Psychedelic Lollipop Explained

Psychedelic Lollipop
Type:	Album
Artist:	Blues Magoos
Cover:	psychedelic_lollipop.jpg
Released:	November 1966
Recorded:	1966
Length:	31:37
Label:	Mercury Fontana (original release) Repertoire (2005 CD reissue) Repertoire (1991 CD reissue)
Producer:	Bob Wyld, Art Polhemus
Next Title:	Electric Comic Book
Next Year:	1967

Psychedelic Lollipop is the debut album by the American rock band the Blues Magoos, and is one of the first records to have the word “psychedelic” on the sleeve. Their single “(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet” was their most successful effort, rising into the Top 10 on many national charts. Guitarist Emil “Peppy” Thielhelm was 16 years old at the time of the single’s release. The band recorded five more albums with various lineups, none reaching the success of Psychedelic Lollipop.^[1]

"Sometimes I Think About" is credited to members of the band, but is actually a traditional folk song.

Reception

AllMusic critic Mark Deming felt that Blues Magoos sounded more like a solid garage band than a psychedelic band. He especially praised their version of "Tobacco Road". He wrote in his review "Psychedelic Lollipop rarely sounds like a classic, but it's solid stuff — the covers are chosen and played well... Psychedelic Lollipop doesn't sound like the work of a great band, but certainly like one who were better than average, and considering how many bands who cranked out a single like "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" ended up making albums clogged with filler, it says a lot that even the weakest tracks here show this group had talent, ideas, and the know-how to make them work in the studio."

Track listing

1. "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" (Mike Esposito, Ron Gilbert, Ralph Scala) – 2:10
2. "Love Seems Doomed" (Esposito, Gilbert, Scala) – 3:02
3. "Tobacco Road" (John D. Loudermilk) – 4:30
4. "Queen of My Nights" (David Blue) – 2:52
5. "I’ll Go Crazy" (James Brown) – 1:58
6. "Gotta Get Away" (Ritchie Adams, Alan Gordon) – 2:35
7. "Sometimes I Think About" (Esposito, Gilbert, Scala) – 3:35
8. "One by One" (Gilbert, Emil Theilhelm) – 2:45
9. "Worried Life Blues" (Big Maceo Merriweather) – 3:45
10. "She’s Coming Home" (Roger Atkins, Helen Miller) – 2:36

Personnel

Blues Magoos

• Ralph Scala – keyboards, vocals
• Emil “Peppy” Theilhelm – guitar, vocals
• Ron Gilbert – bass guitar, vocals
• Mike Esposito – guitar
• Geoff Daking – drums, percussion

Technical

• Art Polhemus – producer, engineer
• Bob Wyld – producer, liner notes
• Shelby S Singleton Jr. – executive producer

Charts

Album - Billboard (USA)

Album – RPM (Canada)

Singles - Billboard (USA)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1967	"(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet"	Pop Singles	5
1967	"One By One"	Pop Singles	71

Singles – RPM (Canada)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1967	"(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet"^[3]	Canada RPM 100	4
1967	"One By One"^[4]		56

External links

• Blues Magoos on classicbands.com
• [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p15951/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} Blues Magoos on allmusic.com] (Reference)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Blues Magoos 1966-1968 Pops Psychedelic Pioneers. elsewhere.co.nz. April 22, 2015.
2. Web site: RPM Top 25 LPs - April 8, 1967.
3. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - February 11, 1967.
4. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - July 8, 1969.