The Psych Ward–Tomorrow by Tomorrow
The Psych Ward–Tomorrow by Tomorrow
I first came to know the band Tomorrow while doing research for a psychedelic rock radio show I had many years ago. I noticed that the band had released a single called “My White Bicycle” and I think, if memory serves me right, I downloaded the song illegally and put it on a compilation disc I made for personal use. With its backward guitar parts, whispered background vocals, and distinctly British effect, that song quickly became one of my all-time favorite psych songs—and one I played frequently on my radio show.
Tomorrow, released in 1968, was the sole album by the band Tomorrow and launched the career of guitar whiz Steve Howe, who would go on to fame and fortune with the band Yes.
More importantly for me, this album led to my discovery of the psychedelic rock legend Twink, who played drums for Tomorrow. Twink secured his seminal status by going on to play with The Pretty Things and The Pink Faeries as well as releasing a classic psych solo album of his own: Think Pink, in 1970.
In addition to “My White Bicycle”, the album includes “Colonel Brown”, an ode to a sad old man that features some interesting Eastern-tinged guitar work courtesy of Howe. The character Colonel Brown pops up again in a song called “Auntie May’s Dress Shop”, which is a delightful romp that perfectly captures the essence of British Psychedelia.
“Real Life Permanent Dream” is a happy-sounding song about a not-so-happy subject (a breakup) and it features a sitar intro and some inspired guitar wizardry from you-know-who.
Another track on the album “Revolution”, released about a year before the Beatles’ song of the same name, has a delirious, intoxicating groove and also exemplifies British Psychedelia with its refrain of “Have your own little revolution/ Have your own little revolution/ Have your own little revolution now!”
Speaking of The Beatles, Tomorrow covers “Strawberry Fields Forever” in a fairly straightforward manner, adding just a bit more muscle with the guitar.
Overall, Tomorrow is a fun, free-wheeling psychedelic album. I recommend you ride your white bicycle over to your favorite record store and pick up a copy—today!
Related: The 100 Best Psychedelic Rock Albums of the Golden Age
The Top 100 Psychedelic Rock Artists of All Time
The Top 200 Psychedelic Songs from the Original Psychedelic Era
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2 thoughts on “The Psych Ward–Tomorrow by Tomorrow”
I really enjoyed reading this about Tomorrow. I’m a big fan of Keith West and Tomorrow’s music and before Tomorrow, The In Crowd and Four+one. I read everything I can that I find online and buy as many vintage music papers and magazines that I can find from 1967-8 that feature Keith West and Tomorrow. I thought that this write up here was very well written and very interesting.
Well, thank you very much. I’m a big fan on Tomorrow and Twink, in particular.