The Psychedelic Colours of 60's London: 30 Classic Tracks (2-CD)

by Various Artists

A lot of silly things were recorded at the peak of the 1960s psychedelic era as rock artists began to see the recording studio as a huge canvas with unlimited potential. This double-disc, 30-track set of British psychedelia more or less proves the point that excess doesn't necessarily make songs better, although a few things shine through the murk here, like the Small Faces' "Tin Soldier," Donovan's goofy but enduring "Sunshine Superman," and the Yardbirds' masterful "Shapes of Things," but most of what is collected here falls into the interesting but still minor ephemera category. ~ Steve Leggett