The Rainy Daze was a psychedelic pop group formed in Denver, Colorado in 1965. They were composed of singer/guitarist Tim Gilbert with his brother Kip on drums, lead guitarist Mac Ferris, bassist Sam Fuller, and keyboardist Bob Heckendorf.
The group started as a covers act, nevertheless parlaying a string of frat party gigs into a local television appearance that reportedly caught the attention of famed producer Phil Spector, who extended a management contract.
The group released an album, That Acapulco Gold, and the title song (written by Tim Gilbert and his roommate, John Carter) made it to #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 but was pulled once it was realized it was a pro-marijuana song (see Acapulco Gold). Tim Gilbert was co-author with John S. Carter of the gold record / “million seller” song Incense and Peppermints (song) by Strawberry Alarm Clock.
I never get tired of excavating old Pysche and Baroque pop and this vintage. There’s more ideas and chages in this 2 and half minute gem than most bands manage in a whole album these days.
You just don’t get start/stop or modulations like this in modern pop which just seems to start and keep going without a lot of melodic or harmonic invention. Different times I guess.
This one reminds me of the Left Banke - another one of those precociously young band that had incredible harmonies and a working knowledge of musical modes.
In an age of great distraction I can’t see the conditions returning where kids made stuff like this. It’s a lost time.
As usual this was one that came up on my shuffle as I was wandering into King’s Cross and it got several replays as I had my coffee and morning sandwich and then again in the tunnels of St. Pancras on the way home.
Whatever the gnomic resonance of “Blood of Oblivion” meant to me you can probably only guess from the chaotic state we are in.
It’s been a very weird week. I started it with attending a fire emergency in Kilburn and it just seemed to be a endless number of phone calls and MS Teams meetings all week. I’m honestly sick of the sound of my own voice.
Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum, blood of oblivion indeed.
Mr Bog 6/2/2025
