[2021-10-08] The Syn (pre-Yes) "Flowerman: Rare Blooms From The Syn 1965-69" (Grapefruit UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Aug 27, 2021 4:00 pm

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CRTCBD9/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09CRTCBD9/?tag=imwan-21

Description
An anthology of all surviving ‘60s recordings by The Syn, key players on the London summer-of-’67 underground circuit and the starting point for prog legends Yes.

Active from late 1965 as an Action-style mod/Motown band, The Syn embraced psychedelia with some legendary theatrical shows during their Marquee Club residency and a brace of flower-power singles for Deram before slowly evolving into Yes.

Those four Deram sides – ‘Created By Clive’, ‘Grounded’, ‘Flowerman’ and ’14 Hour Technicolour Dream’ – are joined by a clutch of rare recordings from the period, including a five-minute rehearsal excerpt of stage favourite ‘The Gangster Opera’, an earlier recording of ‘Flowerman’, a pre-Deram acetate of the unissued-at-the-time ‘Merry-Go-Round’ and two tracks by pre-Syn band The Selfs.

The CD also includes some post-Syn recordings, including a brace of songwriting demos by singer Steve Nardelli, keyboardist Andrew Pryce Jackman and bassist Chris Squire as they attempted to set up a production company at the height of Squire’s success with Yes.

With a foreword by Phil Collins (a huge fan during their Marquee days), many previously unpublished photos and a new 5000 word essay, ‘Flowerman’ is an essential purchase for admirers of both vintage British psychedelia and the band Yes.

Tracklist
1. Merry-Go-Round
2. Created By Clive
3. Grounded
4. Flowerman
5. 14 Hour Technicolour Dream
6. The Gangster Opera (Chorus/Legs Diamond/Reprise)
7. Flowerman (demo version)
8. I Can’t Explain (The Selfs)
9. Love You (The Selfs)
10. The Last Performance Of The Royal Regimental Very Victorious And Valiant Band
11. Mister White’s White Flying Machine
Bonus Tracks:
12. Cadillac Dreams (Narsquijack)
13. Sunset Boulevard Lament (Narsquijack)
14. Grounded 2004

1 Not originally released, recorded 1966
2-3 Single, Deram DM 130, released June 1967 4-5 Single, Deram DM 145, released September 1967
6-7 Not originally released, recorded mid-1967 8-9 Not originally released, recorded mid-1965 by The Selfs
10 Not originally released, recorded 1969
11 Recorded 1969, included on the Ayshea album ‘Ayshea’, Polydor 2384 026, released December 1970)
12-13 Not originally released, recorded 1974 by Narsquijack
14 Recorded 2004, included on the album ‘Original Syn 1965-2004’ (Umbrello UMBRCD001, 2005)

Packshot (click for full size):

Neal Alhadeff · 07 Jan 2007

Thanks, Linda. I've just ordered it, although I'm pretty sure I have almost all of these on The Original Syn. What the heck, I haven't given Nardelli any money in a few years.

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2021 11:13 pm

A sample:

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Feb 01, 2022 12:32 pm

A packshot has been added to the first post.

[2021-10-08] The Syn (pre-Yes) "Flowerman: Rare Blooms From The Syn 1965-69" (Grapefruit UK)

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