M O R T I M E R
Mortimer was a short-lived psych-pop group that originally evolved
out of a later incarnation of the Teddy Boys, from Hyde Park, NY. The Teddy
Boys recorded a handful of singles for MGM and Cameo Records in 1966 and 1967.
They masqueraded under a somewhat psychedelic pseudonym, Pinocchio & Puppets,
for an two-sided instrumental single (the B-side was an Eastern raga rock
version of "Cowboys and Indians," but is probably not the Michael Lloyd song),
which was released by Mercury in 1967.
In May 1968, the future members of Mortimer, Tom L. Smith; Tony Van Benschoten;
& Guy M. Masson, were in the front row of the live TV audience at The Tonight
Show and got the chance to meet John Lennon and Paul McCartney who were
in New York to launch their new Apple label and appear on the show. Through
a series of conversations, George Harrison eventually got the trio over
to London where they worked under the supervision of Peter Asher and recorded
a few sessions for Apple Records. Paul gave them "On Our Way Back Home"
to record. Peter Asher produced a full album, but it wasn't released. An
acetate of Mortimer's version of the Beatles' "Two of Us" is said to still
exist in the vaults, although it apparently bears little resemblance to
the Beatles' version. When Allen Klein took over Apple, he dropped them
from the label. Ironically, it was Allen Klein who nixed The Teddy Boys
LP they recorded for Cameo Records. It too never came out when Klein took
over Cameo in 1967.
After almost getting a release on Apple, they ended up signing a production
deal with U.K. record producer Daniel Secunda (brother of Procol Harum manager
Tony Secunda) and his B.B.& D. Productions, Inc. The group cut this, their
only album, from which two singles were released, for Philips Records, then
dissolved soon thereafter. There are several standout tracks here, including
the Baroque "Where Dragons Guard The Doors". Interestingly, John Lennon's
"Because" later appeared on The Beatles' Abbey Road album sounding very
reminiscent of Mortimer's "Where Dragons Guard The Doors", but then again,
both songs are quite similar to Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata", so who's
to say which inspired John more. It's a fine LP, featuring some nice bubblegum-psych
vocal harmonies in "Singing To The Sunshine" and "Life's Sweet Magic". The
selections are: Dedicated Music Man- 3:38; Where Dragons Guard the Doors-
3:35; Would You Believe- 2:43; Singing to the Sunshine- 3:26; Mortimer's
Theme- 2:57; Take Your Troubles- 3:18; To Understand Someone- 2:40; Life's
Sweet Music- 2:35; Yes We Know- 2:49. This is a seldom seen original 1968
pressing on PHILIPS RECORDS (00-267), and is overall beautiful near MINT!
