, lavishly-orchestrated close harmony pop affairs. At heart, though, they were a garage psychedelic pop band - as can be heard on Mr. Umbrella Man, which assembles the pick of the four demo albums they made between 1967 and 1969. Now heard for the first time, this astonishing cache of recordings reveal that, left to their own devices, West Coast Consortium ditched the brass and strings arrangements of their singles in favour of Mellotrons, fuzz guitars, Vox Continental organs and wah-wah pedals, while hitherto unreleased nuggets like 'Santa Monica Bay', 'Aimie (Sing Your Song For Me)' and the woozy 'Mr. Umbrella Man' show a parallel debt to the lo-fi, DIY approach of the Beach Boys circa Smiley Smile and Friends. Highly regarded late '60s English psych-pop band who have featured on such compilations as Real Life Permanent Dreams, Ripples, Psychedelic Schlemiels, Paisley Pop, Psychedelic Pstones, We Can Fly, Tea & Symphony and Justafixation. 21 of the 27 tracks, all recorded between 1967-69, are previously unreleased in ANY format Fully re-mastered sound, with lavishly illustrated booklet and extensive notes by band leader Geoff Simpson
01 Amanda jane 02 Willow wood 03 One day the train never came 04 To please louise* 05 Elastic band 06 We all love you baby* 07 Oh! what a feeling* 08 Ginny stop (don't go 'way)* 09 Rings and things* 10 Mr. umbrella man* 11 House upon a hill* 12 Aimie (sing your song for me)*
13 Santa monica bay* 14 When the day breaks* 15 Cindy in love 16 Come on into the warm* 17 Rest of your life (down lonely street)* 18 Cynthia serenity* 19 Take a round trip* 20 Fairground playboy* 21 Money matters* 22 Windmill hill* 23 All the love in the world* 24 What are they all singing about today? 25 Whatever became of emily jane?* 26 One six two* 27 Copper coloured years*