I find myself listening to MOON quite a bit. If I'm in an upbeat Beatles/Monkees/Zombies mood, this is just the ticket.
THE MOON, "Without Earth" 1967
Pleasure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr_FpRllwu0
"The Moon" recorded two albums (in 1968 and 1969 for "Imperial Records") that were both heavily influenced by the British invasion sound of "The Beatles".
"The Moon" were somewhat of a second tier 60's rock Super Group.
"The Moon" was headed by "David Marks" (lead guitar) and "Matthew Moore".
At 14, circa 1962, he joined "The Beach Boys" as a rhythm guitarist (the Wilsons were his neighbors in Hawthorne, CA) when "Al Jardine" left their lineup to attend dental school.
"David Marks" appeared on the first five Beach Boys albums and several hit singles, including "Surfer Safari" and "Surfin' U.S.A.".
When "Al Jardine" returned, "David Marks", just 16, became the leader of "Dave & The Marksmen", who had localized hits with "Cruisin'", "I Wanna Cry", and "I Could Make You Mine".
"David Marks" then formed "The Band Without a Name", who recorded two singles for "Tower Records and "Sidewalk Records" and were the house band at two Sunset Strip clubs, circa 1965-1966.
After leaving this group, "David Marks" formed "The Moon" with organ/pianist/vocalist "Matthew Moore", who penned most of the band's songs.
The other Moon members were bassist "David P. Jackson" (ex-Hearts & Flowers, who had two LPs on "Capitol Records" in the late '60s) and drummer "Larry Brown" (ex-"Davie Allan & The Arrows" and a veteran of countless film soundtracks and those Sidewalk/Tower releases that were produced by "Mike Curb")
"The Moon"'s debut, "Without Earth", is by far the stronger record with more Psychedelic (Today, "David Marks" admits these were produced under the influence of LSD, and sound "like a cross between The Bee Gees, The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix") arrangements and a greater consistency.
There's a clear "The Beatles"'"Magical Mystery Tour" feel to this album and the group covers two songs off Colours' (Colours was another British Invasion inspired late 1960s band who was recording their album had the same time as "The Moon") debut album.
Of the two tracks, "Brother Lou's Love Colony" catches the ear most, with its nice little sitar flourishes and "The Beatles" influenced bridge.
Got To Be On My Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lar6_at6cBk
Someday Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTUap2U6Jo0
I Should Be Dreaming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00gWQgJnAfg
Fan Reviews--
I read the other reviews, decided to take a chance, as I love to discover new music, no matter how old. I thought it would be good. I was wrong. This collection is nothing short of great. I don't throw that description around lightly. I'm a Beatle worshiper, a fan of the Zombies, The Moody Blues, King Crimson...
I know good music. These guys really deserved to be heard. The songs are well written, creative, arranged and performed with style and imagination. The music is an absolute delight.
In closing, in case you have yet to get my drift, I love this album, and urge anyone with taste to buy it and play it their friends. Spred the word about The Moon!
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I found the Moon - Without Earth album in a junk shop in London aroung 1970.
I've been in love with it ever since, but never found a soul who had ever heard of the band. In fact I wasn't even sure from the sparse album info if the band was called The Moon or Without Earth.
Since the advent of CD I've been wondering, without much hope whether it might one day appear.
Fooling around on Google one day, there it was !!
This is amazing psychoBeatles stuff and you owe it to yourself to hear it.
Why else would I have spent fifteen years anxiously searching for a CD version of it??
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The Moon's only two lps that were released/recorded back in '67 & '68 are quite ahead of it's time, considering the debut lp was done on a three track, the later on a 4 track! The sound is hugh with psych "analog" punch (especially the bass). Although the debut lp "Without Earth," is a little bit bright (nothing a good EQ can't change), there's still that big bottom end "full of wall" sound. Nevermind the some songs are killer "Beatles (think Magical Mystery Tour era) Psych style" full tilt. Others that have over the top hooks, and even one track that has sort of a funk groove (Got To Be On My Way) going on. The real candy psych tracks- Pleasure, I Should Be Dreaming (backward drums), Brother Lou's Love Colony, Someday Girl, Papers, and Faces, keep you coming back for more and more (I couldn't stop plqaying this disc for weeks!). The 2nd lp "The Moon," has a more rounded "sound production," but not nearly as psych as the debut lp. More laid back, but still some real good gems too. My personal favorite track "Mr. Duffy," brings back some psych flavor mixed with a Paul McCartney solo style vibe, with beautiful string arrangements! That song that I still go back listening to, over and over again. If you haven't picked up this underground band that never got the attention they deserved, highly recommend picking it up and adding it to your "psych collection!" 5 Stars!
