Thursday, October 26, 2006


Forming in Thunder Bay, Ontario in the late 1960s, the Jarvis Street Revue released one of the rarest documents of Canadian psych rock with their ridiculously over-the-top Mr. Oil Man LP in 1970. Built around its centerpiece – the epic "you really need to hear this shit to believe it” 12-minute-long title track - it is a concept album about the destruction of the environment and pillaging of the earth's natural resources by the Petroleum industry and no-good businessmen in general. While it was at least 15-20 years ahead of its time lyrically and conceptually, musically speaking it is hard, progressive psychedelic rock with some pop leanings grounded firmly in the late 60s/early 70s. In other words, it compares favorably to "Inside Outside"-era Blue Cheer, The Smoke and Electric Prunes, occasionally reaching the other worldly heights of early Can and Hawkwind, as well as at times (oddly enough) referencing the dreamy, radio friendly 60s pop rock of Buffalo Springfield and the Guess Who (the singer dude also happens to be a dead ringer for Burton Cummings). Obsessive compulsive psych collectors with money to burn have been known to pay in the $300-$500 U.S. range for this LP any time it pops up on eBay. For the financially un-inclined, Pacemaker re-issued the album on CD with several bonus tracks around five or six years ago.

Jarvis Street Revue "Mr. Oil Man"

Jarvis Street Revue "Sally's Hymn"

-Shaun

1 Comments:

Blogger MTD said...

My favourite line is "I was thinking about Mother earth the other day". I like this stuff ok but i'm probably the worng person to talk about these things, it's just not what i'm most into. You just expanded my mind.

-Mike Deane

7:58 PM  

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