More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Episode Six

 

EPISODE SIX-Lucky Sunday/Mr. Universe U.S. Chapter One 45-2902 1968

Six piece British harmony pop group the Episode six released ten singles during their career from 1965-1968. Four of them were issued here in the United States including this one which was originally issued in the U.K. on Chapter One (CH-103) in October 1968 and was released here the following month where it would be their final American release (the band would cut one more single back home before falling apart when lead singer Ian Gillian and bassist Roger Glover defected to replace Rod Evans and Nicky Simper in Deep Purple).

"Lucky Sunday" is a perfect little slice of orchestrated sunshine pop (with orchestration care of the legendary Les Reed) that's vocal perfection thanks to the band's razor sharp choral ability that's always made them sound like Britain's answer to Spanky and Our Gang (to my ears anyway). The music almost takes a back seat to the choral pop perfection of the number though the strings and regal horns certainly work well enough together!

Five of the Episode Six

The B-side, "Mr. Universe" has often been described as sounding like the Moody Blues. I really don't get that from it at all, it's a cheeky little pop number with phlanged bits (ala "Pictures Of Matchstick Men") and this underlying blistering guitar.

Both sides are available on a host of Episode Six compilations and are both available on streaming. 

Hear "Lucky Sunday":

https://youtu.be/ybAs98LGe2U?si=EtIFdiZqqIJ3nztw

Hear "Mr. Universe":

https://youtu.be/X4HACW3Nig0?si=dx7xtmmXpmTnNBZ5

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Episode Six

 

EPISODE SIX-Here There And Everywhere/Mighty Morris Ten U.S. Warner Brothers 5851 1966

U.K.60's pop/harmony sextet Episode Six American debut was this September 1966 release (back in England it was their third single, being issued a month prior as Pye 7N 17147) of a Fab Four track from the newly released "Revolver" long player. Episode Six are of course well known due to the fact that their lead singer Ian Gillian and bassist Roger Glover later moved on to Deep Purple. 

I'm fairly bored with covers of "Here There And Everywhere" (I think my favorite is by The Fourmost). 

This one isn't half bad though, the vocals are tight (harmony vocals were the bands specialty) and the musical  backing is interesting because it's initially very basic (guitar, bass, Farfisa and drums) and eventually some very cool baroque woodwinds come in making it sound a bit unique.

The flip, "Mighty Morris Ten" (penned by bassist Roger Glover)  is a hysterical tongue firmly in cheek surf/dragster song:

"C'mon everybody grab your automobile we're goin' down to the Harrow Road, I got a little old Morris and it's doin' fine although it's ninety six years old..". 

The musical track (including plenty of Californian sounding "Ooo wahhh ooo" backing vocals) is a catchy American surf music sound perfectly executed and the lyrics are brilliant.

A 1939 Morris 10

 

Both sides are available on a host of Episode Six collections.

Hear "Here There And Everywhere":

https://youtu.be/J2Fu6Iw8Rn0?si=DLxI1XASgLuHkF_J

Hear "Mighty Morris Ten":

https://youtu.be/uooCmsxK30Y?si=FDuS2HzbkwEZxIbJ