July 01, 2013

The Morning Glories - Love-In (1967)

Based on the west coast of the USA, this band only ever released one single, or, two songs. They featured Jimmy Griffin, Robb Royer, who were also the band’s songwriters, and other unknown musicians. Although the music released by the band was heavy in the sunshine pop-genre, it was unfortunately very short-lived. Having lasted only around one year, the group split when Griffin and Royer brought their musicianship and songwriting talents to their next joint band, Bread. Uniting with David Gates in 1968 to form the band Bread, Griffin and Royer would go on to reach great success as a “soft rock” outfit in the ‘70s. Although Bread came and went, Royer and Griffin continued to write songs together until 2005, when Jimmy Griffin passed away.

This song has writing credits attributed to Jimmy Griffin, “TS Farthingsworth XIV,” and “le Blanc.” Although there is no way to verify that Farthingsworth or le Blanc are pseudonyms, the ridiculousness of at least “Farthingsworth” seems that they would be. Given that Griffin and Royer usually wrote songs together, it raises the question if Royer felt the need to hide behind a pseudonym for the writing credits of this song. Perhaps le Blanc was another member of the band?

In any case, the song was released in 1967 and featured the B-Side “You’re So Young.” It never charted, but it did find new life when released on the 2004 compilation album Come to the Sunshine: Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults.

Update 01/22/2015: John Linquist, in the comments, informed us that the "TS Farthingsworth XIV" was actually "T.X. Farthingsworth XIV," and a pseudonym for Robb Royer. Also, the "le Blanc" was Eddie LeBlanc, who would go on to become an author under the name Tim Hallinan. For more, see John's comment below this post.

album art

The Morning Glories - Love-In (1967)

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Lyrics:

Come along with me
And you’ll see
Such a fine display
Of paisley fantasy
Just like Piccadilly Square

Try to find your shades
Weave your braids
Paint a flower on ya
Come along with me
And we’ll go directly there

Just before we go
You should know
What’s expected of you
Lying on the grass
We can talk to the trees

Mellow-yellow dreams
Make it seem
Like a carousel
Revolving slowly
Let me show you
If you go

I’ll take you to the love-in
We’ll happen at the love-in
At the love-in

Let me show you
It’ll blow you
If you go
I’ll take you to the-

Sitting in the weeds
Wearing beads
Pass the pipe around
And share it with your friends
Who were strangers before

If I had my way
Every day
It would be just like the love-in

Sitting in the weeds
Wearing beads
Pass the pipe around
And share it with your friends
Who were strangers before

If I had my way
Every day
It would be just like the love-in

Love-in
(Loving you)
Love-in
(Loving you)

Love-in
Let me take you to the love-in
We’ll happen at the love-in

Love-in
Let me take you to the love-in
We’ll happen at the love-in…

2 comments:

  1. That Farthingsworth is "T.X. Farthingsworth XIV" who really is Robb Royer. And "LeBlanc" is "Eddie LeBlanc" who is mystery/thriller writer Tim Hallinan. Royer and Hallinan were with a group called "The Pleasure Fair" in the late 60s which was produced by David Gates. (Earlier, they were known as "The Rainy Day People.")
    Here's some more info, and I suppose I have to blow my own horn:
    http://www.jlindquist.net/bread/index.html

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, John! It's always helpful to have people comment with additional facts and clearing things up. We're much obliged.

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