For those of a certain age the mere mention of “Decca” and “Deram” will initiate a warm, fuzzy feeling. A record label (Decca) and their subsidiary (Deram) who not only defined a whole generation with a catalogue of albums and singles, but experimented with recording technology that would forever change how music was heard. The very best of those label’s output now gets collected as Psych! British Prog, Rock, Folk & Blues 1966-1973 and makes an amazing prism through which to view that moment in time. Released as a triple CD set and a truncated double album, we opt to review the latter because vinyl was the original format for these releases.

In the 1960’s Decca Records explored ways of improving stereo sound and created a technique called “Decca Panoramic Sound” (abbreviated as “Deramic”) whereby more space was created between instruments resulting in a sound that was softer on the ear, and broke away from the limitations of four track reel-to-reel recorders. Deram was conceived as an outlet for this new technology, and while the concept was soon dropped as other labels acquired similar hardware, the name remained and kept the original pioneering spirit and Deram, along with Decca, enlivened the charts with some truly mind bending music. The first single from Al Stewart (‘The Elf’) was indicative of this and its flip side ‘Turn Into Earth’ opens this collection. You can hear why this sound was classed as revolutionary; it is wide and expansive (not unlike an Ennio Morricone spaghetti western soundtrack) and whereas stereo was previously mixed on hard left or hard right, the production on ‘Turn Into Earth’ employs the full dynamic range and it is understandable as to why it blew minds (and, dare I say, a few speakers). Instruments could now be placed anywhere in the mix which made cuts such as Curiosity Shoppe’s ‘Baby I Need You’ a carnival for the ears.

This compilation largely avoids the usual suspects and presents deep album cuts and b-sides as opposed to the obvious “hits”, and while some bands will be familiar (Small Faces, Caravan), others will not, yet what unites all these artists is a sense of adventure and a desire to push the boundaries of what modern music could be, and many artists used the new technology to its fullest so that the recording studio became another instrument. Running (largely) chronologically, Psych! is not only a compendium on the evolution of music, but the advancement of technology and the two often went hand-in-hand. Stylistically, there’s not much that unites the Keef Hartley Band’s funk driven ‘Not Foolish, Not Wise’ and the guitar-less Aardvark’s ‘Very Nice Of You To Call’, yet there’s that Decca/Deram sound to stitch the sound together. That means Psych! can be enjoyed like an old school album; while it is perfectly feasible to dip in and out, it is best consumed whole to appreciate its ebb and flow.

In social history, the late ‘60s and early ‘70s are considered a time of change and upheaval, and no more so than in the sphere of music. If you’d like to experience some of that revolutionary zest, look no further than Psych! British Prog, Rock, Folk & Blues 1966-1973.

• Psych! British Prog, Rock, Folk & Blues 1966-1973 is released via Universal Music Operations on 21st July 2024.

Vinyl Track List:

Side A:

1. Turn Into Earth – Al Stewart
2. Say You Don’t Mind – Denny Laine
3. Walking Through The Streets Of My Mind – Timebox
4. That Man – Small Faces
5. Baby I Need You – Curiosity Shoppe
6. Lady Orange Peel – The Attack
7. Think Of You Baby – The Elastic Band
8. Get Out Your Rock ‘N’ Roll Shoes – Crocheted Doughnut Ring

Side B:

9. Not Foolish, Not Wise – Keef Hartley Band
10. Seven Is A Jolly Good Time – Egg
11. Northern Hemisphere – East Of Eden
12. Voodoo Forest – Johnny Almond Music Machine
13. Texas – Jan Dukes Ge Grey
14. Garden Song – Bill Fay

Side C:

15. Feeling Good – Black Cat Bones
16. Native Sun – Denny Gerrard
17. Very Nice Of You To Call – Aardvark
18. Tomorrow Morning Brings – Pacific Drift
19. Hello Hello – Caravan
20. I Wrapped Her In Ribbons – Galliard

Side D:

21. Cemetery Junction Parts 1 & 2 – Room
22. Man’s Best Friend – Clark Hutchinson
23. Stargazers – Khan
24. Wolf – Darryl Way’s Wolf