In the heart of the swinging sixties, a seismic shift was underway in the UK music scene, fuelled by the meteoric rise of bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. As this new wave of music swept across the nation, Decca Records, renowned for its classical repertoire, found itself at a crossroads. Despite having signed The Stones in 1963, the label famously passed on The Beatles, a decision it was keen not to repeat. Thus, in September 1966, Decca executives Tony Hall and Hugh Mendl embarked on a bold venture: the creation of Deram Records, a subsidiary dedicated to capturing the pulse of contemporary pop culture while benefiting from the resources of a major label.
Deram’s inception marked a departure from the traditional confines of Decca, with a vision to embrace the spirit of independence while leveraging the promotional power of its parent company. With its launch in September 1966, Deram set out to carve its own path, driven by a mission to secure new global licensing deals and champion emerging talent. Eclectic, occasionally esoteric but always interesting – the music press of the day described the new label as a ‘hip label for groovy people’. The name, derived from the Decca Panoramic sound recording technique, symbolised its commitment to innovation and forward-thinking creativity.
As the boundaries between Deram and Decca blurred over time, both labels found themselves at the forefront of a musical revolution. From the ethereal, far out, sounds of Genesis and Caravan to the symphonic melodies of The Moody Blues, Deram and Decca cultivated a diverse roster of artists who pushed the boundaries of conventional music. Yet, amidst the mainstream success stories, there existed a tapestry of lesser-known acts whose contributions to the era were equally profound. Tintern Abbey, Khan, Jan Dukes De Grey, and T2 may not have achieved commercial stardom, but their experimental sounds and boundary-pushing compositions left an indelible mark on the musical landscape.
In tribute to this remarkable catalogue of original voices and exceptional music, Decca Records are proud to present ‘Psych!’, a newly compiled 64 song 3CD set celebrating an extraordinary era in British Pop and Rock music that saw an expansion of musical styles that heralded Psychedelia and the arrival of Prog (or Progressive) Rock. ‘Psych!’ sheds light on the cultural significance of these pioneering labels and their enduring impact on generations of music lovers. As befits a time that saw ‘serious’ music fans embrace the album over singles, ‘Psych!’ will also be available as a 24 song ‘highlights’ package on 2LP vinyl, housed in an eye-catching gatefold sleeve. Both formats feature new sleeve notes from music journalist Mike Barnes, author of ‘A New Day Yesterday: UK Progressive Rock & the 1970s’, published by Omnibus press in 2020 and shortlisted for the 2021 Penderyn Music Book Prize.
From the heady days of psychedelia to the dawn of progressive rock, Deram and Decca stand as beacons of innovation, forever synonymous with the spirit of musical exploration and artistic expression, perfectly exemplified with the release of ‘Psych!’
Track Listing
3 CD Set
Disc One
1. The Flies – (I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone
2. Al Stewart – Turn Into Earth
3. Paul & Barry Ryan – Keep It Out Of Sight
4. Keith Shields – Deep Inside Your Mind
5. The Wards Of Court – How Could You Say One Thing
6. The Fairytale – Run And Hide
7. Tintern Abbey – Vacuum Cleaner
8. The Moody Blues – Love & Beauty
9. Timebox – Walking Through The Streets Of My Mind
10. The Poets – In Your Tower
11. Felius Andromeda – Cheadle Heath’s Delusions
12. The Societie – Bird Has Flown
13. Denny Laine – Say You Don’t Mind
14. The Accent – Red Sky At Night
15. The Syn – Grounded
16. 23rd Turnoff – Michaelangelo
17. Small Faces – That Man
18. Crocheted Doughnut Ring – Get Our Your Rock N Roll Shoes
19. The Fire – Treacle Toffee World
20. Curiosity Shoppe – Baby I Need You
21. The Attack – Lady Orange Peel
22. The Plague – Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
23. The Ice – Ice Man
24. Savoy Brown – Train To Nowhere
25. The Elastic Band – Think Of You Baby
26. Ten Years After – The Sounds
Disc Two
1. Davy Graham – Both Sides Now
2. Christopher Colt – Virgin Sunrise
3. Turquoise – 53 Summer Street
4. Warm Sounds – Nite Is A Comin’
5. Virgin Sleep – Secret
6. World Of Oz – King Croesus
7. Tinkerbell’s Fairydust – Twenty Ten
8. East Of Eden – Northern Hemisphere
9. Keef Hartley Band – Not Foolish, Not Wise
10. Bulldog Breed – Halo In My Hair
11. Genesis – In The Beginning
12. Egg – Seven Is A Jolly Good Time
13. Garden Odyssey Enterprise – Sad & Lonely
14. Cherry Smash – Green Plant
15. Jan Dukes De Grey – Texas
16. Igginbottom – The Castle
17. Ashkan – Stop (Wait And Listen)
18. Johnny Almond Music Machine – Voodoo Forest
19. John Cameron Quartet – Troublemaker
20. Aardvark – Very Nice Of You To Call
21. Bill Fay – Garden Song
Disc Three
1. Room – Cemetery Junction Parts 1 & 2
2. Black Cat Bones – Feeling Good
3. Caravan – Hello Hello
4. Sunforest – Lady Next Door
5. Pacific Drift – Tomorrow Morning Brings
6. Gailliard – I Wrapped Her In Ribbons
7. Denny Gerrard – Native Sun
8. T2 – No More White Horses
9. Clark Hutchinson – Man’s Best Friend
10. Satisfaction – Love It Is
11. Stud – Turn Over The Pages
12. People – Glastonbury
13. Mellow Candle – Vile Excesses
14. Khan – Stargazers
15. Darryl Way’s Wolf – Wolf
16. Principal Edwards Magic Theatre – The Whizzmore Kid
17. Pete Brown – Sad Is The Man
Track Listing
2 LP Set
LP 1, Side A
A1. Al Stewart – Turn Into Earth
A2. Denny Laine – Say You Don’t Mind
A3. Timebox – Walking Through The Streets Of My Mind
A4. Small Faces – That Man
A5. Curiosity Shoppe – Baby I Need You
A6. The Attack – Lady Orange Peel
A7. The Elastic Band – Think Of You Baby
A8. Crocheted Doughnut Ring – Get Our Your Rock N Roll Shoes
LP1, Side B
B1. Keef Hartley Band – Not Foolish, Not Wise
B2. Egg – Seven Is A Jolly Good Time
B3. East Of Eden – Northern Hemisphere
B4. Johnny Almond Music Machine – Voodoo Forest
B5. Jan Dukes De Grey – Texas
B6. Bill Fay – Garden Song
LP 2, Side C
C1. Black Cat Bones – Feeling Good
C2. Denny Gerrard – Native Sun
C3. Aardvark – Very Nice Of You To Call
C4. Pacific Drift – Tomorrow Morning Brings
C5. Caravan – Hello Hello
C6. Gailliard – I Wrapped Her In Ribbons
LP2, Side D
D1. Room – Cemetery Junction Parts 1 & 2
D2. Clark Hutchinson – Man’s Best Friend
D3. Khan – Stargazers
D4. Darryl Way’s Wolf – Wolf
