The Electric Prunes are a rock band who first achieved international attention as an experimental psychedelic group in the late 1960s, and contributed one track to the soundtrack of Easy Rider. After a period in which they had little control over their music, they disappeared for a period of 30 years, reforming as a recording and touring band in 2001.
History
Origins
The group started in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, though during the group's long disbandment, rumors circulated that they were from Seattle, probably because their records were very popular in that city. The first members, Ken Williams (guitar), James Lowe (lead vocal), Michael Weakley (drums) and Mark Tulin (bass) called themselves The Sanctions, and later, Jim and the Lords. Soon, Dick Hargrave joined on organ, but shortly thereafter left to pursue graphic arts. Their lineup changed many times, including one lineup with Kenny Loggins.
Lowe, Tulin, Williams and Weakley were introduced to David Hassinger, then resident engineer at RCA studios, who arranged for them to record some demos at Leon Russell's home recording facility (which he called Sky Hill Studios). Hassinger also suggested they needed a new name. In response, the band produced a long list of suggestions, with The Electric Prunes last as a joke. Somehow it stuck.
A single Ain't It Hard/Little Oliver (the A side a cover, the B side original) was released from these sessions, and flopped.
Early success
The Prunes' next single, I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) (1966), was chosen from material Hassinger sourced from the established songwriting team of Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz. It remains their highest charting success, reaching 11 in the USA and 49 in the UK. Personnel included Jim Lowe on vocals, James "Weasel" Spagnola and Ken Williams on guitar, Mark Tulin on bass and Preston Ritter on drums. This is regarded by many as the classic Prunes lineup.
Their third single, Get Me to the World on Time, was also successful but less so, peaking at 27 in the USA and 42 in the UK. However both their first album, The Electric Prunes: I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) (1967) and consisting mainly of Tucker/Mantz material, and the followup Underground (1967) which featured mainly original Prunes material, charted in the lower reaches of the Billboard charts.
By the time Underground was complete, there had been several more personnel changes. Original drummer Weakley returned to replace Ritter, and Spagnola was replaced on guitar by Mike Gannon, who appears on only two songs. Their fourth single Everybody Knows You're Not In Love appears on this album.
The Axelrod period
The Prunes' third album, Mass in F Minor (1968), was a psychedelicized setting of the Mass written and produced by David Axelrod, and somewhat of an underground favorite. Kyrie Eleison from this record was used to back the Mardi Gras drug trip scene in Easy Rider. The band reportedly broke up during the recording, and Axelrod completed the album using Canadian band The Collectors[1] and session musicians. There was a planned tour to follow the album release, which was cancelled after one disastrous show at which it was obvious that the Prunes couldn't play the music, some of which they had seen for the first time only days previously.
This was followed by Release of An Oath (1968), another religious-themed Axelrod work this time combining Jewish and Christian liturgy. It was produced by Axelrod using top session musicians for all instruments, backing the Prunes vocal work.
"the new improved Electric Prunes"
To add to the indignities heaped upon the original band members, the following album Just Good Old Rock and Roll (1969) was recorded by another, completely different group of musicians, originally from Colorado, who were assigned the Prunes' name, which was not legally owned by Hassinger (according to James Lowe in a recent interview). The album cover read the new improved Electric Prunes. This band toured and also released a single on Reprise Records in 1969, but had totally dissolved by 1970.
Reissues and reformation
Through the inclusion of their classic "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night" on the seminal "Nuggets" compilation on 1960s psychedelic gems the Electric Prunes continued to reach new fans in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. That track in particular has been a regular of psychedelic bands through the decades including Australia's Prince Vlad & the Gargoyle Impalers in the early to mid 1980s. The track was covered by psychedelic punks The Damned in the 1980s, under their alter ego of Naz Nomad and the Nightmares, and was also a feature of The Damned's live set in the mid-80s.
The late 1990s saw renewed interest in the Electric Prunes, with the release of Stockholm, a concert recorded by the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation while the (original) Prunes were on tour there in 1967. An early collection of recordings by The Sanctions and Jim and The Lords was also released, recovered from unplayed 35-year-old acetates.
After a long period of 30 years, the original quartet of Lowe, Tulin, Williams and Weakley met in the studio to consider a revival. As a result Lowe, Tulin and Williams (the three who had played on all the early recordings) were joined by two new members including James Lowe's son to reform the band. They began touring internationally in 2001, and in 2002 released a new recording titled Artifact and a DVD album called Rewired.
Continuing the momentum in 2007, the trio of Lowe, Tulin, and Williams released a new CD entitled Feedback and have also taken residence in myspace, reaching out to fans of new and old.
They are now recording and touring with a new drummer, Walter Garces, who has been called the "drum guru" of LA.
Bangles
The Electric Prunes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the bedroom, the mirror shows you what to do oo oo
You open up your closets and drawers, they have been waiting for you
You try on everything you own and enjoy the view
Bangles and furs, put them on they're yours
To go with the colors of the diamonds and pearls
They make you happy, but some day you'll see
A thousand dollars worth of perfume bottles
And a draw fill of diamond rings
Racks of shoes that you'll never use
You click your fingers and servant brings
A truck load of precious jewells from across the sea
I'll give it a thought, is this what you really need
Bangles and furs, put them on they're yours
To go with the colors of the diamonds and pearls
They make you happy, but some day you'll see
You got what want, but not what you need
A thousand lonely nights have shown
How cruel it is live alone
Money and jewells don't mean a thing,
If you don't have a man to bring
The give of a love to surround you every night
To break worldly chains that too tight
Bangles and furs, put them on they're yours
To go with the colors of the diamonds and pearls
They make you happy, but some day you'll see
You got what want, but not what you need
[Fade]
The lyrics to The Electric Prunes's song Bangles depict a person who is caught up in the material possessions that they have accumulated. The first stanza implies that the person is enamored by their own appearance and spends countless hours trying on and admiring their own clothes and accessories. The second and third stanzas go on to describe the vast collection of material possessions the person has accumulated, including perfume, jewelry, and shoes. However, the chorus warns that despite all these possessions, the person still lacks something fundamental in life, which becomes clear in the fourth stanza. The final lines suggest that real love is what the person truly needs to be happy and fulfilled.
Overall, the song Bangles serves as a warning against the dangers of materialism and the false sense of happiness it can bring. Despite having everything one could want in terms of possessions, true fulfilment can only be found in the love and connections one has with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Up the stairs your vanity is calling on you oo 00
As you climb the stairs, your desire for self-glorification beckons you.
In the bedroom, the mirror shows you what to do oo oo
Once you reach the bedroom, the reflection in the mirror guides your actions.
You open up your closets and drawers, they have been waiting for you
As you open your storage spaces, your possessions eagerly await your attention.
You try on everything you own and enjoy the view
You indulge in trying on every article of clothing you have and revel in the sight of yourself.
Bangles and furs, put them on they're yours
Adorn yourself with bracelets and animal pelts as they belong to you.
To go with the colors of the diamonds and pearls
These accessories are meant to match the hues of your gems and pearls.
They make you happy, but some day you'll see
Though they bring you happiness at present, one day you will realize.
You got what want, but not what you need
That you have acquired everything you desired, but not what is truly essential.
A thousand dollars worth of perfume bottles
You possess a considerable value of fragrant containers.
And a draw fill of diamond rings
You own a drawer filled with diamond bands.
Racks of shoes that you'll never use
Racks of shoes that will not have the chance to be worn.
You click your fingers and servant brings
Upon your beckoning, your servant arrives hastily
A truck load of precious jewells from across the sea
Your servant has brought a large quantity of valuable gems from foreign lands.
I'll give it a thought, is this what you really need
It is worth reflecting whether these possessions are truly what you require.
A thousand lonely nights have shown
After experiencing many solitary evenings,
How cruel it is live alone
You have realized how harsh it is to live without companionship.
Money and jewells don't mean a thing,
Money and jewelry hold no significance
If you don't have a man to bring
Unless you have a man to provide for you.
The give of a love to surround you every night
The warmth of a lover embracing you every night.
To break worldly chains that too tight
This love can liberate you from the fetters of this world.
Bangles and furs, put them on they're yours
Again, it is reiterated, that the choice to wear bangles and fur belongs to you.
To go with the colors of the diamonds and pearls
They can be worn to complement the colors of your precious ornaments.
They make you happy, but some day you'll see
The joy they bring is temporary, as you will eventually understand.
You got what want, but not what you need
You possess all that you desired, but not that which you truly need.
Contributed by Evelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Benito Soriano
on Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less)
A very nice and underated song should have done better . . . .
Benito Soriano
on Onie
A ery nice and underated song should have done better. . . .Up to now.