LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Twenty-two tracks, recorded between 1965 and 1969 by various aggregations of the band. Some of the fidelity is primitive, and the performances are much more tentative and less virtuosic than what the musicians would tender on their Soft Machine and Caravan records. But the songs are playful and melodic, pushing the boundaries of the British Invasion pop they began with toward something more idiosyncratic and adventurous. Several of the songs, like "Memories" (three versions, considerably different from each other, are included here), ended up in the Soft Machine's early repertoire. Indeed, it's a shame that the Softs didn't record more of them; the chief flaw of these tracks is that the arrangements and instrumental proficiency are underdeveloped, and the Soft Machine could have transformed them into prime stuff. A few of the cuts were recorded in late 1969, and could have easily slotted in on the Wyatt-era Soft Machine albums. Wyatt and Hugh Hopper appear on most of the 22 tracks; to a lesser extent, Kevin Ayers, Pye Hastings, and even Mike Ratledge also pop up. Comes with an excellent booklet of photos and an extensive history by Wilde Flowers guitarist Brian Hopper, brother of Hugh.

Track Listing:

• 1-1 The Wilde Flowers – Impotence
• 1-2 The Wilde Flowers – Those Words They Say
• 1-3 The Wilde Flowers – Memories
• 1-4 The Wilde Flowers – Don't Try To Change Me
• 1-5 The Wilde Flowers – Parchman Farm
• 1-6 The Wilde Flowers – Almost Grown
• 1-7 The Wilde Flowers – She's Gone
• 1-8 The Wilde Flowers – Slow Walkin' Talk
• 1-9 The Wilde Flowers – He's Bad For You
• 1-10 The Wilde Flowers – It's What I Feel (A Certain Kind)
• 1-11 The Wilde Flowers – Memories (Instrumental)
• 1-12 The Wilde Flowers – Never Leave Me
• 1-13 The Wilde Flowers – Time After Time
• 1-14 The Wilde Flowers – Just Where I Want
• 1-15 The Wilde Flowers – No Game When You Lose
• 1-16 The Wilde Flowers – Impotence (Alt. Version)
• 1-17 Zobe– Why Do You Care (With Zobe)
• 1-18 Zobe– The Pie Man Cometh (With Zobe)
• 1-19 Zobe– Summer Spirit (With Zobe)
• 1-20 The Wilde Flowers – She Loves To Hurt
• 1-21 The Wilde Flowers – The Big Show
• 1-22 The Wilde Flowers – Memories (Alt. Version)
• 2-1 The Wilde Flowers – The Pieman Cometh
• 2-2 The Wilde Flowers – Mummie
• 2-3 The Wilde Flowers – That's Alright Mama
• 2-4 The Wilde Flowers – Orientasian
• 2-5 The Wilde Flowers – Frenetica
• 2-6 The Wilde Flowers – 3/4 Blues Thing In F
• 2-7 The Wilde Flowers – Slow Walkin' Talk
• 2-8 The Wilde Flowers – Man In A Deaf Corner
• 2-9 The Wilde Flowers – Summertime
• 2-10 The Wilde Flowers – Belsize Parked
• 2-11 The Wilde Flowers – Where But For Caravan Would I
• 2-12 The Wilde Flowers – Hope For Happiness