Dopest Ethiopian

Sometimes you have to go back to the source to find the essence, the initial inspiration behind the songs you love. Now of course we love the Pharcyde, and as i've said before 'Bizarre Ride' is a constant in any aural top five i'd create. It is next level, and one of the tunes that encapsulates the greatness of the album is of course 'Passin' Me By', a masterpiece of languid production by J-Swift (of more soon on Story To Tell). The incredible keys driving the song are the inspired sample of Quincy Jones' take on the Lovin' Spoonful's 'Summer in the City' from 1973, and therein lies the root of the fruit. For if you take the inevitable step back one stage further in this small tale of musical mystery, you will find the original 1966 recording of the track. And there you will find one of the best slices of semi-psychedelic pop committed to vinyl in the sixties, a portrait of LA in the summertime.

All pointless waffle aside, the Lovin' Spoonful really are a band worth checking out if you like your feel-good 60s pop-rock served with a mellow twist, and all shadowed by the sunny, smooth vocals of John. B.Sebastian. From grey old London it's the closest i get to LA in the sunshine right now, and i'm sticking to it!