TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Avenue Road" - Kensington Market (1968)

"Avenue Road" - Kensington Market (1968)

     There's an overall psych element in play here, but Kensington Market doesn't hit you over the head with it.  Rather, the pop-psych weaves into your consciousness via baroque dustings and unexpected arrangements.  The variety is good, without being misleading.  There are moments where influences of Love and Left Banke can be heard, and though no one track is head and shoulders above the rest, I do have my favorites.  "Avenue Road" feels ambitious for what it is, and my ears appreciated it.

     This Canadian band was a big thing up North.  For a spell, anyway.  They performed with Jefferson Airplane, Steve Miller Band, and other big acts of their day.  But in the psychedelic pantheon scheme of things, I suppose "Avenue Road" is considered an average square...and fair enough.  On the other hand, there are no tracks to be skipped.  No needle lifts.  The vocals and playing are excellent throughout.  The mix sounds fantastic and is worth a spin just to hear it.  For a band that shared the psych glow of the Summer of Love, "Avenue Road" is not a waste of time.  It's a pick-up and still a low-dollar psych square.

"Avenue Road" - Kensington Market (back)

Favorites include:
"I Would Be The One"
"Speaking Of Dreams"
"Phoebe"
"Looking Glass"

     My copy has a small metal eyelet in the top-left corner.  A type of cut-out, I suppose, or for a possible wall display.  The same album was also released with a red border..  The record company didn't like the 'boring' original cover and quickly changed it.  I picked up both for a couple of dollars each.  I'm still looking for the band's follow-up and last album, "Aardvark" (1969), which is also considered quite good.  Both were produced by Felix Pappalardi.

Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Records

Cat #
WS 1754
SIDE A  DEADWAX
o 39391 WS 1754 A  -1C  1  A3  
SIDE B  DEADWAX
o 39392 WS 1754 B  -1C  1  A1

"Phoebe" - Kensington Market / "Avenue Road" (1968)

TRACKS:
A1  "I Would Be The One" 2:37
A2  "Speaking Of Dreams" 2:26
A3  "Colour Her Sunshine" 3:00
A4  "Phoebe" 3:38
A5  "Aunt Violet's Knee" 4:21
B1  "Coming Home Soon" 2:45
B2  "Presenting Myself Lightly" 2:15
B3  "Looking Glass" 3:21
B4  "Beatrice" 2:20
B5  "Girl Is Young" 3:08

PERSONNEL: 
Keith McKie - lead vocals, guitar
Gene Martynec - guitar, piano, vocals
Luke Gibson - vocals, rhythm guitar
Alex Darou - bass
Jimmy Watson - drums, sitar

Good stuff.

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