Customer Reviews

Tomorrow

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tomorrow was a better-than-average sixties psychedelic band who had some inkling of how to use the recording studio to make interesting records. "My White Bicycle" remains a classic, with its dazzling use of backwards guitar and drum sounds. "Revolution" (not the same as the Beatles song of the same name) is also a fun one, with its many surprising tape edits (a la "Good Vibrations" on speed!). Speaking of the Beatles, Tomorrow's rocked-up version of "Strawberry Fields Forever" is actually quite listenable, and not the travesty one might expect. Their overall sound of luscious fender guitar slurps, crazy stereo panning, and whimsical lyrics with front-and-center vocals make this a good period piece. What the album lacks are memorable melodies; if there were some, this would be a great album indeed.

It's been noted that this sole 1968 record by the short-lived UK psych band was one of the best lp's of that era as well as it's always been highly under-rated.I would tend to agree with that opinion.This reissue of the Tomorrow record is really quite nice,with the lp's eleven tracks along with twelve bonus tunes tagged on for good measure.A total of 23 songs.Wow!A truly great psychedelic release to own.The disc's gems are easy to spot,like "My White Bicycle"(the same tune Nazareth opens some of their gigs with),the timeless "Revolution","Three Jolly Little Dwarfs" and "Hallucinations".Most of you probably,of course know about Tomorrow's line-up.That it included guitarist Steve Howe(before he joined Yes),heart-throb Keith West on vocals and drummer Twink before he joined up with the Pink Fairies.Sort of a historic record,one COULD say.The extra tunes are about as good as the actual lp.Sort of dug "Why" and the mono version of the previously mentioned "Revolution" as well as the three cuts by The Aquarian Age,a side project by Twink and the band's bassist,Junior.Thought the spoken word track,skit,whatever... "Good Wizard Meets Naughty Wizard" was a gas.To end things,there are four decent Keith West solo tracks.Comes with a beautifully-designed 12-page booklet with PLENTY of cool photos,artwork and info.A must have.

I got this for my birthday a few weeks ago, and wow, what a great record! It's always cool to find something this good that you haven't heard before. Not just "My White Bicycle" which is still one of the classic psych pop tunes of all time, but the whole record. And I was amazed that anyone could do such a fantastic and more than credible version of Strawberry Fields Forever.

Tomorrow only existed as a band for a short while. This CD together with the Keith West CD "Excerpts from Groups and Sessions", pretty much covers what recorded material Tomorrow did.

The CD contains their 1968 Parlophone album + 11 bonus tracks.

The music is typical British 1960`s psychedelic style; somewhere between Pink Floyd, Traffic or Pretty Things. Most of the songs catchy and melodic, featuring great guitar parts by Stewe Howe.

Their career as a band was more or less spoiled by the success of singer Keith West as a solo artist with his "Teenage Opera" project.

The original album contains their "minor" hit single "My White Bicycle" which is probably the one track that most people will remember.

There are other highlights as well. "Real Life Permanent Dream" is a great song featuring cithar. Most of the original album is actually pretty strong.

Among the bonus tracks "Claramount Lake" , the Byrds cover "Why" and the album outtake "Now Your Time Has Come" stand out! This song is a bit of mystery, having the same title as one of the original album tracks. This song is obviously much stronger, so some kind of mistake may have been made when the album was finished.

The last 7 bonus tracks are not Tomorrow. 3 are by drummer Twink and bassist john Adler`s band "The Aquarian Age" . 4 are Keith West solo recordings; among which "On a Saturday" is quite a good song.

This album is very well done and worth owning for any fans of 60's Psych out there. The instrumentation is often very psych tinged, and the singer does a great job throughout the record. It's definetly in the vein of the Blossom Toes or early/mid Pink Floyd stuff.

The "singles" on the record, (especially My White Bicycle and the stuff by the Aquarian Age), are very memorable and make this record worth purchasing alone.

This is a sophisticated collection of well-written and well-performed songs. The variations in mood and tonality are very effective, from the pounding, sitar-driven "My white bicycle" and psychedelically-drenched sound of "Revolution", to the relaxed and benign "Auntie Mary's Dress Shop" and the bizarre but engaging silliness of "Three Jolly litle Dwarfs". This variety is complemented by frequent changes of key and tempo within the songs themselves, and the band's harmonies are uncomplicated but effective. The only let down is their rather lazy version of "Strawberry Fields Forever", a cover that adds nothing to the album.
Still a unjustly neglected classic [there are sadly many in this genre, such as "moby grape", "odyssey and oracle" etc], where shifting moods, fine songwriting and adept performance combine to ensure listening pleasure.

I can only think of two bands that come close to Tomorrow. The Beatles (with "She Said, She Said" on Revolver in particular). And Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. But Tomorrow's melodies are just better. And they're better musicians. It's not by chance that Steve Howe would later join Yes. If "Revolution" and "The Incredible Journey of Timothy Chase" are probably best-crafted songs, the other ones are still extremely good, and well performed. How could such a gem draw so little attention??? Well, it certainly has from me: if I was to keep only one album, it would be this one.

The 1999 EMI remaster (with 23 songs total) sounds pretty good to me as well, it could have been recorded yesterday as far as I'm concerned - but it wouldn't be as good, would it?

Not as "weird" as early Pink Floyd, or "polished" as the Beatles - you could say it's catchier, happier, stronger, louder... psychedelic at its best, simply - what am I saying? MUSIC at its best!

Tomorrow released only one self titled album in 1968. Hilight's of album are "My White Bicycle" with backwards tapes and good guitar. Revolution and Real Life Permanent Dream are good psychedelia with some trippy lyrics. Tomorrow never overcame to excess in their songs. Songs were tightly crafted psych pop.

The packaging is rather dull compared to the Zombies re-issues as far as information and pictures are concerned but the recordings have been digitally remastered and they sound awesome. The only complaint that I have is the fact that the original Single Mono Mix of "My White Bicycle" was not included!!! I don't understand how the record company could have ommitted this version of the song. The "fake" stereo version that is used on this cd release is the same one used on the original release but it's pretty bad and difficult to listen to with headphones. It sounds like you've stuffed your left ear with a cotton ball, it really does! Stand out tracks for me personally are: "My White Bicycle", "Colonel Brown", "Real Life Permanent Dream" awesome song!, and the cover of "Strawberry Fields" is actually quite good! The bonus tracks are also pretty good, but no biggie. My actual rating would be a 3.5. There are at least 4 good tracks and that's a lot by today's standards!!!

I think the only reason I gave this only a 4-star rating is because a few of the songs haven't aged well. Things like the 'good wizard meets the naughty wizard' feel like a Monty Python skit. Really dumb.

But 90% of the fare here is excellent pysch pop, and the musicianship and performances are top shelf. Listen to Steve Howe playing guitar on the Byrds cover 'Why' and you will be amazed. Please don't let my minor negativity talk you out of purchasing this important record. Tomorrow deserve to be remembered and emulated. They were damn cool.

Tune in, Turn on and DROP