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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZELECTRIC PRUNESPsychedelic rock group formed in Seattle c'66, originally in the vein of contemporary groups such as Them, the Seeds or the Music Machine. First lineup: Jim Lowe (b San Luis Obispo CA), vocals, autoharp, harmonica, guitar; Weasel Spagnola (b Cleveland OH), vocals, guitar; Ken Williams (b Long Beach CA), lead guitar; Mark Tulin (b Philadelphia PA), bass, flute; Preston Ritter (b Stockton CA), drums. Signed with Reprise; initial single 'Ain't It Hard' flopped; next 'I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night' just missed top ten USA '67, became classic of genre; 'Get Me To The World On Time' also made top 30 same year. First LP The Electric Prunes was their best-seller at no. 113 USA; by the time Underground (also '67) was released, Ritter had been replaced by someone called Quint; then, apparently, a completely new lineup took over the name and contract: writer/arranger David Axelrod was allegedly involved with Mark Kincaid (b Topeka KS), vocals, guitar; Ron Morgan, guitar; John Herren (b Elk City OK), keyboards; Brett Wade (b Vancouver BC), bass, flute; Richard Whetstone (b Hutchinson KS), vocals, drums. Mass In F Minor, an electric rock mass sung in Latin, was the new group's first and last chart entry in Jan. '68. Release Of An Oath and The Kol Nidre appeared that year, Just Good Old Rock'n'Roll '69 (by which time Herren had left). No later LPs listed personnel. Stockholm 67 '97 on Heartbeat was an official release of a live bootleg, a good showcase. |