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| THE SPECTRUM-Portobello Road/Comes The Dawn U.S. RCA-Victor 47-9382 1967 |
The U.K. 60's quintet The Spectrum issued four singles in the U.S. Today's subject was their second, being released in November 1967 (it was issued in the U.K. in August '67 as RCA Victor 1619).
"Portobello Road" is a favorite London landmark in 60's songs, both Cat Stevens AND Billy Nichols had unrelated songs about it. The Spectrumn's ode, like the two previous mentioned tracks pay lyrical homage to the host of articles available for sale from the past and (especially) present. The harmonies remind me of The Tremeloes or the Marmalade and there's a really atmospheric organ that's "groovy" and the mandatory tinkling ivories and tuba to give it that "67 London" kitsch/regal feel.
The B-side, "Comes the Dawn" is fairly tepid. It's not awful but it's a fairly mundane track that slightly brings to mind Rupert's People's "Reflections Of Charles Brown" but with harmony vocals.
Both sides are available on the collection "All The Colours of the Spectrum: Complete recordings 1964-1970" as well as through streaming.
Hear "Portobello Road":
Here "Comes the Dawn":
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