Stark Reality - Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop

1970 USA

February 15, 2007

The early days of the Public Broadcasting Service were quite literally a trip. Perhaps through hours of gazing at The Electric Company or Zoom or the dozens of Quebec short films (in non translated French no less), or hearing Kraftwerk’s ‘Ruckzuck’ for one of their science shows, everyone of my generation should have become psychedelic infused hippies through osmosis (at least that’s my excuse – I was 5 in 1970). Even the majors chimed in with the weed fueled HR Puffinstuff and The Banana Splits. But none of these topped the Boston PBS station’s Stark Reality (perhaps the Timothy Leary / Harvard connection was still in full force). What we have here is simply a great set of stoned children’s songs. Fuzz guitar and, even better, fuzz vibes (FUZZ VIBES???). This is the hippest group to ever get major airplay on vintage TV. Nobody learns their ABC’s like this anymore!

Album was reissued offically titled "Now".

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