I love this band...I have the excellent Distortion Records release from 2000, it's great but slightly let down by poor
sound quality, this release promises a sonic upgrade, I hope so.....

America’s 1960s love affair with British rock was probably never articulated better than by the original group known as Powder. Equal parts incisive melody and violent chording, and dripping pop-art flash, the dynamic 1968 recordings by this power trio from the San Francisco Peninsula have an acquired a cult notoriety since they were first uncovered two decades ago.

Now with Big Beat’s deluxe “Ka-Pow! An Explosive Collection 1967-68”, this remarkable material has been given a further, fully re-mastered, lease of life.

Brit-besotted brothers Rich and Tom Martin had been playing surf and garage rock in their native San Mateo since the start of the decade. Joining forces with visiting Kiwi pop star Ray Columbus in 1967, they formed the Art Collection. Later, spotted by Sonny & Cher in a Hollywood nightclub, the group was hired as accompanists for the duo’s spring 1968 tour.

Now a trio and renamed Powder (as in gunpowder), the act taped an album’s worth of original and highly memorable mod-rock at Gold Star in the autumn. The LP never came out, and the Martins eventually emerged on their own as Thomas & Richard Frost, scoring a minor hit in 1969 with the sunshine-pop staple ‘She’s Got Love’.

The earlier Powder and Art Collection material is in a powerful, feedback-strewn mode, drawing upon groups like Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and the Smoke as much as the Who and Small Faces to influence their style.

Powerpop and freakbeat nuggets ‘Turn Another Page’, ‘Gladly’ and ‘Magical Jack’ indicate what an unusual and accomplished group Powder was.

The sonic upgrade on “Ka-Pow! An Explosive Collection 1967-68” ensures the powerful, feedback-strewn sound of Powder comes to life.

Several previously unissued bonus tracks include Columbus and the Art Collection’s punk classic ‘Kick Me’.

The package features lengthy liner notes by Alec Palao and many previously unseen photos and images.

POWDER 1. TURN ANOTHER PAGE (VERSION 1) 2. GLADLY 3. DO I LOVE YOU (VERSION 1) 4. MAGICAL JACK 5. I TRY 6. RUBY RED LIPS (ALTERNATE MIX) 7. GRIMBLEY LEITCH 8. WHAT THE PEOPLE SAID 9. RODEO 10. FLOWERS 11. HATE TO SEE HER GO 12. LET’S LOOK AT THE MOON 13. TOO MANY MILES RAY COLUMBUS & THE ART COLLECTION 14. KICK ME 15. SNAP CRACKLE & POP THE ART COLLECTION 16. MILLICENT 17. I GO TO SCHOOL 18. I’M A BOY & YOU’RE A GIRL 19. SO SAD ABOUT US 20. SHE’S MY GIRL 21. MEDLEY: WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW-TIRED OF WAITING FOR YOU 22. MORNING POWDER 23. TURN ANOTHER PAGE (VERSION 2) 24. GRIMBLEY LEITCH (ALTERNATE VOCAL) 25. DO I LOVE YOU (VERSION 2) RAY COLUMBUS & THE ART COLLECTION 26. KICK ME (ALTERNATE VERSION)

Nice one, I'm all over this. I have the Distortions release as well and the T&R Frost stuff is also good. If it's on Big Beat it will be top notch sound quality, so well worth getting. I have the Ray Columbus & Art Collection original 45 'Kick Me' / 'Snap Crackle Pop' but never heard anything else by them. I know RC & AC featured on a live SF festival album at the time (67-68?) though I can't recall the title and I've only ever seen one copy on offer. This should be a very satisfying anthology.

PM

I agree this cd is a must get,i also have the earlier cd of this anglophile ridden group,fabulous stuff as for the unreleased album "Visualize"from the Frost Brothers that Paul mentions...this is very good too and was released by Revola more years ago than i care to remember,a nice cd to have!!!

I'm interested too. I also have the Distortions release. Kick Me is an absolute classic and the best thing Ray Columbus ever did.

so good best american mod band ever i think? regards, eggy