Although several of their singles are coveted by collectors of '60s British rock, Les Fleur de Lys remain obscure even by cult standards. That's partly because they never came close to getting a hit, but also because their furious pace of lineup changes makes their history very difficult to trace, and also precluded any sense of consistent style or identity. The group did release a number of fine singles in the mod-psychedelic style that has become known as "freakbeat," with more of a soul music influence than most such British acts.
Les Fleur de Lys changed lineups about half-a-dozen times during their recording career, which roughly spanned 1965-1969. Drummer Keith Guster was the only constant member; some of the musicians passing through went on to commercial success with Journey and Jefferson Starship (keyboardist Pete Sears) and King Crimson (bassist Gordon Haskell). At the outset, they recorded a couple of singles for the Immediate label that were produced by Jimmy Page (there remains some controversy about whether he played guitar on these as well). A cover of the Who's "Circles" featured the fluid, slightly distorted guitar lines that would become Fleur de Lys' most distinguishing characteristic. The 45s made no commercial impact, however, and Fleur de Lys helped sustain themselves in the late '60s by backing relocated South African singer Sharon Tandy.
Sprawling 24-track comp of the rare recordings of this enigmatic band. Includes 14 songs issued under the Les Fleur de Lys name, singles that they issued under the Rupert's People, Chocolate Frog, and Shyster pseudonyms, and releases on which they backed Sharon Tandy, John Bromley, and Waygood Ellis. It goes without saying that such a manic hodgepodge is geared toward the hardcore collector market.
But if you like mid-to-late '60s mod-psych, it's a decent item to have around, with some sparkling (occasionally crazed) guitar work, unusually constructed tunes that sometimes meld soul and psychedelia, and nice harmonies. "Circles" and "Mud in Your Eye" are first-rate pounding mod guitar tunes; "Gong With the Luminous Nose" is pop-psych at its silliest; "Reflections of Charlie Brown" is pop-psych at its most introspective; and Sharon Tandy's "Daughter of the Sun" is a lost near-classic with witchy vocals and sinister psychedelic guitar.
by Richie Unterberger 
Tracks
1. Circles (Instant Party) (Pete Townshend) - 3:07
2. Mud In Your Eye (Phil Sawyer, Chris Andrews) - 3:04
3. Gong With The Luminous Nose (Gordon Haskell) - 2:38
4. Sugar Love (John Bromley) - 2:09
5. Hold On (Gordon Haskell, Howard Conder, Rod Lynton) - 3:14
6. Prodigal Son (Bryn Haworth, Gordon Haskell) - 2:01
7. One City Girl (Brian Potter, Bryn Haworth) - 2:47
8. Daughter Of The Sun (Brian Potter, Graham Dee) - 3:56
9. Tick Tock (Gordon Haskell) - 2:46
10.I Can See The Light (Bryn Haworth, Gordon Haskell) - 3:01
11.Liar (Brian Potter, Bryn Haworth) - 3:21
12.I Forgive You (Brian Potter, Graham Dee) - 2:41
13.So, Come On (Phil Sawyer, Frank Smith) - 1:53
14.Hammerhead (Gordon Haskell) - 1:32
15.Stop Crossing The Bridge (Brian Potter, Graham Dee) - 2:05
16.I Like What I'm Trying To Do (Brian Potter, Graham Dee) - 2:18
17.Hold On (Gordon Haskell, Howard Conder, Rod Lynton) - 3:32
18.Butchers And Bakers (Terry Dempsey) - 2:56
19.Wait For Me (Danny Churchill, Frank Smith) - 2:25
20.Reflections Of Charlie Brown (Howard Conder, Rod Lynton) - 4:17
21.Brick By Brick (Brian Potter, Graham Dee) - 2:31
22.I've Been Trying (Curtis Mayfield) - 2:45
23.Moondreams (Buddy Holly) - 2:30
24.So Many Things (John Raine) - 2:18
Tracks 4,24 performed by John Bromley
Tracks 5,8 performed by Sharon Tandy
Track 9 permormed by Shyster
Tracks 12,18 performed by Chocolate Frog
Track 16 performed by Waygood Ellis
Tracks 17,20 performed as Rupert's People
*Frank Smith - Guitar, Vocals
*Alex Chamberlain - Organ
*Gary Churchill - Bass
*Keith Guster - Drums
*Gordon Haskell - Bass
*Pete Sears - Keyboards
*Phil Sawyer - Guitar
*Chris Andrews - Vocals
*Bryn Haworth - Guitar, Vocals
*Tony Head - Vocals
*Graham Maitland - Guitar
*Tago Byers - Bass
