The Orange Bicycle - Lavender Girl (1969)

The Orange Bicycle evolved from the beat group, Robb Storme & the Whispers, also known as the Robb Storme Group, who had recorded a handful of harmony pop singles for Pye, Piccadilly, Decca, and Columbia Records during the early '60s, but with little success. In 1966, the Robb Storme Group covered the Beach Boys' 'Here Today', which was arranged by the band's own multi-talented keyboardist/producer Wilson Malone and produced by Morgan Music's co-owner Monty Babson at Morgan Studios in the Willesdon area of London. With psychedelic music at its zenith, the group decided to change its name, and in 1967 they re-emerged as The Orange Bicycle. After signing a deal with Columbia Records, their fist single was 'Hyacinth Threads' in August 1967, which remains their best-known recording. 'Laura's Garden' followed in November 1967, and they continued to release singles sporadically over the next three years, including a cover of The Beatles' 'Carry That Weight' in 1969. In late August/early September 1968 they performed at the Isle of Wight music festival wearing matching black and orange suits, reportedly covering songs by Love and the Rolling Stones. In 1970, already somewhat past their prime, they recorded their only album, 'The Orange Bicycle', but it was made up largely of covers, including Elton John's 'Take Me To The Pilot', Bob Dylan's 'Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You', and Denny Laine's 'Say You Don't Mind', which was a wasted opportunity considering they had the writing talent of Wil Malone on board. By 1970 psychedelic pop music was on the wane, or transmogrifying into heavier prog or hard rock, so the group decided to call it a day, breaking up in 1971. As a sidenote, Malone went on to form the heavy psych-prog trio Bobak Jons Malone with celebrated engineer/producer Andy Jons and guitarist producer Mike Bobak, and their sole album 'Motherlight' is a classic which needs to be heard. During their career the band released many fine recordings as singles, and they also laid down some great unheard demos, and instead of waiting until 1970 to release a disappointing album they should have issued this one in 1969, which is a much better representation of their sound.

 

Track listing

01 Hyacinth Threads
02 Nicely
03 Lavender Girl
04 Competition
05 Laura's Garden
06 Go With Goldie
07 Trip On A Orange Bicycle
08 Jenskadajka
09 Soft Winds
10 Amy Peate
11 Carpet Man
12 Message For Mary
13 Early Pearly Morning
14 Dropping Out