Electric Prunes

I give up on trying to speak English, here's a graph instead   /\ enjoyment                                                    5 |                                                                       4 |                                                                       3 |  __                       ___                                      2 |      \              ___/      \                                    1 |        \__/\__/                \__/\__/\/\____             0  --------------------|--------------------> time                          ~7th song                                 

Some songs were good, some were just completely out of pocket. Felt very dated in sound. I will use Toonerville Trolley as punishment for people who have wronged me in the future.

Never heard of them before, but really dug the first tune “I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night).” Great song and great lyrics. How have I never heard this before? The second track “Bangles” again drew me in right away. I want to see this lady’s dressing room and vanity. Fantastic fun lyrics. “Onie” took it down a notch into a pleasant, dreamy tune that I liked a lot. Made me wish I was wandering through the streets of a new town gazing into shop windows wearing boots and a mini skirt. After changing my name to ‘Onie’ of course. Clever lyrics abound. “Are You Lovin’ Me More (But Enjoying it Less)”. Great sixties sentiments like “Sold to the Highest Bidder” and “The King Is In His Counting House”. A delightful cover of “About A Quarter to Nine”. Some quality sexy time with “Luvin’” and “Try Me On For Size”. And a couple of transportation songs, “Train for Tomorrow” and “The Toonerville Trolly”. Speaking of… “The Toonerville Trolly” is a generous helping of Cool Whip on this fabulous album! I started literally laughing out loud on a public bus - so much fun! But I found myself wondering if ‘ridin’ the Toonerville Trolly’ might be a euphemism for something else… and imagining all the possibilities. Throw in the artsy album cover featuring the band in the same pose as a modern art rendition of them and it’s pretty much everything I could ask for in a 60s album. So glad to have been introduced to The Electric Prunes!

People seem to think irony as a pop-culture phenomena was a 90s thing, but I’m realizing that there was a whole wave of it in the late 60s as psychedelic bands inexplicably made entire albums of joke songs with ragtime piano. I’m guessing everyone was burnt out by the end of the 60s. I feel like I should like this but it’s just lame, the whole side B is especially kind of unbearable. Favourite track: “I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)”

i’d never heard of electric prunes but i was pleasantly surprised! love it!

This would considered a Psychedelic classic were it not for the significant drop in quality on the B side. I still enjoyed it a lot, and it deserves more credit than it gets, but it's clear the longer the album goes on the less ideas the band has. I have no idea what they were thinking with that last song

My left ear enjoyed this one. Cool sound.

Starts as a psychedelic fever dream but then kinda goes all over the place, ending on a bizarre sarcastic joke. If the material were more consistently psychedelic like the opening track or "Get Me to the World on Time" it'd be 4 stars but I have to round down to 3 for the jarring tone shifts.

Another that had a few good tunes, interspersed by Nursery rhymes and rubbish

WHAT IN THE FUCK IS THE TOONERVILLE TROLLEY I HATE IT SO MUCH. There are some really sorta... creepy at times psychedelia goodness in here, mixed with filler songs. I really enjoyed stuff like "I had Too Much to Dream", and "Get me to the World on Time", "The Highest Bidder" a solid 3/5!

I liked the short songs. not enough people writing 2 minute songs these days

A true cornerstone of psychedelic rock, the self-titled Electric Prunes album delivers haunting, dreamy vocals intertwined with swirling guitars and ethereal production. Amidst this sonic landscape, one also discovers heartfelt, tender tracks that add depth to the album's aura. Seamlessly blending psychedelia, garage rock, and avant-garde experimentation emblematic of its time, this record conjures an entrancing and otherworldly atmosphere. 10/10!

Fun and standout psych garage, this honestly surprised me. There was more chaff here than I'd normally allow for a four star album, but the kernels of wheat that came out really were golden.

I love a good 60s garage rock.

I really enjoyed this one. It was like... a darker version of the Beatles and the Beach Boys, kinda the way the Wiki page described.

What an odd little album. I rather liked some of the tracks and others seemed silly, like songs for children.

The biggest crime that 60’s psych bands perpetrated was convincing people that cabaret songs and show tunes could somehow be considered “psychedelic”.

This album feels quite manic, some cool songs and some others I really don't care for at all. First track might be my fav, the rest are sorta meh. Like Toonerville Trolley is sort of horrible. An interesting debut for sure.

Interesting contrast to the Animals.. they focused on politics, prunes focused on girls with more than a touch of misogyny...

Good album which has a lot of missed potential unfortunately, would have wished that the more exotic and medieval sounding songs were more plentyful

Especially liked 'Sold to the Highest Bidder'. Some really fun fast moving tracks on this one. At points it felt like it was straddling the edge of being endearingly goofy and annoyingly so

It's the now sound, it's what's happening! I first came across the Electric Prunes via a compilation cassette from my mate Peter. He used to often include on his mixtapes a commercial for the Vox wah wah pedal featuring the Electric Prunes. It was made in 1967 and tacked on to the end of Glen A. Baker's excellent 2LP compilation 'Songs of a Psychedelic Age'. Check the commercial out here: https://youtu.be/17h773ldGds?si=SDtPFwACcyQwmceI My next exposure was the track 'I had too much to dream last night', which was a highlight of the famous and influential Nuggets compilation. It is a great piece of 60s garage rock and a longtime favourite track of mine. It's weird and rough and catchy. But the rest of this album is just another mediocre example of the 1960s cult psychedelia that Dimery is obsessed with. I found the rest of this record pretty forgettable. I swear I own at least one Prunes album (possibly even this one) but I can't find it anywhere, and I can't remember the last time I might have played it; probably about 30 years ago. Maybe I sold it and can't remember. "I had too much to dream last night" is a moment of accidental genius that the Electric Prunes never came close to matching. They deserve to be remembered for that (and possibly the wah wah commercial), but on compilations, comfortably nestled between tracks from other similar one song wonders. It's ok if a band only ever produced one song of real lasting value. That's one more than most of us ever manage. And those songs should be remembered and celebrated in a suitable manner; compilations, playlists, mixtapes, radio, DJ sets, placement in tv or movies or videogames or whatever. There are lots of places where a single dong can be heard and enjoyed. But please, Dimery, don't make us sit through whole mediocre albums on the basis of one great track.

How have I never heard of this band? That’s because they suck.

Yet another entry in the "too many '60s psych rock albums" category. I definitely don't hate this one, and wouldn't say it's bad, but good lord I never thought I would be this OVER IT. We get it, LSD right? Hippies? Okay, cool, whatever. You'll never be the Doors, or Jimi Hendrix, or any of the other 15-20 more impressive psych rock acts that we've certainly had on here. We do not need to be this far in the weeds, especially when there are way better albums out there. Favorite tracks: Train for Tomorrow, Luvin. Album art: Band photo, looks cool, they look pretty cool but also kind of square. I dig it. I like the inset, art within the art, kind of thing going on. Wish I wasn't so fatigued about '60s rock to enjoy this more, then again, there's better stuff out there. Cover's cool though. 2.5/5

Tired of 1960s Kinks sounding bands right now.

Na ja, die Zeit ist rum.

Probably the most uneven album yet. Some good cuts and some abominations. 2/5

I could see putting Nuggets on this list (maybe compilations aren't included in the list?) or Too Much To Dream if you were doing a similar list of songs but a whole album by The Electric Prunes? C'mon. This is just cookie cutter generic late 60s psychedlia. It's not even as if I'm not a fan of this genre, Piper at The Gates of Dawn absolutely belongs so does Forever Changes. I won't even argue with the 13th Floor Elevators album but to me this is like putting a Strawberry Alarm Clock or Chocolate Watchband album on here.

Boooooooring

Who the hell chose this? This album blows.

I am struggling to find anything to say about this album. Its just such a blatant doors ripoff. I got through the album no problem but cant say that I would want to go back to it. The Toonerville Trolley is a real piece of shit and is a star demerit.

Actually thought it started ok but quickly descended into some truly awful noise. Some music is timeless. This mess is not.

Gets one star for the effort of actually going to the studio and recording this pish

Fun novel sound,, interesting throughout

Some delightful very sixties rock. They were the first band to use a wah-wah pedal, but not much evidence here.

Love! It’s pretty old so I feel like the fact that I like it and it’s old makes me like it more.

I loved it. Precursor to heavy metal

my shit

The quintessential 60s vibe. I remember it in my childhood. Instant hope and wonder about life and my world. I love this.

Surprisingly fire guitar tones

Listened to this on the way to the zoo and everything is making me feel like an excited kid. Really interesting first song. Fuck it, 5 stars

Great early psych rock with some baroque and garage elements.

My kind of music

Psychedelic masterpiece!

So funky and fun!

based on the cover and concept alone this feels like it's gonna slap, but let's see if it delivers The description said garage rock but because of the harmless looking 60s dudes in bowl cuts and turtlenecks i was not expecting full on cock music. really feels like the beginning of dudes in their garage just singing songs about getting laid. Still, it also has some deeper tracks with interesting instrumentation, such as About A Quarter To Nine. Toonerville Trolley is like a Fleischer Animation fever dream. Dark and ambienty, but also rough. Strong 4, if not 5. I've listened to this album 4 times in a row back to back tonight from how much i like it. once i fix my speakers i might try to hunt down a physical copy. Rounding to 5 because I've had this on repeat all week.

Loved it.

cool

Super fun album that almost sounds like a Beatles greatest hits album. No skip, 5 stars

The essence of psychedelic music

I’m so torn between a 4 or a 5 for this one. I absolutely love it. It’s heavy, it’s psychedelic, it’s eerie. But just about every song is so great. A really overlooked album.

Excellent 60's music.

Ah, grata sorpresa.

Wow! Sometimes, this project really surprises me with this kind of thing: An album and even an artist or band that I never heard about before and became a fan instantly. The first song sounds a little bit ~strange~ but when I got the vibe for it, it's a great album with the right number of songs and an excellent set (more songs could be too much)

Εxcellent album

This album was not available on my music streaming service. Instead, I listened to the second album "Underground". Which was quite good.

I love this album

Fun album. So short, but I really enjoyed it.

Psychedelic and Garage Rock feeling all over the place with haunting, dreamy vocals to annoying stage shouting intertwined with swirling guitars and ethereal to country atmosphere. Some Tracks are good enough to revisit others annoy the hell out of me.

Better than I thought it would be. Some pretty interesting early psychedelic and garage. Ranges all over the place and made for a good listen. An interesting window back into the 60's. Unexpected bangers: Sold to the Highest Bidder, Bangles, Try Me on For Size.

Like it.

Again, short songs redeem the whole. This is a well-produced album with creative percussiveness, rich, impactful guitars, and a compression to save it from going too far, too dreamy, too heady. The lyrics are the weak point, not difficult or pretentious, but in fact unmemorable, too steady, not wordy enough. But this is a good find, and in the end, I’m down with it. Especially beautiful: 'Onie'; especially tasteful: 'Train for Tomorrow' and 'Luvin''; heavy lifting in LA: 'Try Me on for Size'; not good: 'The Toonerville Trolley.'

A really fun album that felt a little like a blend between Beatles and Doors.

Love it :)

Solid psychedelic rock

Pretty good album for 60s rock. Lyrics were entertaining and some of the songs were pretty creative in their instrumentals.

Quite quirky, very sixties and a much stronger opening half than closing half. Probably a 7/10 but I'm feeling generous.

Fun, classic 60s psychedelia

Very important early psych rock / alt rock

Quite a surprise in its mixture of vibes and styles.

Classic 60s fare slightly twee but very endearing. Some very strong songs in the first half too especially the first 2

I don’t think I heard of The Electric Prunes before. It’s quite hard to define them, seemingly mushing together rock, jazzy psychedelia with a touch of added zaniness. I fully thought that The Toonerville Trolley was The Tuna Belt Trolley when I was listening. I didn’t really have a clue what was going on, but it was fun. That’s the important bit after all.

While being a little generic in places, I dig these sorts of psychedelic tunes, so this is getting a 4.5 bumped down to 4.

This is a wild one. Went in expecting generic 60's white boy blues type shit, which there was some of that but also a lot of other interesting influences, i heard some jazzy guitar maybe some middle eastern sounds plus many others. I also felt like there was quite a bit of punk rock before it was cool. Hats off to the prunes, who probably eat their fair share of prunes these days to help keep them regular in their old age.

This was a cool vibe, never heard it all the way through before. Some weird stuff happening on that Toonerville Trolley though, tell ya what.

nice 60s rock

Had to listen to it twice, but I really dig it.

The Electric Prunes, sometimes referred to as I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night), is the debut album by the Electric Prunes, originally released in 1967. I first heard about the Electric Prunes when I was getting into psychedelic music. I picked up a copy of Nuggets, which is a compilation of lesser known 60s psychedelic/garage tracks. The opening track was I Had Too Much to Dream. I still remember that feeling of hearing that opening tremolo-drenched guitar riff for the first time. I knew I was hooked on psychedelic music. I immediately sought out a copy of their debut record. I was able to grab a mono copy for fairly cheap. Side A of the record is great. It strikes that perfect balance between psychedelic and garage rock. Side B is where this record falls a bit flat. It still has some good garage tracks like "Get Me to the World on Time" and "Try Me on for Size". The rest of the tracks are pretty week and were essentially used as filler. Still giving 4 stars due to the weight of that opening track alone.

A pretty solid 60s garage rock album heavily lifted by the two singles off of it - 'i had too much to dream (last night)' and 'get me to the world on time.' i'm a fan of this era of music so i enjoyed myself, but really in the grand scheme of things this is a pretty forgettable album. still, it's not bad and is one of the more solid, less hit-or-miss garage band albums of the era.

They have an awful name But some great tunes Ladies and gentlemen The Electric Prunes

Not the most polished album but I quite enjoy the 60s psychedelic sound

Was not expecting this album to be as enjoyable (or as short) as it is.

Tonally a bit all over the place but a bunch of fun songs

60s Psychedelia, garage sound, fuzzy baselines, gravelly vocals, and the coolest freakin' guitar throughout....just a really fun ride! Highlights... Don't understand how "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" didn't become a hit (or stay one as a representation of the ear). Love the second half of "Train for Tomorrow" The blues guitar licks on "Luvin" The middle eastern influence on "Sold to the Highest Bidder" "Quarter to Nine" and "Toonerville Trolley" are fun, lighthearted diversions that complement the album Also, you'll hear hints of Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys and Doors influence throughout. Great discovery! 4 stars

### In-Depth Review of "The Electric Prunes" by The Electric Prunes #### Overview "The Electric Prunes," released in 1967, is the debut album by the American psychedelic rock band The Electric Prunes. It is a seminal work that captures the spirit of the late 1960s with its experimental sound, innovative production techniques, and eclectic mix of genres. This review will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, providing a comprehensive analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. #### Lyrics ##### Themes and Content The lyrics of "The Electric Prunes" reflect the psychedelic era’s preoccupation with consciousness expansion, existential musings, and surreal imagery. Songs like "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" and "Get Me to the World on Time" explore themes of altered states of mind and the desire for escape from mundane reality. The lyrics often evoke a sense of confusion and disorientation, mirroring the hallucinogenic experiences associated with the time. ##### Analysis - **"I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)"**: This track stands out for its vivid depiction of a psychedelic experience, with lyrics that describe a dream-like state filled with surreal and haunting imagery. - **"Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less)"**: This song presents a more straightforward rock narrative, discussing romantic disillusionment and emotional detachment. - **"Sold to the Highest Bidder"**: Here, the lyrics delve into themes of commodification and loss of identity, using auction metaphors to critique societal values. ##### Pros and Cons - **Pros**: The lyrics effectively capture the zeitgeist of the 1960s psychedelic movement. They are imaginative and evocative, contributing significantly to the album’s overall atmosphere. - **Cons**: At times, the lyrics can be overly abstract and obscure, potentially alienating listeners who prefer more concrete storytelling. #### Music ##### Composition and Style Musically, "The Electric Prunes" is a blend of garage rock, psychedelic rock, and proto-punk. The album features fuzz-laden guitars, reverberating vocals, and unconventional song structures that challenge traditional pop formats. ##### Notable Tracks - **"I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)"**: The opening track is driven by a distinctive tremolo guitar riff and haunting melodies, setting the tone for the rest of the album. - **"Get Me to the World on Time"**: This song combines a frantic pace with swirling organ lines and pounding drums, epitomizing the band's energetic style. - **"Luvin'"**: With its bluesy undertones and gritty guitar work, this track showcases the band’s versatility and roots in garage rock. ##### Instrumentation The instrumentation on the album is characterized by its innovative use of effects pedals and studio techniques. The electric guitar work, in particular, stands out for its use of fuzz and reverb, creating a sound that was ahead of its time. ##### Pros and Cons - **Pros**: The album's musical experimentation is one of its strongest points. The innovative use of guitar effects and the fusion of different genres make for a captivating listening experience. - **Cons**: Some tracks may come across as disjointed or inconsistent, reflecting the band’s experimental approach that doesn't always coalesce seamlessly. #### Production ##### Techniques and Innovations The production, led by Dave Hassinger, is notable for its adventurous use of studio technology. Techniques such as reverse tape effects, layered vocals, and unconventional microphone placements contribute to the album’s distinctive sound. ##### Influence of Production The production techniques used on "The Electric Prunes" had a significant influence on subsequent psychedelic and experimental rock recordings. The album is often cited for its pioneering use of effects that would become staples in the genre. ##### Pros and Cons - **Pros**: The production is groundbreaking, contributing to the album's enduring legacy. Hassinger’s willingness to experiment helped create a unique sonic palette that distinguishes the album from its contemporaries. - **Cons**: The experimental nature of the production sometimes results in a lack of cohesion, with certain effects feeling overused or out of place. #### Themes ##### Exploration of Psychedelia The overarching theme of "The Electric Prunes" is an exploration of psychedelia in both its lyrical content and musical composition. The album seeks to replicate and evoke the experiences associated with psychedelic drug use and the broader counterculture movement. ##### Social and Cultural Commentary Beyond psychedelia, the album also touches on themes of social alienation, romantic disillusionment, and existential inquiry. These themes resonate with the countercultural questioning of mainstream values and norms prevalent during the 1960s. ##### Pros and Cons - **Pros**: The thematic consistency of the album helps to create a cohesive artistic statement. The exploration of psychedelia is handled with creativity and depth, making the album a significant cultural artifact. - **Cons**: The heavy reliance on psychedelic themes may limit the album’s appeal to listeners outside the countercultural sphere or those unfamiliar with the context of the 1960s. #### Influence ##### Impact on Psychedelic Rock "The Electric Prunes" is considered a foundational album in the development of psychedelic rock. Its innovative use of effects and studio techniques paved the way for future artists in the genre, influencing bands like The 13th Floor Elevators and early Pink Floyd. ##### Legacy The album’s legacy extends beyond its immediate impact on music. It is often cited in discussions of the 1960s counterculture and is included in various retrospectives of important psychedelic recordings. The song "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" is particularly noted as a classic of the genre. ##### Pros and Cons - **Pros**: The album’s influence on psychedelic rock and its enduring legacy as a cultural artifact are significant strengths. Its pioneering spirit continues to inspire musicians and music enthusiasts. - **Cons**: Despite its influence, the album never achieved the commercial success of some of its contemporaries, which may limit its recognition outside of dedicated psychedelic rock circles. ### Conclusion #### Pros - **Innovative Production**: The album’s use of pioneering studio techniques and effects is a major highlight, showcasing the band's willingness to push boundaries. - **Evocative Lyrics**: The imaginative and surreal lyrics effectively capture the essence of the psychedelic experience and the cultural milieu of the 1960s. - **Musical Experimentation**: The fusion of garage rock, psychedelic rock, and proto-punk elements creates a diverse and engaging musical landscape. - **Cultural and Musical Influence**: The album has had a lasting impact on the development of psychedelic rock and remains a significant cultural artifact. #### Cons - **Lack of Cohesion**: The experimental nature of the album sometimes results in disjointed or inconsistent tracks, which can detract from the overall listening experience. - **Obscure Lyrics**: The abstract and surreal nature of the lyrics may alienate some listeners who prefer more straightforward storytelling. - **Limited Commercial Success**: Despite its influence, the album did not achieve widespread commercial success, potentially limiting its recognition outside niche circles. In summary, "The Electric Prunes" is a groundbreaking album that captures the spirit of the 1960s psychedelic movement through its innovative production, evocative lyrics, and musical experimentation. While it has its flaws, its influence on the genre and its role as a cultural artifact make it a significant and enduring work in the history of rock music.

Awesome

I might be rating this a little high, but my gut reaction is that I really like it. I think most accurately it would be a 3.5 but I'm going to round up. A few really strong songs for me and a lot of guitar playing I enjoyed throughout.

Some generic sounding psychedelic at times but the band shines in the more slower jazzier tunes

Kinda quirky and whimsical hardish psych rock. Def pretty cool and innovative, but also a lil goofy

This made me toot on my licorice stick!

I like the sound. Particularly "Get me to the world on time". will listen to more.

My first 'The Electric Prunes' album experience was very pleasant and kind of mind-blowing given its time of release. All of these songs manage to be very concise (with most not breaking the 3-minute mark) while also still being fully fleshed out. The songs generally don't just come off as little samples or tastes of sprouting ideas. There is an ominous tone underlying the majority of this album, but I also found most of it to be light-hearted when looking deep into its messaging. The opener 'I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)' for example has this subtle horn hanging in the background which brings about this sinister aura. The song's lyrics, on the other hand, are quite melancholic and sad. Most songs here have something unique to offer, be that the more direct garage rock songs like 'Are you Lovin' Me More', the slow and tranquil acoustic-driven 'About a Quarter to Nine', or even the baroque-inspired 'The King in the Counting House'. There are some truly gorgeous soundscapes here, like the warm stream of synths that make up the song 'Onie'. My favorite has to be the eastern-influenced arpeggiated instrumental on 'Sold to the Highest Bidder' which has such an indescribably potent groove. Lyrically and vocally speaking, this album avoids sounding repetitive as lead vocalist James Lowe not only manages to tailor his vocals to match the energy of the current song but he also captivatingly presents a large array of diverse ideas through his lyrics. In a lot of ways, this album's an inconsistent mess, but its takes on both psychedelic and garage rock still sound unique and enjoyable (albeit grainy and muddy; which if anything, only adds to its enjoyability for me) even today. The sheer amount of interesting song ideas presented here alone makes it worthy of praise. NOTE: Reading into it more, it's evident that this album was rushed in its release, which explains the more brief song structures here. It's also clear that the band had little creative control over many of these ideas, lyrically and instrumentally. With that said, I still stand by most of what's said here but I am sympathetic towards this album's contentious release and can only imagine what it could've been if the band were given more creative freedom and time.

Fun psych garage rock

Rad.

I Had Too Much to Dream parecida a Summer Wine.

Too many people hating on the Prunes, the opener is such a fucking vibe, and sure the rest of the album never manages to match that energy, but these songs really aren't as bad as people on here make them out to be. A 3 star album bumped up to a 4 to spite the haters.

De första låtarna var riktigt bra. En blandning av The Who, Syd Barrets Pink Floyd, Velvet Underground och typ alla andra band från den tiden. Men ändå så var det nytt och coolt. Sparade typ hälften av låtarna.

Nice clean love songs. Ver good

Great band name. Really like the psychadelic rock style with the loud drums. The last few songs were certainly quite strange, but the build up with the previous songs on the album made them very fun way to end the album. I want to go on the Toonerville Trolley. Gotta love a sub 30 minute album when you are trying to play catchup. This did everything right for me right now.

Ok actually a very cool album, not at all what I expected from the name but very of the time I think. Nice and short as well which is kinda epic