Five Man Electrical Band – Five Man Electrical Band (Capitol/Pickwick, Canada, 1969)

Five Man Electrical Band hailed from capital city Ottawa and were originally named The Staccatos in the period comprised between 1963-1969. They achieved national fame with that name releasing interesting singles (“Half Past Midnight” was a Top 10 Hit in 1967) and even recording a split disc with The Guess Who. Later in 1969, they renamed themselves Five Man Electrical Band, noting they were five components. Worldwide fame arrived in 1971 with their seminal single “Signs”.

The record of today is the first they released under his second name and is located in between national and international fame. What is found inside is a delightful set of catchy pop tunes mixed with soft psychedelic elements. They remember a lot bands like Procol Harum, The Beach Boys, early Bee Gees or The Beatles, which is always a nice cover letter.

The hearing experience is very pleasant and is certainly a rotation favorite –I am a sucker of well crafted soft psychedelic pop-. It is in the exquisite harmony voices mixed with the delicious arrangements the album has its staple. The instrumentation includes enjoyable organ and piano, some quality string section, pleasing guitar and soft rhythm section. Anecdotally there are two drummers and they were both brothers.

The repertoire is fantastic. The chain of the four five songs is absolutely outstanding but there’s certainly nothing left in the whole LP. The delicate majestic psychedelia of “Private Train” and “Maple Lane”; the anthem “Half Past Midnight” with its acoustic guitar, marvelous string arrangements and angelic vocals; or the psychedelic excursions of the opening track are just few examples of the high quality found inside.

A delicious proposal for a sunny spring day!

Tracks

A1. Five Man Electrical Band (Les Emmerson)

A2. Last Time I Saw Memphis (Les Emmerson)

A3. Private Train (Les Emmerson)

A4. Half Past Midnight (Les Emmerson)

A5. Black Sheep of the Family (Les Emmerson)

B1. Maple Lane (Les Emmerson)

B2. Fancy Dancin’ Man (Gordon-Bonner)

B3. We Go Together Well (Les Emmerson)

B4. Didn’t Know the Time (Les Emmerson)

B5. Running Back (Les Emmerson)

Personnel

Les Emmerson: Guitar, vocals

Brian Rading: Bass

Ted Gerow: Keyboards (piano, organ)
Rick Belanger: Percussion
Mark Belanger: Drums
Production: Max Hoch and John Gross

Get it here