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.
Dr. Do-Good
The Electric Prunes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Annette Tucker /Nancie Mantz)
You say you get your jolly goods by trottin o'er the globe
Ridin on a camels back in a crimson robe
Your birth reads like a novel as for how you came to be
You say your mummy found you in a laughing willow tree
In relation to your sadness
Is cause you have been ladless this year
But..... Dr. Do Good is Here
If you will but rest your head upon the pillow there
We'll delve into the sickedness that brought you to my care
Just close your eyes and we'll regress
What did your Daddy do
Oh yes my dear it's quite alright I hear the music too
Your twisted form of madness
In relation to your sadness
Is cause you have been ladless this year
But Dr. Do Good is here
Are lechers lurkin to annoy ya
Whole world plottin to destroy ya
Ah but have no fear
it's only basic paranoia
I hear the tinkling of a bell my Doctor's callin me
Your Doctor said to tell you that he'll be back at three
But I've so enjoyed our little chat what did you Daddy do
Oh Yes my Dear it's quite alright I hear the music too
Are lechers lurkin to annoy ya
Whole world plottin to destry ya
Ah but have no fear
Cause Dr. Do Good Is here
yeah Dr. Do Good is Here
The Electric Prunes’ “Dr. Do Good” is a song that delves into the concept of a psychiatrist, Dr. Do Good, who intends to uncover the sickness and madness experienced by their patients. The song begins with a description of Dr. Do Good, who is dressed in a crimson robe and claimed to have a twisted form of madness. The song then examines the patients themselves, with lyrics discussing their birth, relationships with their father, and their present loneliness. Dr. Do Good is said to be here to help them cope and solve their issues.
The song has a surreal and mysterious quality to it, with the lyrics shifting between discussing the patients and the enigmatic Dr. Do Good. It’s interesting to note that there seems to be a subtle mockery of psychiatry, with the song presented in a slightly satirical tone. The lyrics imply that Dr. Do Good’s methods are not so much to solve the patient’s issues but to distract them from the reality of their problems.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the song is its composition. The Electric Prunes is known for their psychedelic music, and “Dr. Do Good” features a trippy, hypnotic sound. The melody, instrumentation, and vocals combine to create an eerie and haunting atmosphere that reflects the themes of madness and uncertainty present in the lyrics. The song is reminiscent of the experimental, boundary-pushing music that defined the 60s, a time of social upheaval and cultural revolution.
Line by Line Meaning
You say you get your jolly goods by trottin o'er the globe
You claim that you find pleasure by traveling around the world
Ridin on a camels back in a crimson robe
You are picturing yourself on a camel, wearing a red robe
Your birth reads like a novel as for how you came to be
The story of your birth is quite unusual
You say your mummy found you in a laughing willow tree
You claim that your mother discovered you in a tree
Your twisted form of madness
Your distorted state of mind
In relation to your sadness
Which is linked to your sorrow
Is cause you have been ladless this year
Is due to the absence of men in your life this year
But..... Dr. Do Good is Here
But don't worry, Dr. Do-Good is here to help
If you will but rest your head upon the pillow there
If you lie down and relax on that pillow
We'll delve into the sickedness that brought you to my care
We'll explore the illness that made you come see me
Just close your eyes and we'll regress
Just shut your eyes and we'll go back in time
What did your Daddy do
Tell me about your father's actions
Oh yes my dear it's quite alright I hear the music too
It's okay, I can hear the background music as well
Are lechers lurkin to annoy ya
Are there men trying to harass you
Whole world plottin to destroy ya
Does it feel like everyone is conspiring against you
Ah but have no fear
Don't worry
it's only basic paranoia
It's just a mild form of paranoia
I hear the tinkling of a bell my Doctor's callin me
I need to go, my doctor is summoning me
Your Doctor said to tell you that he'll be back at three
Your doctor will return at three o'clock
But I've so enjoyed our little chat what did you Daddy do
But I had such a lovely time talking to you, now back to your father
Are lechers lurkin to annoy ya
Are there men trying to harass you
Whole world plottin to destry ya
Does it feel like everyone is conspiring against you
Ah but have no fear
Don't worry
Cause Dr. Do Good Is here
Because Dr. Do-Good is here to help
yeah Dr. Do Good is Here
Yes, Dr. Do-Good is right here to take care of you
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nick G
Written by two women, psychedelicized by Hassinger and performed by one of the greatest bands ever! Pure teamwork genius
shelley Ganz
FUR SURE!! LOVE THIS ONE!!
spib65
Love this, has a rockabilly feel to it, fantastic!
Rokula lala
Loving it.
Bernard Barker,Jr
My favorite E P song! A few years back the Prunes were in Vegas when Jim Lowe told me that Dave Hassinger did the crazy rant! Also good that you posted the "Full Take"! ..R.I.P. Mark Tulin
shelley Ganz
This tune is soo Kool....LUV THIS!! GREAT PRUNES, AS USUAL!! LUV THIS BAND...LEGENDARY...
trfesok
In my EP playlist. Thanks for the upload!
Mats Goalkeeping
This wasn’t their final song the final for them was the Mass in F minor album
shelley Ganz
KOL NIDRE???
Josh Ward
This had to have inspired the band shriekback... sounds a lot like them