Merrell Fankhauser & (His Trusty) H.M.S. Bounty! was a relatively short-lived psychedelic rock band that was formed sometime around 1968 by Merrell Fankhauser and Bill Dodd, who released their only album in November of 1968 and then a single, until the group ultimately split up. This album that I’ll be listening to tonight, Things (1968/1985), seems to be a reissue that features a bonus track that wasn’t included in the original release. According to a review of the album from It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine, the album contained songs that made the charts, but due to their label having recently signed Neil Diamond, the songs didn’t receive much support in gaining traction on airwaves from their label. I’m pretty stoked to check out this album, and there’s not a whole lot more I can find about the album or band with a quick search on the internet, so with that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Things (Goin’ Round In My Head)” gets started after a moment with a chugging beat that is joined by shortly by some classic pop rock sounds circa 1968 from the guitar and bass. Oh wow, I really dig the layers that continually are introduced into the track, which make me think of the more pop-oriented songs from The Beatles around 1967. Oh wow, I really dig the super sweet drum fill for a moment as the rest of the instrumentation pauses, almost creating a sort of stuttering effect that gets me further onto the edge of my seat. Super sweet track, and I’m excited to hear more.
Oh wow, “Girl (I’m waiting for you)” gets started with some sweet psychedelic pop rock sounds from the percussion and guitar work that vaguely seems to have a bit of a raga-inflection. I’m kind of reminded of the more psychedelic pop-oriented tracks of Federal Duck. I’m really digging the sweet, bright, falsetto chorus vocals on one side of the soundscape while the deeper tones of the lead vocals almost provide a grounding to the track. Super sweet tune.
“What Does She See In You?” gets started with a super sweet groove that seems to lean more into a sweet, psychedelic rock style that reminds me of a cross between The Freeborne and The Chamaeleon Church. Holy smokes, there’s a fuzzed-out guitar lick for a moment that’s super sweet. The rhythm guitar and bass guitar seem to nearly get more introspective as the song continues along. Great track.
“Lost In the City” gets grooving with some super sweet, classic psychedelic rock sounds from the bass line, raw, distorted electric guitars, and grooving beat that remind me a bit of groups like The Chocolate Watchband. Wow, great track.
Oh wow, “Your Painted Lives” picks right back up where the previous track left off with some super groovy, classic psychedelic rock grooves. I’m also reminded a bit of The Jelly Bean Bandits with this and the previous track. Great tune.
“Drivin’ Sideways (Down a One Way Street)” gets started with a really sweet, upbeat, pop-y feel in the jangling acoustic guitar strumming accompanied by some cymbals in the percussion that adds to the jangliness, while the bass line has a really sweet, sort of bouncing feel that seems to propel the tune forward alongside the nearly chugging beat from the rest of the drums. Oh wow, there’s a really sweet, fuzzed-out psychedelic guitar line on the other side that seems to bring about more of a psychedelic rock sound. The arrangement of the background and lead vocals also seem to walk between those pop-like and rock-oriented sounds as well. Holy smokes, the instrumentation pauses for a moment, and suddenly the pop-like jangliness is gone and the soundscape seems to have changed to a full-blown psychedelic rock jam track reminiscent of other psychedelic rock groups from the coastal US in and around the mid-to-late 1960s. Great track.
Oh wow, “In a Minute Not Too Soon” has a really interesting mixture of psychedelic pop and psychedelic rock sounds, not unlike the previous track, except the rock-oriented sounds and pop-oriented sounds are now on opposite sides of the soundscape. I’m really digging the jangly acoustic guitar strumming on one side of the soundscape while the fuzzed-out electric guitar creates an almost gritty, psychedelic rock sound on the other side of the soundscape. Great track.
Holy smokes, “A Visit With Ashiya” gets started with a medley of raga sounds from what sounds to be a sitar with a sort of tinny reverberation that I’m really digging, while a tabla and bass gradually ease the groove along. Oh wow, an electric guitar comes in and plays a sort of meanderingly psychedelic line that complements the raga flavors already present in the soundscape quite nicely. I’m very much reminded of “Within You Without You” by The Beatles in this track, especially with the vocal performance. Oh wow, I’m really digging the little change-up at the end of the song for the outro. Great track.
“The Big Gray Sky” gets started with some upbeat pop-oriented sounds that seem to get increasingly psychedelic as more layers are added to the soundscape. Oh wow, I’m really digging the organs in the background of this tune, as well as the sort of mellow rawness of the rhythm guitar chords, which both seem to add some really sweet psychedelic flavors to the soundscape. Super sweet track.
“Rich Man’s Fable” gets moving with a sort of upbeat psychedelic rock groove in the drums and bass. Oh wow, the track seems to break through to a mini jam session as a fuzzed-out guitar and some psychedelic organs seem to have some sort of counterpoint with each other. Great tune.
“Ice Cube Island” gets started with some really sweet, mellow acoustic guitar notes that are soon joined by a super light swing in the drums that together evoke a sort of easy-going, mellow island feel. I really dig the light, falsetto sound of the background vocals in this one. Super sweet tune.
“Madame Silky” gets started with a classic psychedelic rock groove from some swirling, psychedelic organs, a sturdy and dynamic beat, and some almost raw electric guitar chords. Oh wow, I’m really digging the fuzzed-out lead guitar in this track, which remind me a fair deal of other 1960s groups like Neighbr’hood Childr’n, especially when the tambourine comes in. Oh wow, the track seems to be coming to a super sweet psychedelic rock crescendo as the track (and originally the entire album) comes to a close. Great track.
“I’m Flying Home” gets started with a medley of psychedelic rock flavors that seem to bring in a nearly experimental psychedelic garage rock sound as the combination of rawness and far out lines have pulled me even further into the music. Oh wow, I’m really digging the drums in this one. I’m almost reminded of the Grateful Dead’s Anthem of the Sun (1968) with this track. Oh wow, the band really gets into some super groovy, far out territory with some of the jam movements in this track. The bass line has a super dynamic feel to it that I’m really digging. Wow, great track, and a great way to finish up the album.
I’m definitely glad that I checked out this album tonight. The medley of psychedelic flavors really walked the line nicely between the sort of psychedelic pop and psychedelic rock styles of music circa 1967-1968, and even incorporated raga elements that you might have heard from artists like The Beatles from around that time period. I was reminded of other classic psychedelic rock groups from the era as well, such as The Freeborne, The Chamaeleon Church, Neighbr’hood Childr’n, Federal Duck, and even the Grateful Dead. If you’re into psychedelic music from around 1968, then you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this album a listen, then I sincerely do hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A