Grapefruit - Yesterday's Sunshine (The Complete 1967-1968 Sessions) (2016)

Collection from the legendary British band. Grapefruit were promoted as the first protégé's of the Beatles in 1968. Boasting the remarkable songwriting talent of George Alexander, the band was signed to Apple Music publishing in 1967. The London based quartet Grapefruit recorded their first set of Alexander songs through 1967-1968. All are included here. Representing the Grapefruit sound as it existed before the LP of 1969. Lullaby was committed to tape at Advision Studios and produced by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The speeded up stereo version is included here, released for the first time. Six previously unreleased songs are included, plus thirteen tracks recently discovered on master tapes, including multi-tracks. A sparkling collection of prime British pop psych of proven appeal to 60's collectors and Apple collectors.

Subtitled “The Complete 1967-1968 London Sessions” this CD charts the early years of Apple Music’s most likely lads Grapefruit with six previously unreleased tracks and new tape transfers…..Ian Canty looks back on the band that couldn’t fail but somehow did…

Though calling any band a manufactured pop act is tantamount to labelling them cads, rotters and all round bad eggs, Grapefruit were the perfect example of how this much hated method of group formation could occasionally go right. In 1967 Tony Doran, a bigwig at the Beatles Apple Music company, pushed three ex-members of Beat also-rans Tony Rivers and the Castaways with a songwriter by the name of George Alexander hoping that magic would somehow ensue. And it did, but…

George Alexander was a scion of the musical Young family from Scotland, his brothers would helm two of the biggest bands to come out of Australia in the Easybeats ( brother George – Alexander was George A’s real first name ) and AC/DC (youngster Malcolm and Angus), but he opted to stay in the UK and eventually hooked up with the Beatles’ Apple Music. A fair few years older than his new band-mates, he did however have a great songwriting talent which would be invaluable to the fledgling band. John Lennon, who had recently hooked up with Yoko, seems to be credited with naming the band after her book “Grapefruit”. The Fabs links would keep on coming but did their patronage help or hinder them? Hmmmmmm ….

TRACKLIST

01 Dear Delilah
02 Dead Boot
03 Breaking Up A Dream
04 Lullaby (Sped-Up Stereo Version)
05 Another Game
06 Elevator
07 Yes
08 Ain't It Good
09 Sweet Little Miss No Name
10 Round And Round (Aka Round Going Round)
11 Someday (Alternate Version)
12 Somebody's Turning On The People
13 Trying To Make It To Monday
14 C'mon Marianne
15 Theme For A Lonely Queen (Aka Twiggy)
16 This Little Man
17 Do What You Want To
18 Yesterday's Sunshine
19 Someday Soon
20 One More Try