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R.J. Scales (voc), Bernie Lee (g, voc), Wilson Malone (p, org, mellotron, voc), John Bachini (b, voc) and Kevin Curry (dr, perc) were already playing together at the end of the 1950s (!), back then as a skiffle band. After signing their first record deal, changing their name and releasing several singles with varying degrees of success, they joined the trendy psychedelic wave in 1967 and renamed themselves Orange Bicycle. Further singles followed before they recorded their eponymous debut album in 1970, which consisted primarily of cover versions of songs by Elton John, Bob Dylan and Denny Laine, among others.
Produced by Jonathan Peel, they interpreted these as energetic psychedelic pop rock with a sometimes rather rough sound and intense vocals. It was released in September 1970 on Parlophone with cover art by Hipgnosis. Unfortunately, they were too late, as psychedelic pop was in decline and hard progressive and hard rock were all the rage. Their dazzling, psychedelic pop rock seemed out of place and was a commercial flop. The result was predictable: Orange Bicycle disbanded in 1971. Their only LP is now considered by many to be a gem of psychedelic rock and is therefore highly sought after.
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