The Misunderstood

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My god. I just purchased the Cherry Red rerelease of the Misunderstood sessions: they are electric acid manson children playing sped-up psych-garage punk with the urgency of a shock session from the local state hospital.

It almost makes you want to go to a small-town in America and start up a gang dedicate their lives to worshipping - acid, satan and obscurism in rock'n'roll.

Fuck me. It's good.

― doomie x, Thursday, 15 April 2004 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

electric acid manson children playing sped-up psych-garage punk with the urgency of a shock session from the local state hospital

is this from the press release?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 15 April 2004 13:59 (twenty-two years ago)

It almost makes you want to go to a small-town in America and start up a gang dedicate their lives to worshipping - acid, satan and obscurism in rock'n'roll.

done that

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I found my "I can take you to the sun/Who do you love" CD single the other day... It's yes good.

I also remember John Peel playing "Shake your moneymaker" back in 1985 or so..

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Writing, schmiting. No. I just wrote it.

Is the later Misunderstood stuff any good - specifically the 1981 sessions?

― doomie x, Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Mark, I only thought they did that single! I've got that one as well - the Children of the Sun -- after that song -- they might as well have called themselves the incredible melting men from '66. Holy fuck! Proto-acid punk or wot?

― doomie x, Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Mmmmmm. An album would be well worth having.

John Peel actually managed them, I believe.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, you can get it on the cherry red page. Is it worth owning? YES YES AND YES!!!!

― doomie x, Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

"Broken Road" or "Golden Glass" look to be the same album repackaged.

"Before the dream faded" I vaguely remember.

Is there another one?

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Get before the dream faded, Mark!!

― doomie x, Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Cool. Tku.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Doomie has become his own street team. Bless.

― Super-Kate (kate), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh jesus, I forgot, excitement about something new that you've discovered is passe! Sorry!

― doomie x, Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

The Story of the Misunderstood is recounted in the most microscopic detail in the last two issues of Ugly Things magazine (2003 and 2004 issues). Peel is involved, so is his brother, and his mom. Vivian Prince, Tony Hill (High Tide), Chas Chandler...lots of potential, tons of setbacks. Ultimately, the US Draft Board played the biggest part in their downfall. They are like the reverse Jimi Hendrix experience: whole band migrates from Riverside, California, to London, picks up a new guitarist/songwriter, cut an instant classic (I can take you to the sun), then completely dissolve.
If there is anyone standing in My Mind, would they please take themselves away?

― Sean Witzman (trip maker), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Getting excited about a product released by a company you work for is NEVER passe!

― Super-Kate (kate), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Errr, I don't work at Cherry Red or Revola, Kate. I believe the reissue actually happened in the early 80s. Though I recently got a job in the 'music industry' (ha ha ... I still can't believe I did it) - its not Cherry Red.

― doomie x, Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Viv Prince! He used to drink in the same pub as me in my little home town when I was 17(ish). Last I heard he'd gone to Portugal, but that was quite a while back.

Good old Viv, he always had excellent stories. How was he involved with the Misunderstood?

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, like I say, the LP came out in 1982 or so.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

They played a lot at a club he owned and took acid with him.
Theres a funny anecdote about Viv blowing himself up like a big balloon and then popping himself, causing one the bassist of the Misunderstood to lose his mind or something.

― Sean Witzman (trip maker), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Viv Prince, I mean.

― Sean Witzman (trip maker), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey Sean,

Are the 1981 sessions worth owning?

― doomie x, Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Haven't heard them, myself, the 81 sessions. My guess is no, but that is just based on my opinion of Juicy Lucy, the slide guitarist's post Misunderstood group. I love Before the Dream Faded, though.
Supposedly, some acetates were found during the research for the article (which is often the case with these Ugly THings stories) and they will be made available soon. Suspisciously enough. Wonder whose lable those will be on?

― Sean Witzman (trip maker), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Would that be the "shake your moneymaker" I mentioned before? I believe that was found on an acetate...

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Found it on Gemm:

GOLDEN GLASS/SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER/I'M NOT TALKING
Time Stood Still records 12"

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Really love I'm not talkin.

― Sean Witzman (trip maker), Thursday, 15 April 2004 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Before the Dream Faded is all you need. there's not much interest beyond those '65-'67 singles. Golden Glass has little to recommend it. unless you like mediocre Yardbirds clones. if someone would unearth their legendary sidelong take on "I'm Not Talkin'" then we might have something.

Tony Hill is just tremendous. first two High Tide LPs already canonized (or should be), but don't overlook the solo 'Inexactness', which reunites Hill with many HT alums. DNA-The Brain-The Universe, the one CD(R) by his power trio Fiction, is also a keeper. it's Hill show all the way, and he plays like Hendrix channeling Hazel.

― echoinggrove (echoinggrove), Thursday, 15 April 2004 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been dying to hear the first High Tide album, as every description I've read (even the unflattering ones) make it seem as though it's something I'd highly value.
Wish that UT article were on the web, I'd direct you all to it. There is an infuriating account of a Misunderstood press gig at which two of em were tripping wildly and they unveiled a monster "tripscape" or something that they intended to make side 2 of their (never to be) debut lp. Apparently, the tape was wiped in a freak accident right after it was recorded. They used to use a very elaborate (for its time, I imagine) light show in sync with their rhythms. Must have been something.

― Sean Witzman (trip maker), Thursday, 15 April 2004 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

The Before the Dream Faded comp is great indeed. I bought it mail order as a callow John Peel influenced youth.

I love 'I Unseen'.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 15 April 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

Incidentally, the Ugly Things lost tapes did eventually come out: http://www.ugly-things.com/misunderstood.html.

God, I love Ugly Things...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 03:44 (twenty years ago)

sixteen years pass...

Now that's a thread title.

Also really great band.
& last year's essential compilation Children of The Sun is pretty dashed necessary. Has most of what was released on the Golden Glass mini lp too.
But kept itself within a certain timeframe.

So surprised this thread didn't reactivate then.

Wish somebody would come up with some live High Tide from 69 or 70 but not seen any yet.

― Stevolende, Thursday, 4 August 2022 10:13 (three years ago)

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