The Psych Ward: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
The Psych Ward: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
Flaming headdresses, face paint, and wild theatrics aside, Yorkshireman Arthur Wilton Brown was one of the finest singers of the First Wave of British Psychedelia (FWOBP). With his histrionic delivery and operatic vocal range, he was a startling talent. Brown’s singing style was equal parts Eric Burdon and Chris Farlowe on the British soul side while also being the precursor to Judas Priest’s Rob Halford and Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan on the metallic side.
The biggest hit on this album was “Fire.” Most are likely familiar with the intro proclamation, “I am the god of Hellfire! And I bring you…” The song went number one in the UK and number two in the US. This track, in part, signaled the destruction of 1967’s Summer of Love–the Summer of Doom, if you will. Blue Cheer, Black Sabbath, and this band were at the forefront of the “fuck that peace shit” movement amidst the assassinations, riots, and strikes of 1968.
Produced by Who manager Kit Lambert, sonically, this album is some bluesy/funky/heavy organ rock featuring co-writing and string & brass arrangements by keyboardist extraordinaire Vincent Crane, whose contribution to the group cannot be diminished. Arthur had the concepts and voice, but Crane manifested the music. An eighteen-year-old Carl Palmer (later of prog giant ELP) took over the drum throne immediately after this album’s release. Crane would soon depart the band with Palmer to start his own progressive/metal organ rock project Atomic Rooster. Both gentlemen were excellent companions during this transition from psychedelia to progressive doom rock.
Opening track, “Nightmare”, is my favorite, commencing with a maudlin Vincent Crane string arrangement and some labored breathing by Brown. When the rhythm kicks in, it’s a psychedelic soul organ extravaganza! The song’s second half features Arthur Brown soaring in the stratosphere with his piercingly high falsetto.
“Spontaneous Apple Creation” is a bizarre song filled with a driving rhythm and odd sound effects serving as an undercurrent to Brown’s poetry. “…fishes flew and laughed aloud, and hamsters grew wings and flew on the doors.” What a trip!
Oh, did I mention flaming helmets and face paint? Arthur Brown was a precursor to Alice Cooper’s fright rock and, for that matter, Kiss and King Diamond, further cementing the demented nature of the tracks contained in this album. The Crazy World of Arthur Brown album was written as an opera recounting Hellish horrors, and it delivered the goods.
Highlights: “Nightmare,” James Brown’s “I’ve Got Money,” “Come & Buy”
Related: The 100 Best Psychedelic Rock Albums of the Golden Age
The Top 100 Psychedelic Rock Artists of All Time
New Interview with the God of Hellfire, Arthur Brown
The Top 200 Psychedelic Songs from the Original Psychedelic Era
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1 thought on “The Psych Ward: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown”
Seen him a few times, first in 1967 and November this year, hope to see him again, the album with fire on, rates as one of the best albums of the 60s along with SF sorrow by the pretty things,