The Tea Company
Album: Come And Have Some Tea With the Tea Company (US 1968)
CD / Cat. No. WIS-1037
LP / Cat. No. WIS-006
- From New York City, The Tea Company was one of the early birds from the US psychedelic underground scene, with an LP on the market, originally released on Smash Records, in `68. This album stands for the evolution of the 45 rpm psych-garage bands to the upcoming LP-generation with extended improvisation parts. Tea Company evolved from the Naturals, which were founded in 1963 and played the big ballroom supporting Mamas and the Papas, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Bob Dylan, Ritchie Havens, and many others.
The band describes themselves as “an assemblage of possessed rock performers; retinue preparing the unusual; alternating with the roots of soul…whose purpose is to cause sensation, due to stimulation of the auditory centers of the brain!” – They became famous in the US, also San Francisco for spectacular live shows and lyrical hippie statements. The music is inspired by the Beatles, using exactly the same equipment as them.
Tea Company played with lots of freaked-out-echo-organ/-guitar noises on a 12 string Rickenbacker and various stereo madness reminds strongly of Syd Barrett´s spirit but more driven by hard hittin´ drums. Being buddies of Vanilla Fudge and inspired, the Tea Company also did an outrageous 9 min. version of “You keep me hangin on”, which is celebrated among 60s collectors as a true milestone. The album is a mindblowing intense and remastered production (CD includes 4 & LP 3 bonustracks by the NATUALS). The sound is intense and fresh, and the release contains a nice bio, photos and memorabilia.
A must for those who wanna feed their minds with unusual "early"experimental-psychedelic Rock! |
   
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