Something Good for Your Head
Encyclopedia
Something Good for Your Head is an album by the San Francisco area folk rock
duo Blackburn & Snow
. The album consists of twenty songs recorded by Jeff Blackburn and Sherry Snow, along with various backing musicians, during their partnership in the mid-1960s. All but four of the songs were not released until being collected for the album, which was issued as a compact disc over thirty years later in 1999.
. Along with their friends in Jefferson Airplane
, the duo were part of the early wave of folk rock musicians that crafted the San Francisco Sound
. They signed a contract in December 1965 with Kingston Trio
producer Frank Werber's Trident Productions. Werber planned to present Blackburn & Snow as a major new find, but delayed a full presentation while recording material for an album throughout 1966 and into the spring of 1967.
, The Beatles
and Buddy Holly
, Blackburn & Snow recorded a number of straight rock songs with the backing band Candy Store Prophets
as well as some country and folk flavored material, with Blackburn writing nearly all of the songs. The Candy Store Prophets later performed as the backing band for The Monkees
first album and included Larry Taylor
of Canned Heat
and Ventures
guitarist Gerry McGee. Gary "Chicken" Hirsh, later of Country Joe and the Fish
, also drummed on some earlier tracks.
A fast rocker, "It's So Hard" showcases the playing of McGee, as does the more country influenced "Everyday Brings Better Things", while "Yes Today" and "Takin' it Easy" are psychedelic folk prototypes that emphasize the duo's intricate harmonizing. Though many completed songs were recorded, Blackburn & Snow broke up in 1967 and failed to see an album released during their partnership. Trident and distribution partner MGM-Verve
had difficulties over the project which were added to existing tension between the duo and their producer as described by Randy Sterling, and Werber ultimately shelved the album. Other than two singles, the material remained unreleased until the 1999 issue of Something Good for Your Head.
of The Byrds
, although it was credited to the fictitious Samuel F. Omar. The title and lyrics are based on the Robert A. Heinlein
science fiction novel
that was widely popular among the San Francisco youth culture in the mid-1960s. It was released as a single backed with "Uptown-Downtown" in late December 1966, while the single "Post-War Baby"/"Time" was released in October 1967.
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
duo Blackburn & Snow
Blackburn & Snow
Blackburn & Snow were a folk rock duo popular early in the mid-1960s San Francisco music scene in the United States. The group consisted of guitarist-singer Jeff Blackburn and vocalist Sherry Snow.-History:...
. The album consists of twenty songs recorded by Jeff Blackburn and Sherry Snow, along with various backing musicians, during their partnership in the mid-1960s. All but four of the songs were not released until being collected for the album, which was issued as a compact disc over thirty years later in 1999.
Background
Jeff Blackburn and Sherry Snow began performing together in 1965 in Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. Along with their friends in Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, the duo were part of the early wave of folk rock musicians that crafted the San Francisco Sound
San Francisco Sound
The San Francisco Sound refers to rock music performed live and recorded by San Francisco-based rock groups of the mid 1960s to early 1970s. It was associated with the counterculture community in San Francisco during these years.- Stylistic Dimensions :...
. They signed a contract in December 1965 with Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to late 1960s. The group started as a San Francisco Bay Area nightclub act with an original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds...
producer Frank Werber's Trident Productions. Werber planned to present Blackburn & Snow as a major new find, but delayed a full presentation while recording material for an album throughout 1966 and into the spring of 1967.
Recording
The music the duo had been performing was electric folk rock similar to their close contemporaries Jefferson Airplane, with unique harmonic interplay between the couple typified by the song "Do You Realize". Influenced by The Everly BrothersThe Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Blackburn & Snow recorded a number of straight rock songs with the backing band Candy Store Prophets
Candy Store Prophets
The Candy Store Prophets were a 1960s rock band, headed by singer-songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Their lineup included Boyce and Gerry McGee on guitar, Hart on keyboards, Larry Taylor on bass guitar and Billy Lewis on drums....
as well as some country and folk flavored material, with Blackburn writing nearly all of the songs. The Candy Store Prophets later performed as the backing band for The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
first album and included Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Lewis...
of Canned Heat
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
and Ventures
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
guitarist Gerry McGee. Gary "Chicken" Hirsh, later of Country Joe and the Fish
Country Joe and the Fish
Country Joe and the Fish was a rock band most widely known for musical protests against the Vietnam War, from 1966 to 1971, and also regarded as a seminal influence to psychedelic rock.-History:...
, also drummed on some earlier tracks.
A fast rocker, "It's So Hard" showcases the playing of McGee, as does the more country influenced "Everyday Brings Better Things", while "Yes Today" and "Takin' it Easy" are psychedelic folk prototypes that emphasize the duo's intricate harmonizing. Though many completed songs were recorded, Blackburn & Snow broke up in 1967 and failed to see an album released during their partnership. Trident and distribution partner MGM-Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
had difficulties over the project which were added to existing tension between the duo and their producer as described by Randy Sterling, and Werber ultimately shelved the album. Other than two singles, the material remained unreleased until the 1999 issue of Something Good for Your Head.
Singles
"Stranger in a Strange Land" has been said to have been written by David CrosbyDavid Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
of The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, although it was credited to the fictitious Samuel F. Omar. The title and lyrics are based on the Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
science fiction novel
Stranger in a Strange Land
Stranger in a Strange Land is a 1961 science fiction novel by American author Robert A. Heinlein. It tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human who comes to Earth in early adulthood after being born on the planet Mars and raised by Martians. The novel explores his interaction with—and...
that was widely popular among the San Francisco youth culture in the mid-1960s. It was released as a single backed with "Uptown-Downtown" in late December 1966, while the single "Post-War Baby"/"Time" was released in October 1967.
Track listing
- Stranger in a Strange Land (Samuel F. Omar) – 2:27
- Yes Today (Jeff Blackburn) – 3:24
- Takin' It Easy (Jeff Blackburn) – 3:23
- Time (Jeff Blackburn) – 2:56
- It's So Hard (Jeff Blackburn, Randy Sterling) – 3:07
- Do You Realize (Jeff Blackburn) – 3:35
- Sure or Sorry (Jeff Blackburn) – 2:27
- Unchain My Heart (Freddy James, Agnes Vivian Jones) – 1:48
- Uptown-Downtown (Jeff Blackburn) – 2:12
- Some Days I Feel Your Lovin' (Jeff Blackburn) – 3:09
- Post-War Baby (Jeff Blackburn) – 1:49
- Think (Jeff Blackburn) – 2:17
- No Kidding (Jeff Blackburn) – 1:57
- I Recall The Day (Jeff Blackburn) – 2:50
- Everyday Brings Better Things (Jeff Blackburn) – 3:18
- Stand Here (Jeff Blackburn) – 2:40
- I Don't Want You Back Babe (Jeff Blackburn) – 1:31
- Stop Leanin' on Me (Jeff Blackburn) – 2:15
- Post-War Baby (Alternate Version) – 1:45
- Pass This Way (Backing Track) (Jeff Blackburn) – 3:12
Personnel
- Jeff Blackburn: vocal, guitar
- Sherry Snow: vocal, percussion
- Guitars: Gerry McGee, Jeff Blackburn, Bob Jones, Bill Fulton
- Bass: Larry Taylor, Randy Sterling, Steve Talbot, Tom Sullivan
- Drums: Bill Lewis, Gary "Chicken" Hirsh, John Chambers
- Harmonica: Will Scarlett