A great pop-punk-psychedelic outfit from Denver, Colorado. Only the first 45 appears on their album which is recommended. They first formed in 1965 when they specialised in playing beat and R&B and they were a regular attraction at local frat parties. Almost unbelievably they were unearthed by Phil Spector who signed them to a management contract and a giant publicity campaign was planned but never really materialised.

A year or so later That Acapulco Gold appeared on the local IP label and Frank Slay, a local producer, bought the rights and released it on his Chicory label. However, it was quickly leased to UNI and became the band's best known song making the No. 70 spot. Although they never again equalled this commercial success they continued to make some excellent 45s. One of the best, a beautifully crafted piece of pop-psych was originally released as Fe Fi Fo Fum, but was almost immediately withdrawn and reissued with a different title Blood Of Oblivion, even securing a U.K. release (Polydor 56737).

Tim Gilbert, the main songwriter, also released a solo 45 Early October/If We Stick Together (UNI 55045) 1967 - folkie fare which has been compared to Tim Buckley. He would go into songwriting and his compositions (with J. Carter) would appear on Hardwater (fellow Coloradans The Astronauts in disguise), Yankee Dollar, Horses and Strawberry Alarm Clock LPs.

Their album includes the first 45 and Discount City, a sorta bluesy honky tonk, which was the 'A' side of their third 45. Aside from an almost four minute medley of Shake, Knock On Wood and Respect, other notable songs include a pretty good cover of Stephen Stills' For What Its Worth, a fuzzy Taxman-like song called Weatherman and an Eastern-style slice of psychedelia, Snow And Ice And Burning Sand. However, the album's finest moment was In My Mind Lives A Forest (the flip to their first 45) - an exquisite slice of pop-psychedelia. Recommended.

Compilation appearances have included: Absurd Bird on Kicks & Chicks (LP); Make Me Laugh on Of Hopes And Dreams & Tombstones (LP) and Psychedelic Unknowns, Vol. 7 (LP & CD); That Acapulco Gold on Psychedelic Visions (CD); In My Mind Lives A Forest on Psychedellc Archives, Vol. 6 and Acid and Flowers (CD); and Fe Fi Fo Fum on Highs In The Mid Sixties, Vol. 18 (LP).

(Vernon Joynson / Max Waller)/Fuzz Acid & Flowers

Personnel:

MAC FERRIS ld gtr A

SAM FULLER bs A

KIP GILBERT drms A

TIM GILBERT vcls, gtr A

BOB HECKENDORF keyb'ds A

ALBUM:

1(A) THAT ACAPULCO GOLD (UNI 73002) 1967

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