The Human Expression
Encyclopedia
The Human Expression is a psychedelic rock
band from Los Angeles
that released three well-regarded singles and made additional demo recordings between 1966 and 1967.
, and Tustin, California
(both in Orange County
). Jim Quarles invented the name "because it had a mystical and otherworldly ring", and the father of one of the band members (Jim Foster) served as their manager. The two then began writing songs for the new band: "I didn't know what I was doing at the time. I just wrote the songs with Jim Foster. I didn't have any prior experience."
After rehearsing for six months, they went to a recording studio and cut the demo recordings for their first single, eventually securing a recording contract with Los Angeles-based Accent Records. While the "A" side of the demo single was selected, the "B" side was replaced with a song that is probably their best known recording, "Love at Psychedelic Velocity."
Two more original compositions made up the second single; the demos and the released recordings of each side have survived. Both singles were mixed by Wally Heider
, famed for his work with the Grateful Dead.
Perhaps due to the slow sales of the band's own songs, their manager brought demos of two songs by then-unknown songwriter Mars Bonfire
to the band to consider for their third single. They selected "Sweet Child of Nothingness" as the "A" side of their third single, to be backed with another original composition as the "B" side. The other song was "Born to be Wild
," which did not impress Jim Quarles; in 1968, this would become a smash hit by Steppenwolf
.
Before the band's third single was released, lead guitarist Martin Eshleman hurt his hand and had to leave the band. Although a new guitarist was brought in, Jim Quarles left almost immediately: "This move kind of destroyed the chemistry of the band. I felt it was time to move on".
. It has an unusual structure in that, in two places, the pace of the song slows down dramatically – sounding like the Vogues
, according to the liner notes
for Pebbles, Volume 10
– and then speeds to a breakneck pace immediately afterward. Despite the song's name, "Love at Psychedelic Velocity" is more in the style of a garage rock
song than a psychedelic rock
song.
This being the 1960s, the original "B" side of their first single, "Readin' Your Will", may have been dropped due to its being a cautionary tale about a friend who is indulging too much in illicit sex and drugs. Had it remained the single's flip side, this song would have been released in the same year as "Kicks
" by Paul Revere and the Raiders, which has a similar theme.
Their second single is an ethereal psychedelic rock
number called "Optical Sound", where the singer is collecting his thoughts after a drug experience. The title may refer to the synesthesia
that is sometimes experienced by people on an LSD
trip. This may be their best recording, and it is included on twice as many compilation album
s as "Love at Psychedelic Velocity."
As one contemporary reviewer noted: "In a different reality, they might've been a more mature and serious competitor to the Seeds
, perhaps even succeeding at doing what the Doors
did, only without the literary pretensions or personal excesses."
The music of The Human Expression has been compiled by Collectables Records
/Cicadelic Records on a retrospective album called Love at Psychedelic Velocity
that was released in 1994.
A compilation album
, The Human Expression & Other Psychedelic Groups, was released by the same label in 2000 and featured three of their songs (and virtually the same cover), plus additional recordings by several other bands. A previously unreleased song, "Your Mind Works in Reverse", is featured on the latter compilation album that is not included on Love at Psychedelic Velocity. Whether this song is actually by The Human Expression or by Jim Quarles individually is unclear, although the unreleased songs on Love at Psychedelic Velocity are credited only to Quarles.
There are also many sites where songs by The Human Expression are available as downloads.
Finally, the original 45s also surface occasionally and are in great demand. In 2003, an original pressing of the "Optical Sound" single sold on eBay
for $2,300.
Optical Sound:
Everynight:
Calm Me Down:
Readin' Your Will:
Who Is Burning?:
Your Mind Works in Reverse:
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
band from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
that released three well-regarded singles and made additional demo recordings between 1966 and 1967.
History
The band formed in 1966, with the members coming from Westminster, CaliforniaWestminster, California
-Government:In the state legislature Westminster is located in the 34th, Senate District, represented by Democrat Lou Correa and Republican Tom Harman respectively, and in the 67th and 68th Assembly District, represented by Republicans Jim Silva and Van Tran respectively...
, and Tustin, California
Tustin, California
-Top employers:According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Tustin had a population of 75,540. The population density was 6,816.7 people per square mile...
(both in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
). Jim Quarles invented the name "because it had a mystical and otherworldly ring", and the father of one of the band members (Jim Foster) served as their manager. The two then began writing songs for the new band: "I didn't know what I was doing at the time. I just wrote the songs with Jim Foster. I didn't have any prior experience."
After rehearsing for six months, they went to a recording studio and cut the demo recordings for their first single, eventually securing a recording contract with Los Angeles-based Accent Records. While the "A" side of the demo single was selected, the "B" side was replaced with a song that is probably their best known recording, "Love at Psychedelic Velocity."
Two more original compositions made up the second single; the demos and the released recordings of each side have survived. Both singles were mixed by Wally Heider
Wally Heider
Wally Heider was an American recording engineer and recording studio owner - History :After a distinguished career as an engineer in the 1940s and 1950s, he was instrumental in recording the San Francisco Sound in the late 60s and early 70s...
, famed for his work with the Grateful Dead.
Perhaps due to the slow sales of the band's own songs, their manager brought demos of two songs by then-unknown songwriter Mars Bonfire
Mars Bonfire
Dennis Edmonton , also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf....
to the band to consider for their third single. They selected "Sweet Child of Nothingness" as the "A" side of their third single, to be backed with another original composition as the "B" side. The other song was "Born to be Wild
Born to Be Wild
"Born to Be Wild" is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. It is often used in popular culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude...
," which did not impress Jim Quarles; in 1968, this would become a smash hit by Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
.
Before the band's third single was released, lead guitarist Martin Eshleman hurt his hand and had to leave the band. Although a new guitarist was brought in, Jim Quarles left almost immediately: "This move kind of destroyed the chemistry of the band. I felt it was time to move on".
Musical highlights
"Love at Psychedelic Velocity" is featured on the last of the 10 LPs issued by BFD Records in the Pebbles seriesPebbles series
Pebbles is an extensive series of compilation albums in both LP and CD formats that have been issued on several record labels, though mostly by AIP...
. It has an unusual structure in that, in two places, the pace of the song slows down dramatically – sounding like the Vogues
The Vogues
The Vogues are an American vocal group from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The original group consisted of Bill Burkette , Don Miller , Hugh Geyer and Chuck Blasko .-Career:...
, according to the liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
for Pebbles, Volume 10
Pebbles, Volume 10 (LP)
Pebbles, Volume 10 is a compilation album among the LP's in the Pebbles series. The music on this album has no relation to Pebbles, Volume 10 that was released on CD many years later.-Release data:...
– and then speeds to a breakneck pace immediately afterward. Despite the song's name, "Love at Psychedelic Velocity" is more in the style of a garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
song than a psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
song.
This being the 1960s, the original "B" side of their first single, "Readin' Your Will", may have been dropped due to its being a cautionary tale about a friend who is indulging too much in illicit sex and drugs. Had it remained the single's flip side, this song would have been released in the same year as "Kicks
Kicks (song)
"Kicks" is a song by American rock band Paul Revere & the Raiders. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil wrote the song for The Animals, but the band's lead singer Eric Burdon turned it down....
" by Paul Revere and the Raiders, which has a similar theme.
Their second single is an ethereal psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
number called "Optical Sound", where the singer is collecting his thoughts after a drug experience. The title may refer to the synesthesia
Synesthesia
Synesthesia , from the ancient Greek , "together," and , "sensation," is a neurologically based condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway...
that is sometimes experienced by people on an LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
trip. This may be their best recording, and it is included on twice as many compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s as "Love at Psychedelic Velocity."
As one contemporary reviewer noted: "In a different reality, they might've been a more mature and serious competitor to the Seeds
The Seeds
The Seeds were an American rock band. The group, whose repertoire spread between garage rock and acid rock, are considered one of the pioneers of punk rock.-History:...
, perhaps even succeeding at doing what the Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
did, only without the literary pretensions or personal excesses."
Post break-up
Following the break-up of The Human Expression, Jim Quarles cut several demo recordings in the studio, though they were not released until collected on a 1994 retrospective album (see below). He has worked for many years as a studio engineer in the music industry.The music of The Human Expression has been compiled by Collectables Records
Collectables Records
Collectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Greene was previously associated with New York City's Times Square Record Shop, Philadelphia's Record Museum retail chain, and the Lost Nite and Crimson record labels....
/Cicadelic Records on a retrospective album called Love at Psychedelic Velocity
Love at Psychedelic Velocity
Love at Psychedelic Velocity is a retrospective album by the Human Expression that was released in CD format.-Release Data:This album was released as a CD by Collectables Records in 1994 as #COL-CD-0588.-Musical Highlights:...
that was released in 1994.
A compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, The Human Expression & Other Psychedelic Groups, was released by the same label in 2000 and featured three of their songs (and virtually the same cover), plus additional recordings by several other bands. A previously unreleased song, "Your Mind Works in Reverse", is featured on the latter compilation album that is not included on Love at Psychedelic Velocity. Whether this song is actually by The Human Expression or by Jim Quarles individually is unclear, although the unreleased songs on Love at Psychedelic Velocity are credited only to Quarles.
There are also many sites where songs by The Human Expression are available as downloads.
Finally, the original 45s also surface occasionally and are in great demand. In 2003, an original pressing of the "Optical Sound" single sold on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
for $2,300.
Retrospective album
- Love at Psychedelic VelocityLove at Psychedelic VelocityLove at Psychedelic Velocity is a retrospective album by the Human Expression that was released in CD format.-Release Data:This album was released as a CD by Collectables Records in 1994 as #COL-CD-0588.-Musical Highlights:...
; Collectables Records (#COL-0588); 1994 release on CD
Singles
- "Everynight" b/w "Love at Psychedelic Velocity"; Accent Records (#1214); rel. summer 1966?
- "Optical Sound" b/w "Calm Me Down"; Accent Records (#1226); rel. winter 1966?
- "Sweet Child of Nothingness" b/w "I Don't Need Nobody"; Accent Records (#1252); rel. summer 1967?
Compilations
Love at Psychedelic Velocity:- Pebbles, Volume 10Pebbles, Volume 10 (LP)Pebbles, Volume 10 is a compilation album among the LP's in the Pebbles series. The music on this album has no relation to Pebbles, Volume 10 that was released on CD many years later.-Release data:...
(LP). - Best of Pebbles, Volume 3 (LP and CD)
- Songs We Taught the FuzztonesSongs We Taught The FuzztonesSongs We Taught The Fuzztones is a garage rock compilation album. The album, released in 1993, contains the original versions of songs covered by The Fuzztones.- Track listing :# Blues Magoos – Dante's Inferno - 4.33# Davie Allan – Blues Theme -...
(LP and CD)
Optical Sound:
- Nuggets#1: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (box set)
- Echoes in Time, Volume 1 (LP)
- Echoes in Time, Volumes 1 and 2 (CD)
- Psychedelic Disaster Whirl (LP)
- The Human Expression & Other Psychedelic Groups (CD)
- Green Crystal Ties, Volume 6 (CD)
- Garage Beat '66, Volume 5 (CD)
Everynight:
- Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 3Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 3Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 3 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Los Angeles....
(LP) - Green Crystal Ties, Volume 9 (CD)
Calm Me Down:
- Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 20Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 20Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 20 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series; it is subtitled L.A., Part 4 and features recordings that were released in Los Angeles...
(LP) - The Human Expression & Other Psychedelic Groups (CD)
- Green Crystal Ties, Volume 6 (CD)
Readin' Your Will:
- Green Crystal Ties, Volume 9 (CD)
- Garage Beat '66, Volume 5 (CD)
Who Is Burning?:
- Psychedelic Crown Jewels, Volume 1 (LP and CD)
Your Mind Works in Reverse:
- The Human Expression & Other Psychedelic Groups (CD)