The Tea Company

Repress. From New York City, The Tea Company was one of the early birds from the US psychedelic underground scene, with an LP on the market, originally released on Smash Records, in '68. This album stands for the evolution of the 45 rpm psych-garage bands to the upcoming LP-generation with extended improvisation parts. Tea Company evolved from the Naturals, which were founded in 1963 and played the big ballroom supporting Mamas and the Papas, The Lovin Spoonful, Bob Dylan, Ritchie Havens, and many others. The band describes themselves as "an assemblage of possessed rock performers; retinue preparing the unusual; alternating with the roots of soul, whose purpose is to cause sensation, due to stimulation of the auditory centers of the brain!" - They became famous in San Francisco for spectacular live shows and lyrical hippie statements. The music is influenced by the Beatles, because they used exactly the same equipment. The group played with lots of freaked-out-echo-organ/-guitar noises on a 12 string Rickenbacher and various stereo madness reminds strongly of Syd Barrett's spirit but more driven by hard hittin drums. Being buddies of Vanilla Fudge and inspired, the Tea Company also did an outrageous 9 min. version of You keep me hangin on, which is celebrated among 60s collectors as a true milestone. The album is a mindblowing intense production. Remastered for this release the sound is very fresh and heavy. - A must for those who wanna free their minds with unusual "early" RocknRoll experiences!