the calico wall: mystery 45s : the big game hunters - see the cheetah b/w swingin' shepherd blues

the big game hunters - see the cheetah / swingin' shepherd blues
uni records 55008, 1967, style: psychedelic pop
listen to mp3s: a-side / b-side

Even though this single appears on a relatively large label (Neil Diamond, among many others, had a number of hits on Uni), there is little or no information specifically regarding its release to be found on the web.

What is known is that Mort Garson, listed here as the arranger, is involved. While he had some noteworthy success producing and writing records in the late 50's and early 60's, Mort Garson is best remembered to psychedelic fans as a somewhat successful producer/writer/arranger in Los Angeles responsible for the cult LP, "The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds", released on Elektra in 1967, a novelty item featuring meandering 'Summer of Love' rock instrumentals, each with monologues involving the signs of the Zodiac. It is somewhat notable due to Garson's extremely early use of electronic synthesizers (including the Moog-- the "Zodiac" LP is the first LP from the West Coast to use it).

The "Zodiac" LP has been reissued and is a great example of the psychedelic cash-in craze. It is now known that that work was the product of session men under the leadership of Mr. Garson. It is therefore fair to assume that the "Big Game Hunters" never left the studio in which they played their songs, much less played a live show. The record is labeled as a promotional item but does not have a white label, which probably means that there was no second run on this item after it was sent out to radio stations and a few stores.

The A-Side of this single is attributed to one "A. Shuman" and is almost entirely instrumental, save for a young woman rather ludely growling "See the cheetah! He looks so groo-vy!" There is a bit of the same electronic synthesizer (from "Zodiac") to be heard on it. It's a pretty nice track, with upper register female singing and an interesting "Jungle"-like sound, including bongo drums and flute.

The B-Side is a much more average 60's affair, and seems to be an old Swing song, credited to a "M. Koffman" performed by Ella Fitzgerald among others. Here it is given an instrumental soft-rock treatment and sounds consistent with the musicianship on the A-Side. Truly nothing special, it might be best described as 'Summer of Love' elevator music.

Much more is not known about this single, except that judging by the record number (55008), only ten records before the Strawberry Alarm Clock's 1967 psychedelic dance smash Incense and Peppermints, this record must be from 1967. Below you will find all the information from the disc itself. If you have any information, please contact me by email.

notes: both sides list the address of Uni Records (see sleeve image above) and both state "PROMOTIONAL COPY NOT FOR SALE"

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