Search - Chad & Jeremy :: Of Cabbages & Kings

A Peek Behind the Looking Glass

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 05/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It must be Stated that in 1967, it was NOT considered cool to be Listening to Chad & Jeremy. The Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane were the Faves of the Day, just add Love Beads and you were GROOVY BABY !!!



I never saw "Of Cabbages and Kings" in the Record Bins in 67, But I wish I had found this one, it's a bit of a 'Lost Masterpiece' and I don't feel it's Trapped into it's Time Period of the Trippy Mid-Sixties, as a Fine piece of Pop, it Hold's it's own as a Unique and Clever Curio. This is Good Music and it is as Much a Classical Piece as a Slice of the Pop pie.



The Songs: "Rest in Peace", "Can I See You" and "I'll Get Around To It When I Can" are Wonderful and "I'll Get Around To It" COULD have been a BIG HIT, it's that Good.



Side Two of "Cabbages & Kings" presents the 'Progress Suite' in all it's Glory and for me it Works on One Level: It's Fine Music and well Played, but it is far removed from the Pop music of it's Day (the Sitars DO NOT make it cool) by simply being Mixed in there amoung the British Chatter and Clock Sounds. The 'Suite is Closer to a Soundtrack of a Doris Day Movie than it is to Rock Music. This is an Grand Experiment BUT it does not hold up over the LP's second Side, Sorry, but that's the truth. The Success of Chad & Jeremy is that you Build Beautiful Music AROUND Their Fantastic Vocal Skills and there lies the Secret as to why we Like their Music in the First place. But, in it's defense this piece of Music was recorded before the Release of the Beatles Sgt. Pepper (Jan-Mar 67)but it was Finished up after Pepper's June 67 release and I would think most of the Overdubbing was Added at that time..Too Bad.



If they had toned it down a bit I Believe the Music of Chad & Jeremy would have Survived these Hippy-Drippy Times. Good Acoustic Music was two years down the road with the likes of C,S,N & Y and others. I believe these two Guys kinda took a wierd turn to 'Pysche it Up' against their better instincts and it Killed them in the end.





I am very Glad to see the Music of Chad & Jeremy Alive and well in 2007

FOUR STARS"