It's Bad For You But Buy It! The Ace Of Cups

£12.56

Genre:
Psych / Garage
Label:
Big Beat
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDWIKD 236

This product is also available in these versions:
It's Bad For You But Buy It (MP3), MP3 (£7.99)
It's Bad For You But Buy It, LP (£24.78)

In any great scene - social or film - it seems there are always a few frames that get left out. And this, the latest installment in Big Beat's Nuggets From The Golden State series restores some lost footage to the sprawling epic that was San Francisco in the 60s. Necessarily comprised of demos, rehearsals and concert performances, the Ace of Cups' It's Bad For You But Buy It! documents the music of one of the few SF bands that, regrettably, never got a go at the full recording studio experience. Fillmore and Avalon regulars - I recall seeing them, too, at Golden Gate Park events - this all-girl quintet rocked, soothed and cooked, from 1967 to 1970, making its own distinctive contribution to that diverse period. Distinctive" is the operative word. Sure, there are occasional (early) Grace Slick vocal referents, but the Cups' music doesn't generally resemble that of their bigger brothers and sisters, tending, to borrow a phrase from the Beach Boys, more toward an appealing mix of funky/pretty."

IT'S BAD FOR YOU BUT BUY IT! is rich in local lore (the subjects of Waller Street Blues and Pretty Boy are, respectively, the Cups' Haight practice pad and Blue Cheer singer-bassist Dickie Peterson)-.-imaginative interpretation (covers of the Parliaments' I Wanna Testify and Mongo Santamaria's Afro Blue)-.-and impressive originals. Glue is a punky, organ-pushed critique of consumerism with a Quicksilver finish, and Stones an earthy driver with deliciously gnarly guitar-ing (Mary Ellen Simpson's solo sounds like she's vamping on the 13th Floor Elevators' Fire Engine). The ballad Simplicity and the appropriately soulful a cappella opener Music disclose the group's more reflective side - and Denise Kaufman's considerable skill as a lyricist - while Kaufman's ultra-rare pre-Cups garage single from 1966, Boy, What'll You Do Then, walks the wilder side with raw-throat vocals, wailing harp and insistent 12-string. Indeed, it's bad for you, but ...

By Gene Sculatti

(Gene Sculatti began writing about music as staffer at the first rock fanzine, Mojo Navigator, in 1966. Amongst his many other achievements since is the definitive psychedelic textbook, San Francisco Nights)

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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Fantastic demos from the first all-female rock group. ★★★★★

Record Collector

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