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Kurt Sampsel:
February, 2004
The Deep Six
(Self-Titled)
(Liberty 1966/Rev-Ola 2003)
The San Diego-based Deep Six came onto the
scene in 1965, at the height of Southern California's folk-rock
renaissance. The band became a popular live attraction in
the clubs of San Diego, and soon released their debut single,
a fine group composition called "Rising Sun". "Rising
Sun" was released first on the small Saw-Man label, but
was soon licensed to Liberty Records for national distribution.
An inventive, melodic folk-rock tune, "Rising Sun"
became a sizeable hit in Southern California, reaching #3
in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, however, it did not become
a national hit, and follow-up singles proved unsuccessful.
The Deep Six's sole, self-titled album was released by Liberty
in 1966 to little fanfare, but it nevertheless stands as a
fine sampler of West Coast folk-rock, delivered at the height
of the trend.
The album features a couple of cover versions,
including "Solitary Man", "A Groovy Kind of
Love", and "Where Were You When I Needed You".
Probably the best cover on the album, however, is a very interesting
folk-rock version of "Paint It Black" which preserves
the intrigue of the original Rolling Stones version while
altering the arrangement entirely. Even more interesting are
some of the original compositions. "Unlock the Door"
is a lovely pop number which highlights the pretty, clear
voice of Dean Cannon, the chanteuse of the Deep Six. "What
Would You Wish from the Golden Fish" is a unique and
rather psychedelic folk song based around the mythical story
of the fish that granted the fisherman three wishes, and it
features some interesting instruments, including hammer dulcimer
and fuzztone guitar.
Other originals, like "Counting",
"Winds of Morning", and "Why Say Goodbye"
are simply very pleasant pop songs which show off the talent
of the group's songwriters. Of course, the album also features
"Rising Sun", their almost-hit which remains the
group's best known song. In many ways, the Deep Six seem like
a cooler, more inventive version of We Five (of "You
Were on My Mind" fame), and their material is interesting
and combines pop, folk, and garage rock to good effect.
This recent CD reissue from Rev-Ola Records
in the UK is just one of many interesting releases that the
label is fast becoming known for, and it adds to the original
Liberty album five bonus tracks taken from non-LP singles,
perhaps the best of which is the garage-folk stomper "I
Wanna Shout", which was the first of several failed follow-ups
to "Rising Sun". The CD collects the Deep Six's
entire recorded output, and it's a worthwhile purchase for
fans of folk-rock, garage, and pop.
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