Wichita Fall - Hectivity (1968)

Although I have little back-story on this band, I can confirm that the original members were David Roush (guitar & vocals), Len Feigin (now spelled “Fagan,” drums), Larry Watson (bass), and Phil Black (guitar). They were based in Los Angeles, California and, according to those who heard them live, said that they sounded like Buffalo Springfield at their shows.

In June 1967, The Beatles’ released their famed masterpiece Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and every record company in the world was hoping to release similar sounding material. The executives at Liberty Records offered some cash to Wichita Fall hoping to cash in on the heavily-orchestrated concept album craze. Although the band was reluctant to abandon their rock sound, they agreed to make a record.

After laying down their initial four-instrument tracks, Liberty Records brought in renowned orchestra arranger Artie Butler to overlay orchestration over the entire album. Using his arrangements, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra was soon interlaced in each and every song. The band’s drummer, Len Feigin, was so displeased with what they were doing to the band’s album that he quit, being replaced by three session musicians: Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon, and John Guerin.

The finished product was an album titled Life Is But a Dream, released in 1969. It was critically panned and sold very poorly. Heard below is the album’s ninth track, recorded in 1968 and released in 1969 with the rest of the album. Personally, it’s my favorite track from an album mostly overshadowed by cheesy, pop orchestration. Although the album may be a little too sugar-coated to digest in a single sitting, this song is strong enough to stand on its own. It’s just a shame it wasn’t released two years earlier when sunshine pop was at its peak.



Wichita Fall - Hectivity (1968)

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Lyrics:

Could you use a dreamer?
Yes, I really could
You know I really could

Could you use a schemer?
No, I’d rather not
You know I’d rather not

All day long sing a song
(Let’s sing my song, sing my song)

Got some friends coming home for dinner
Coming home, they are, they are
Unexpected as they may be
I’ll be kind to them, you’ll see

Could you use a dreamer?
Yes, I really could
You know I really could

Could you use a schemer?
No, I’d rather not
You know I’d rather not

All day long sing a song
(Let’s sing my song, sing my song)

Someone have they no I’m not
Request have some time on my own
Though I know you’ll never see them
I’ve got troubles of my own