The Fraternity of Man - Selftitled (Psychedelic Rock US 1969)

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The short-lived Fraternity of Man is undoubtedly best known for the pro-pot anthem "Don't Bogart Me," which showed up during an unforgettable scene in the genre-defining biker film Easy Rider (1969). The original quintet included an overhaul of the Lowell George-led Factory, featuring Martin Kibbee (bass), Warren Klein (guitar/sitar/tamboura) and Ritchie Heyward (drums/vocals). George split and became a very temporary Mothers of Invention member, while the other three joined up with Freak Out (1966) era Mother Elliot Ingber (guitar). 

The personnel was completed with the addition of Lawrence "Stash" Wagner (vocals/guitar) and the band recorded its 1968 self-titled release Fraternity of Man. Another Frank Zappa connection could be found in the guise of Tom Wilson, who produced the Mother's earliest studio efforts. 

As one might anticipate, there are several prominent musical dynamics carried over into the Fraternity of Man from its former incarnation. The stoner wake-n-bake anthem "In the Morning," as well as "Blue Guitar" and "Plastic Rat" retain the psychedelic garage rock that pervaded much of the Factory's sound. The band's variation of Zappa's "Oh No" -- titled "Oh No I Don't Believe It" -- is a gassed-up rocker replete with Ingber's nimble lead fuzz fret work. 

Those decidedly more belligerent outings are contrasted by the intricate and Baroque qualities of "Wispy Paisley Skies" and the aforementioned steel guitar-driven "Don't Bogart Me." However, the comfortable misfit rockers "Candy Striped Lion's Tail," "Field Day," or the slightly perverse R&B-flavored "Bikini Baby" are among the best sides on the album. The latter was revived on the utterly dismissible dash for cash EP titled X (1995). The Fraternity of Man issued one follow-up, Get It On (1969) for Dot Records, prior to its dissolution in the waning months of the decade.

This US band was formed in Los Angeles, California, USA in 1967 when Elliot Ingber (guitar, ex-Mothers Of Invention) joined forces with three members of struggling aspirants the Factory: Warren Klein (guitar/sitar), Martin Kibbee (bass) and Richie Hayward (b. Richard Hayward, 6 February 1946, Clear Lake, Iowa, USA; drums). Lawrence ‘Stash’ Wagner (lead vocals/guitar) completed the line-up featured on The Fraternity Of Man, a musically disparate selection ranging from melodic flower-power (‘Wispy Paisley Skies’) to rhetorical politics (‘Just Doin’ Our Job’). The album also featured a version of Frank Zappa’s ‘Oh No I Don’t Believe It’, but is best recalled for the ‘dopers’ anthem ‘Don’t Bogart Me’, later immortalized in the movie Easy Rider. 

The blues-influenced Get It On! lacked the charm of its predecessor, but featured contributions from pianist Bill Payne and former Factory guitarist Lowell George, both of whom resurfaced, with Hayward, in Little Feat. Ingber was also involved with the last-named act during its embryonic stages, but left to join Captain Beefheart, where he was rechristened Winged Eel Fingerling. In later years he emerged as a member of the Mothers’ offshoot, Grandmothers. Many years later, Ingber and Wagner briefly reunited under the Fraternity Of Man banner to record the dreadful 1995 EP X.

The Fraternity of Man was an American blues rock and psychedelic rock group from the 1960s. They are most famous for their 1968 song "Don't Bogart Me," which was featured in the 1969 road movie Easy Rider. Its original members included three musicians from Lowell George's band The Factory – Richie Hayward later of Little Feat, Warren Klein, and Martin Kibbee – who joined Elliot Ingber from the Mothers of Invention and Larry Stash Wagner. Blues leads were handled by Ingber, and psychedelic leads were played by Klein, including "Oh No I Don't Believe It" (widely attributed to Ingber due to his association with the Mothers). The band broke up after recording two albums.

Personnel:
✪ Lawrence "Stash" Wagner - lead vocals, guitar
✪ Elliot Ingber - guitar
✪ Warren Klein - guitar, sitar, tambura
✪ Martin Kibbee - bass
✪ Richard Hayward - drums, backing vocals

01. "In the Morning" - 4:22
02. "Plastic Rat" - 3:41
03. "Don't Bogart Me" - 3:00
04. "Stop Me Citate Me" - 2:50
05. "Bikini Baby" - 2:03
06. "Oh No I Don't Believe It" - (Frank Zappa) - 6:15
07. "Wispy Paisley Skies" - 2:22
08. "Field Day" - 3:59
09. "Just Doin' Our Job" - 2:21
10. "Blue Guitar" - 4:23
11. "Last Call for Alcohol" - 3:25
12. "Candy Striped Lion's Tails" - 5:17

1. The Fraternity of Man
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2. The Fraternity of Man
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3. The Fraternity of Man

Shape of the Rain - Riley, Riley and Waggett (UK Underground 1971)

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SHAPE OF THE RAIN - Riley, Riley, Wood & Waggett (In demand 1971 UK 10-track LP on the short-lived RCA subsidiary Neon, where the more eclectic progressive albums ended up, each Neon release now highly sought after. This one-off is a fine example of West Coast influenced psych and British whimsy merging together to create a unique blend and gorgeous sound of the era.

IN the late Sixties a band from the Sheffield area called Shape Of The Rain were making a name for themselves, playing venues such as Sheffield University students’ union, Shades and Esquire clubs and open air concerts at Weston Park. They were reaching wider audiences by performing at The Marquee in London and The Cavern in Liverpool and by supporting the likes of Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Free, Fleetwood Mac, Love and Joe Cocker.

And they were one of the few local bands to go on to secure a major record deal. “Riley Riley Wood and Waggett” was released in 1971, named after Keith Riley, his brother Len, Brian Wood and Ian ‘Tagg’ Waggett. Influenced by American West Coast music and the British psych/progressive scene, Sound of The Rain’s debut album didn’t quite take the world by storm but it did become something of a collectors’ item, which continues to sell on the internet.

Back Cover

Almost 40 years later the band is not only recording again but reworking that first collection of songs, taking the opportunity to update them with modern equipment. “This is the album recorded from the Sixties by people in their 60s,” says Brian, who still plays bass and sings with Dave Berry’s Cruisers. Drummer Ian says: “The LP that came out in 1971 is still selling in different parts of the world and all the band members have kept in contact with each other and are still playing. We decided to get together and see if we could come up with some good music. 

The tracks sound fantastic.” The group is using the S21 Live studio in Eckington where Brian works on a project designed to help take young people off the streets – people who are now gaining the experience of watching the group go through their paces again. “We are reliving it and it’s a great atmosphere,” says Brian. “We are trying to do the album as we perceived it initially. It didn’t quite work out as we would have liked because of time schedules and involving people who didn’t see it as we saw it.” The band, mainly based originally in Eckington and Chesterfield, is the same as in 1971 with the exception of Len Riley, who has been replaced by Pete Dolan on guitar. 

Working on the sound and production are Andrew Sully and Dave Riley. They have been encouraged by eBay sales of the original album, with fans in America, Japan and Holland prepared to pay up to £600. The updated version will include some new material and will probably be released around February. Live performances may follow. Sound Of The Rain started in the Sixties as The Gear and then The Reaction. “If we couldn’t get gigs because they didn’t like us, we’d just change the name,” says guitarist and singer Keith. “If they liked us we’d stick with the same name…” Brian adds: “We had a fanastic time touring with Pink Floyd, Cream and Jethro Tull. It was really exciting. We did all the clubs. And there is still the buzz now.”

✪ Keith Riley - guitar, vocals
✪ Len Riley - bass
✪ Tag Waggett - drums, percussion
✪ Brian Wood - guitar, vocals

✪ Eric Hine - electric piano, production
✪ Tony Hall - production

01. Woman — 3:57
02. Patterns — 3:21
03. Castles — 1:57
04. Wasting My Time — 3:09
05. Rockfield Roll — 0:48
06. Yes — 5:47
07. Dusty Road — 3:49
08. Willowing Trees — 3:48
09. I’ll Be There — 3:39
10. Broken Man — 5:57 including:
a). Every One A Gem
b). After Collapsing At Kingsley’s

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