One of the forgotten bands from the “Psychedelic” era of rock remains the San Francisco band Marvin Gardens. Other bands such as Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and the Grateful Dead hit it big, but the team of Carol Duke/g-v, Fred Waxler/g-cl, Tim Hazen/key, Dave Ray Costuros/dr and Michael Lindner/b became a footnote to the Haight-Ashbury crowd. This cd brings together a lot of loose ends, putting together seven studio cuts and an exciting live recording.
Dukes’ vocals give off a dash of Janis Joplin, mixing huskiness with a wide eyed innocence. Hazen’s Farfisa organ gives the band a signature sound, as the rest of the band sometimes sounds like Big Brother and the Holding Company, at other times like a vaudeville act and even like a gospel band during their concert. Hints of rock and gospel are found on Bob Dylan’s “Down the Line” in the studio and “Gloryland” and during their live set. They show a dash of tradition to the blues on a read of Mississippi John Hurt’s “Richland Woman Blues” and even better, a California Cool take of Bob Dorough’s “Baltimore Oriole” that is riveting. Hints of ? and the Mysterians pop up on the garage rocker “97 Men” while “Have A Drink On Me” precedes The Byrds’ “Take a Whiff” by a few years.
The liner notes are quite intriguing; Baby Boomers will wonder how they missed this band. Lots of fun, and no body paint required for assembly. Exciting, but at the same time all seeming so innocent in retrospect.