Ten Of The Best: Garry Lee from Starship Overflow

Thought I'd start something new on the blog - instead of me wittering on about what I like, I thought I'd invite some other people, all involved in the psych/space/kraut scene in some way, to give us their fave ten records of all time. So, to start we have Garry Lee, captain of the Starship Overflow. For those unaware, Starship Overflow is a radio show bringing us all that's new in the 'out there' scene (this weeks playlist has Radar Men from The Moon, Deviant Amps and Black Space Riders amongst many more). I would recommend a listen...some great stuff. It can be found on www.rivergibbsfm.com, on the 'net at www.starshipoverflow.com and Facebook. So let's crack on with Garry's favourite sounds:

10. The Garbage Grinders - S/T (1986 , Self Release)

GL: "Very little I can tell you about this band. They produced one cassette album back in 1986 and played at The notorious Crypt Club in Deptford South London. A great psych/festival type band, with vocals comparible in style to Sonja Kristina of Curved Air. If anyone knows anymore about them, I'm all ears!"

*I couldn't find any video/audio for the Garbage Grinders, so we'll have to take Garry's word for how good they were!*

9. Rats Of Unusual Size - Can't call you (1990, Vital Music)

GL: "The Rats are just one of many bands first introduced to my ears, by the wonderful Mr John Peel. Hailing from San Francisco, they only recorded 3 albums (officially) and a couple of singles for Vital Music in the US. Kind of a 90's american version of Punk meets the Bonzo Dog Band, certainly as silly!"

*Totally with Garry on this one, the B-Side "Flipper Is Dead" is one my own personal faves*



8. Census Of Hallucinations - The 3rd eye (2001, Stone Premonitions)

GL: "Tim Jones is the extremely talented musician behind COH, as well as many other bands over his long and chequered music career. There are so many Cansus albums I could have chosen. But it had to be No3, due to the inclusion of Stragon Cluin the dragon & 55,000 airmen. Intrigued? You should be! If you only do one thing today, check out the Stone Premonitions website and discover some amazing bands & artists for yourself."

*I couldn't find a track from this specific album, but this vid gives you the idea - some nice, trippy space rock/psychedelia*



7. The Cardiacs - On Land And In The Sea (1989, The Alphabet Business Concern)

GL: "Probably one of the finest underground bands to ever walk the earth. They were also the loudest band ever when I saw them play at my local arts centre years ago, leaving ringing in my ears for 3 days after! Sadly no-longer performing due to Tim Smith's illness, but the band have left us with an incredible collection of alternative abstract psych pop/rock albums to enjoy. All the early ones are my favourites, this one being a prime example."

*'Prunk' Legends!*



6. Frank Zappa - You are what you is (1981, Barking Pumpkin)

GL: "Not much I can say about dear Auntie Frank that has'nt already been said. A master in the art of perverted american rock'n'roll in every sense of the word. Joe's garage, Sheik Yerbouti & this album were the 3 big ones of that particular era of Frank. Though in all, there were 62 albums before he died and more releases have surfaced since! You are what you is was probably the most commercial of those three, but what can i say... I love it!"

* Zappa - 'nuff said!*



5. Culture Shock - Go Wild / Onwards & Upwards (1986/88, Bluurg)

GL: "My soundtrack to the second half of the 80's!. Knee deep in free festival culture and underground music, these exceptionally catchy protest songs have been played loud and jumped about too a thousand times over. I still play these recordings at every festival I attend, every summer. Subhumans, Culture Shock, Citizen Fish... all Dick's bands are good by me."

*Again, totally down with this - Subhumans/Culture Shock played a big part in my life at the time*



4. Gong - Camembert Electrique (1971, BYG)

GL: "I was so sad to hear of Daevid Allen's passing back in March 2015. But what a legacy this fine fellow has left behind. A very diverse musician and poet who covered so much in his 77 years on Planet Earth. Pure briliance and psychedelic psillyness gave us the trilogy of albums which began with that all important journey on the flying teapot, before which came several other albums including this timeless classic. R.I.P Daevid."

*Indeed, R.I.P. Daevid*



3. Ozric Tentacles - Sliding gliding worlds (1988, Self Release)

GL: "It's hard to believe that I first saw these guys play live almost 30 years ago. Probably the finest psychedelic instrumentalists ever. From their first cassette releases back in the mid 80's, to their most recent releases, I love them all. Again they were regular inhabitants of The Crypt Club beneath St.Paul's church in South London back in the day. That place has a lot to answer for!"

*We've all been there - a pot of 'tea' and the Ozrics*



2. The Oroonies - The woods are alive (1988, Better Days Distribution)

GL: "Same applies with The Oroonies.The Crypt, Club Dog, The Tea Partys and many free festival appearances, certainly put this bunch of musical misfits on the map. Always my favourite festival band through the 80's / 90's, they produced a handful of weird & wonderful cassette albums, one 12" single and later one LP via Demi Monde. The cassette releases were outed by Better Days Distribution, which just happened to be run by Boris Oroonie. Now that was jolly handy!"

*The Oroonies were new to me until Garry's list came through so did some investigation - gotta say...they are 'kin great...weird but great stuff!*



1. Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come - Galactic Zoo Dossier (1971, Polydor)

GL: "This album has to be the ultimate listen, whatever frame of mind you are in. Predominently psychedelic prog rock, the album takes you on a journey touching on every possible emotion you can experience. After spending 50 years of my life searching the very depths of the universe, I cannot find any piece of vinyl that matches the calibre and quality of this masterpiece. Superb musicianship and Arthur's mind-blowing vocal range make this old album a force to be reckoned with. I had the pleasure of working with Arthur Brown, when he first returned to the UK with his Order From Chaos tour in 1993. I asked him then about reforming Kingdom Come and doing a Galactic Zoo tour. Arthur seemed very interested in the idea (inless he was just being polite lol). Either way, sadly it was never to be."

*People tend to write Brown off as a 'one hit wonder' but he was so much more than that*



Cheers to garry for sharing his faves....some great stuff!