Those anticipating a newly-discovered WCPAEB album, be warned: of the 29 tracks, only two are actually by the WCPAEB – Sassafras and I Won’t Hurt You. Companion is, as the title suggests, a side order to the band’s official output, compiling some amazingly rare singles by WCPAEB members released before, during and after the band’s troubled existence.
Pop art svengali Bob Markley himself is present with the singles he recorded for Warner Bros in 1960, proving that he did have musical talent. Then there are recordings privately recorded by Judy Brown and Sonny Knight for Markley’s Fifo imprint. Michael Lloyd and bothers Danny and Shaun Harris feature on beautiful pop-psych singles by The Laughing Wind, Rockit (who hit the stratosphere with the gorgeous Amblin’), Brigadune and California Spectrum, who offer the spooky Rainbo). Then we hear Sonny Knight and Neo Maya tackling covers of WCPAEB material.
Though containing some brilliant recordings, Companion is also a painful reminder that, despite all the talent, the commercial results were minimal; none of these singles were the hits the band craved. The fact that guitarist Ron Morgan, so often forgotten in the band’s already mysterious history, is only present by virtue of having his image in the sleevenotes, adds another sad chapter.
