Actually I can't remember much nowadays. But do you remember the first time you came across a real Psychedelic song and how you reacted.

I have a few memories. Now I have to start by saying that at the time I was not buying LPs - that only started in the 70s because I was just a kid with a tiny bit of pocket money that went on food or maybe matchbox toys so I missed out on some of the defining psychedelic songs at the time, and my music listening was what was on the radio. Of course I loved music at the time but I didn't buy it. My first purchase was a 45 that was not psychedelic at all. But in the 70s I actually purchased LPs and it was here that my love of psychedelia began. I will reword that sorry, my understanding of psychedelia began.

The first reaction I remember ever having was when I heard Itchycoo park when I thought "wow what a sound"

Another other strong memory was the listening to I am the walrus for the first time. This was also in the very early 70s when I was starting to purchase Beatles stuff and listening to many songs that were unfamiliar to me. I remember thinking "this is odd" and waiting for some catchy chorus to appear - and it didn't. "what sort of song was that?" I thought when it ended. I was not very impressed with the song per se but I did like the words.

Yeah I was a bit naive back then. That's my confession for the day.

Being a child of the 60's the airwaves were awash with new sounds and so subconsciously I was being indoctrinated (in the nicest way) into liking enlightened music as I like to call it.

My first album purchase was Aladdin Sane as music had progressed into the Glam Rock era by the time I was receiving enough pocket money to afford to save and buy stuff for myself. I can't point to a particular moment in time but I remember listening to Revolver & Sgt Peppers whilst on a holiday in Poland in the early 70's with relatives who had a great collection of 60's LP's and thinking I like these songs.

Throughout the 70's and early 80's I never really thought about music in terms of genres it was more a case of if I liked it I bought it. My first concert was a Ted Nugent gig in 1976 and I dug his stuff so much I sought out everything he'd released. Little did it occur to me that before he became a 'ROCK GOD'(in my eyes at least) he had been an instrumental part of 60's psychedelia with his band The Amboy Dukes, not that it mattered it was all great music to my ears.

I started working at Virgin Records in 1982 and the manager was a total psych head. He'd lend me albums saying "You really got to check this out, it's totally fab" One of the first albums he lent me with this tagline was the Nuggets comp. I asked if he had any albums by bands on the comp. I was then inundated with albums by The Seeds, The Leaves, The Shadows Of Knight, The Remains and so on and WHAMMO!! I was sold and the search was on for as much of this stuff as I could find and more importantly afford. Fortunately my job at Virgin as record buyer meant I had access to all the major and minor companies back catalogues as well as reps that had loads of hoarded promo copies that they's swop for shop stock and my album collection swelled, almost exponentially. I'm so glad I was in the right place at the right time as this type of stuff wasn't really in vogue and could be found easily at most second hand shops for a couple of quid. Unlike today where they're fetching silly money that I'd never be able to afford unless I won the lottery.

Looking back Nuggets is more of a garage rock comp but the line blurs and bands like Gong, Spirit, The Strawberry Alarmclock and Arthur Brown were soon on my radar. I'm a bit of a completionist and tend to exhaust a bands entire discography before moving onto the next and so on. Anyways the collecting has never stopped and housing 9000+ albums and CD's is now becoming problematic but in a nice way.

Well there ya go, hope you enjoyed the insight. I bet others have stories to tell. Here's hoping you share them with the group.

PPP

Yes I remember. I first started collecting early 70s prog/rock/hard rock as it was my age bracket. I was in one of the import shops in Perth, Western Australia when I noticed the striking cover of Perfumed Garden Vol 1. Gave it a listen and was hooked, going on to all number of psych, garage and associated comps and bands from there on. Great days.

Yeh Ted Nugent is still playing and making his opinions known, which I love about him as he seems to be under attack continually from a certain bunch of authoritarian censor loving political ideologues,as if a man of his age gives a shit about some snotty uni attending tea towel wearing man in a wig,stockings and high heels thinks..... lol or a green haired screaming lunatic with a nose ring..... what is he now,in his 80s?

The thing with Ted even though he was indeed in a psychedelic group,it seems he was strictly anti drugs, he wouldn't accept it from his band mates either.

Frank Zappa was seemingly of the same attitude,no drug taking allowed.

It certainly proves fabulous psychedelic and freaky music can be written and played without a whiff of acid or indeed marijuana.

The Hollies we were another band who I feel recorded some fab Psych orientated material, but they said themselves they were as psychedelic as having a pint in their local.

The Troggs said they were as psychedelic as a strong cup of tea.. LoL.....