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Electric Prunes: Mass in F Minor (1967) 
Reviewer: Ben Miler | See all reviews by Ben Miler
Section: Reviews | Category: Music | Area: California | Topic: Music
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 For those who grew up in the 1960s, or even those that didn't but lived where there was a decent rock station that played plenty of music from that era (that is, not an oldies station), you probably have heard "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night". That band was from a Los Angeles-based psychedelic band Electric Prunes. They managed to release three albums in 1967, Mass in F Minor being their third album (they would release two more album in 1968 and 1969 as well). They went and tried something completely different: they recorded a rock Mass. That means there are six songs, with titles like "Kyrie Eleison", "Credo", "Sanctus", etc. All songs stick strictly to the Latin text, and the results is a pretty interesting, combination of Gregorian chanting with the psychedelic rock you come to expect from that era. Yeah, the album is a bit half-formed, and the compositions could be a bit stronger, but it's still pretty good. You can say Mass in F Minor was to 1960s psychedelia what Enigma's MCMXC a.D. was to modern dance music of the 1990s. Of course, Enigma sampled real Gregorian chants, while the Electric Prunes simply approximated Gregorian chanting by the band members. By the time Mass in F Minor was recorded, the band broke up halfway in the recording of the album, so the first half was done by the original lineup, and for some odd reason, the other half was recorded by an entirely new band consisting of Canadian musicians. David Axelrod wrote all the music to this album. And it's also odd that this new band would continue to record under the Electric Prunes for their last two efforts: The Release of an Oathe: The Kol Nidre (1968) and Just Good Old Rock and Roll (1969). One of the songs on Mass in F Minor might be familiar to all those who watched Easy Rider: "Kyrie Eleison", as that was one of the songs, along with "Born to be Wild" and "The Pusher" (Steppenwolf) and "Don't Bogart That Joint" (Fraternity of Man) that was featured on that movie. While Mass in F Minor falls short of a classic in my book, it's still a pretty fascinating album to include in your collection.
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Visitor Comments about Electric Prunes: Mass in F Minor (1967)
Posted by Hank Zevallos on 2005-03-17 02:49:41
My Score: 
Comment: THE COLLECTORS, out of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, were an extraordinary band whose initial Canadian singles and debut self-titled album put them on the map for their recording skills. Their concert appearances up and down the West Coast also established them as one of the best "live" bands of all time. The entire second side of their debut album was the "What Love (Suite)", a stunning piece which some "underground" FM radio stations played like Top 40 AM radio played hit singles. This band was such a stand-out that they were hired to compose and perform the music for the Canadian Pavilion at the Osaka World Fair. Plus when I relocated in Vancouver, Jim Morrison (whom had been impressed by them) often asked me what they were up to.
Not only did David Hassinger produce The Electric Prunes, Grateful Dead and Sweetwater at that time, but he had also become the producer for The Collectors, whom had relocated in Southern California for an extended period to not only record their classic debut, but also for some very wonderful concert appearances.
When David Axelrod approached Hassinger with his compositions for a rock mass, it was no stretch for Hassinger to realize his best bet was to hire the members of The Collectors to perform what the then-nonexistent Prunes couldn''t. The memorable "Mass in F Minor" tracks heard on Easy Rider, etc., feature The Collectors, whom went on to become Chilliwack after Hassinger and their original lead singer had pushed them into a "concept album" featuring tunes they literally finished in the studio for George Ryga''s "Grass And Wild Strawberries" play.
The Collectors NEVER performed publicly as The Electric Prunes, nor were they involved in the subsequent LPs. Instead, they introduced Hassinger to Canadian bass player Bret Wase and a new Electric Prunes was created to support the mass album.
After a couple of great Canadian singles on London Records, which featured some great instrumental jamming on the "B" side, the "new" Collectors (with guitarist Bill Henderson as main lead vocalist) became Chilliwack and went on to release over a dozen great albums, which unfortunately were never really promoted in the USA like they should have been.
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Posted by Kevin Wallbank on 2003-11-03 10:32:05
My Score:
Comment: Not the best album to pick to represent the band''s recorded output, that honour would go to second album ''Underground'', which has the Prunes'' (rather than David Axelrod''s) best compositions on it and shows the interesting direction that they were headed before the ''Mass'' debacle. Fortunately they are now back together and have produced the re-union album ''Artifact'' which continues where ''Underground'' left off and now there is the new album ''California'', which contains songs as good as ''Too Much to Dream'' and ''Get Me To The World On Time''. If they get released as singles then it could easily happen all over again for them, they are that good!
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Posted by Matt (Pressed_Rat) on 2002-10-24 15:13:30
My Score:
Comment:
This is a bad attempt at mixing classical music with psychedelia. That''s all i''ve got to say.
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