The FactoryTry A Little Sunshine/Red Chalk Hill
Released 1969 on CBS
Reviewed by Dave Furgess, 25/03/2007ce
The song kicks open the door with punishing power chords, then quickly ignites as a very melodic psychedelic rocker that sounds a bit like some of the other failed UK freakbeat acts such as The Attack and Wimple Winch. The guitar is just demonic throughout the song and has the same soaring quality as The Who's "Armenia City In The Sky." The song finishes like a torpedo strike, with pummeling power chords, out of control drums and the disoriented singer trying to avoid getting trounced by all the mayhem he's in the midst of. While this song does have commercial appeal, it's way too involved and complicated to have attracted casual listeners, which is probably why it stiffed.
"Red Chalk Hill" on the flip is a good but not great Bee Gees style ballad that also resembles early Status Quo. Both songs on the record were written by singer/songwriter John Pantry. I was told years ago he became a born again Christian and turned his back on the pop business. I wouldn't go tracking down his recordings though, as the ones I have heard are somewhat ordinary.
The Factory and John Pantry have both been linked to obscure UK acts The Norman Conquest and Peter & The Wolves. Anybody know for sure?