'CQ' by The Outsiders (Polydor, 1968)
Criminially missed out from the oft-compiled 'Best 60's Psychedelic albums' lists in magazine and online publications, 'CQ' is a cult masterpiece... incorporating a sinister 'rock opera' storyline (as with The Pretty Things' 'SF Sorrow', this was said to have been written pre- Tommy by The Who) punctuated by pounding bursts of acid guitar (check out Ron Splinter's sustained feedback solo in the middle section of 'Doctor'!!).
While their first LP was a confidently raucous half-live collection of beat-pop and strong rhythm and blues (with the Nederbiet twist - frantic 250mph guitar solos and screaming vocals of course), 'CQ' gave them some breathing space to impress their new label (they moved from dutch jazz (!) label Relax to Polydor in late '67 prior to recording sessions starting for 'CQ' I believe) with a wide array of woodwind, bongos, jews harps and even the kitchen sink. This is no hodge-podge hippy-drippy minor cult classic - it may have sold a rumoured 600 copies in it's native Holland (hence three figure prices for clean original copies), but it certainly stands the test of time as a strong set of songs with some wonderfully lysergic intermissions spread throughout.
For fans of The Pretty Things (snotty r'n'b moving into their 'Defecting Grey' sitar/fuzz periods), Love (Arthur Lee's doom and gloom street grit lyricism backed by pop melodies) and the myriad of later groups who apparently 'borrowed' large chunks from their sound (The Lyres, Mystreated, Kasabian etc etc.)
RIP Wally Tax!
To listen to 'CQ' by Outsiders, download it here:
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