Mojo Men - There Goes My Mind (1967-68 us, splendid folk sunny psych, Sundazed release)

There Goes My Mind is essentially the album the Mojo Men would have liked Warner Brothers to put out in 1968, but which Warners, for whatever reason, declined to do. Although the liner notes make clear that the intention was for the band to eventually record the material with Warners with full orchestration, these 16 1967-1968 recordings -- all original songs, and all but two previously unreleased -- actually sound almost as fully produced as the typical late-'60s finished product. All but two of the tracks come from a June 30, 1968, session, and to be honest most of these aren't quite as good as the sweet early harmony-laden pop-folk-psych buzz the Mojo Men conjured on their best slightly earlier recordings, shortly after drummer-singer Jan Errico had joined. 

Some good early San Francisco rock-type bittersweet melodies, yearning melancholy lyrics, and accomplished male-female harmonies on songs like "I Wish Today Were Yesterday," "Unaware of Me," and the haunting harpsichord-laden "Watch You Walk Away," though occasionally the tunes lean toward a slightly bubblegummy sunshine pop vibe. Yet it's one of the 1967 demos, "Today" (no relation to the Jefferson Airplane classic of the same name), that emerges as the standout, qualifying as a lost near-classic of San Francisco rock with its enchanting never-neverland lyrics, startling tempo changes, and beguiling wistful melody. And the other 1967 demo, the jazzy and similarly reflective "But Now and Then," isn't too far behind. 

by Richie Unterberger

Tracks
1. When You're Down - 2:37
2. Sure of Your Love (Jim Alaimo, Jan Errico) - 2:59
3. Everyday Love - 4:04
4. I Wish Today Were Yesterday - 2:48
5. Take Me Away (Jim Alaimo, Jan Errico) - 1:36
6. Unaware of Me (Jim Alaimo, Jan Errico) - 2:56
7. Candy (Jim Alaimo, Jan Errico, Paul Curcio, Don Metchick) - 2:50
8. Ashamed of Me (Jim Alaimo, Jan Errico) - 3:15
9. It's Okay (Jim Alaimo, Jan Errico) - 2:28
10.Watch You Walk Away - 3:08
11.There Goes My Mind (Jim Alaimo, Jan Errico, Paul Curcio, Don Metchick) - 2:48
12.Today (Mono Demo Version) - 2:09
13.But Now and Then (Mono Demo Version) - 2:16
14.Summer Flowers (Mono Demo Version) - 2:29
15.Not for Me (Mono Demo Version) - 1:44
16.Take Me Away (Mono Demo Version) (Jim Alaimo, Jan Errico) - 1:29
All songs by Jim Alaimo, Jan Errico, Paul Curcio except where noted

The Mojo Men
*Jim Alaimo - Bass, Vocals
*Jan Errico - Vocals, Drums
*Paul Curcio - Guitar, Vocals
*Don Metchick - Keyboards

1965-66  The Mojo Men - Whys Ain't Supposed To Be (Sundazed release)

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