Listen/Download – The Rainy Day Friends – Not Like Before
Greetings all.
A few weeks back I had the pleasure of spinning a few sets at Keen Pop! At Hi-Fi in NYC.
It’s not often that I get to spin the 60s pop that I love so much, so when Keenan Popwell extended the invitation I packed my record box and headed on up.
One of the things we discussed between records that night was the fact that a lot of the more obscure 60s pop 45s out there can be had at bargain prices. There just aren’t that many people out there collecting this stuff and aside from the occasional big-ticket item, there’s a lot of groovy stuff to be had for a pittance.
One such bargain is the record I bring you today, ‘Not Like Before’ by the Rainy Day Friends.
Aside from the fact that they released two 45s on the World Pacific label in 1967, I haven’t been able to track down any info on the group.
Both of their 45s were arranged by George Tipton (who worked a lot with Harry Nilsson), and their second disc features a track (‘Don’t You Feel Rained On’) written by Stephen Stills.
The track I bring you today, ‘Not Like Before’ is a really fantastic bit of West Coast jangle pop, with harmonies that bear the influence of the Mamas and Papas.
The flip side is a slightly more conventional folk rock outing that sounds like it borrows a chord or two from the Velvet Underground’s ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’.
I’m on the lookout for a copy of their other 45 (which seems to be a little more pricey).
If anyone has any info on the band, please let me know.
See you next week.
Peace
Larry