A bespoke ‘60s compilation of rare British music aimed at discerning collectors.
Three-CD box set following previous collections ‘Looking Back’ (2011) and ‘Keep Lookin’ (2014), which ran the gamut of musical styles which emanated from the UK, diverse and yet united in their dancefloor appeal, from the discotheques of the day to nouveau Mod clubs in the 21st century.
With many tracks making their official debut on CD, including rarities by The Gnomes Of Zurich, Kevin ‘King’ Lear, Dominic Grant, The Shadrocks, The Reaction, Al Saxon, The Hammers, etc. In addition, ‘Cypress’ by The Truth is a previously unissued variant of Donovan’s ‘Hey Gyp’.
Familiar names (The Spencer Davis Group, Laurel Aitken, The Moody Blues, Arthur Brown) are joined by cult favourites (John’s Children, Mickey Finn, The Bo Street Runners) and relative unknowns (Five’s Company, The Second Thoughts).
Across three CDs, ‘Night Comes Down’ charts the development of Beat music in its various guises, from the gutsy yet jazzy R&B which opens Disc 1 through to horn-laden Brit Soul (Norma Lee, The Brothers Grimm), fuzz-powered Freakbeat (Favourite Sons, The Tomcats, The In Crowd), Femme Pop (Twiggy, Twinkle), and groovy Loungecore (courtesy of Mark Wirtz and Les Reed’s British Lion Orchestra).
Disc 3 reflects the influence of Psychedelia, as Swinging London became multi-coloured, with assorted treats from The Alan Bown, The Mike Stuart Span and The Spectrum, with some unlikely Mod-ish discoveries by “hairy” bands such as The Deviants and Fat Mattress.
Anyone who tried to purchase every 45 captured on this unique collection would have to set aside several thousand pounds!
The deluxe clamshell package includes a weighty booklet full of illustrations, with a 12,000-word sleeve-note comprising a detailed summary of all 87 tracks on offer.