The
Charlatans were, by dint of timing, effort and wardrobe, the first on
the scene of the 60s San Francisco psychedelic rock bands. The folkie
jug-band scene going down in the Bay Area, circa 1964, was destined
to be electrified. The Charlatans achieved this on several levels.
The
man behind the Charlatans was architecture student George Hunter, who
couldn't play a musical instrument, but wanted to be in a rock 'n' roll
band. His concept and ambition were joined by Haight-Ashbury musician
and entrepreneur Michael Ferguson's artistic and theatrical bent.
During 1964, the nascent group - which included Richie Olsen and Sam
Linde - not only rehearsed, but also filmed and photographed themselves,
as Hunter thought a successful band should. Some of that early footage
may be seen in the film "The Life And Times of the Red Dog Saloon".
The only thing missing was a paying gig, which the band was yet to have.
Drummer
Linde eventually left the band, and Dan soon took his place, allegedly
when he happened by the band's pad to score pot.
In the summer of 1965, The Charlatans were recruited by Chandler Laughlin
to audition as the house band for the newly-opened Red Dog Saloon in
Virginia City, Nevada. Dan was skeptical and somewhat reluctant to go,
but the other members prevailed upon him, and their LSD-fueled audition
at the Red Dog was a success.
The Charlatans' groundbreaking summer engagement at the Red Dog inspired
musicians and promoters from San Francisco to begin what was to become
a "golden era" of psychedelic music at the various SF dancehalls.
The
Charlatans had several recording sessions from 1965 to 1968, and released
a single on Kapp Records "The Shadow Knows" b/w "32-20".
The band wanted "Codine" to be the A-side, but the label deemed
the subject matter to be too controversial.
Dan
left the band in 1968 to concentrate on developing His Hot Licks, which
had become an opening act for the Charlatans. After Dan's departure,
a Charlatans album was released on Phillips.
Most
of Dan's songs from this era are well-known to his fans today: "How
Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away", "By Hook Or By Crook",
and "'Long Come A Viper". But his classic anthem of hippie
relationship ennui, "We're Not On The Same Trip", should have
had the success he envisioned for it. As Dan put it, "That could
have been a fuckin' hit. man."
The
tracks on the CD are from several sessions; The Autumn Demos (Coast
Recorders, SF CA, 8/65), The Kama Sutra Sessions (Coast Recorders, early
'66), The Golden State Demo (Golden State Recorders, SF CA, 7/67) and
The Pacific High Sessions (Pacific High Recorders, Sausalito CA, early
'68).
The
Charlatans were not fated to get swept up in the massive SF Band Signings
by major labels in the 60s. As Dan says in the liner notes, "We
were just cast to be local, just doomed, that was it. Whatever the circumstances
were."
Personnel
George Hunter autoharp,
percussion, vocals
Michael Ferguson piano,
vocals
Mike Wilhelm lead
guitar, vocals
Richard Olsen bass
guitar, clarinet, vocals
Dan Hicks drums,
rhythm guitar, vocals
The
Tunes
Codine
Blues
Alabama Bound
I Always Wanted A Girl Like You
I Saw Her
How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away
32-20
We're Not On The Same Trip
Walkin'
Sweet Sue, Just You
East Virginia
The Shadow Knows
I Got Mine
Steppin' In Society
Devil Got My Man
By Hook Or By Crook
'Long Come A Viper
Sidetrack
Alabama Bound
Number One
Baby Won't You Tell Me
Jack of Diamonds
The Blues Ain't Nothing
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