| The Other Half | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Genres | Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock |
| Years active | 1966 - 1968 |
| Labels | Acta Records |
| Associated acts | Blue Cheer, Randy Holden, The Sons of Adam, C. K. Strong, The Balls, The Future |
The Other Half was an American psychedelic garage rock band, based in San Francisco, and active in the mid-to-late 1960s, notable for only releasing a single album amid a host of singles and being an early band for one Randy Holden. The band gained interest after one of the Nuggets compilations in the 1980s included their single, "Mr. Pharmacist".
History[]
The Other Half formed in Los Angeles Southern California, but later moved to San Francisco. They played several Chet Helms Family Dog shows at the Avalon Ballroom. Their music was strongly influenced by Yardbirds and Rolling Stones. Guitarist Randy Holden had been offered the chance to replace Jeff Beck in the Yardbirds but chose to join The Other Half after leaving The Sons of Adam.
The Other Half were at their peak when the music scene was at its height in San Francisco and the Flower Power movement in full swing in Haight Ashbury. Their style changed from an earlier vocal based garage band to a louder, more bombastic sound. Their sound has been compared to The Yardbirds, and contained elements of blues, hard rock, and Eastern melodic influences. Holden left the band after their debut album was recorded, dissatisfied with the recording and the guitar he was playing at the time, later stating "I was trying to accommodate everyone else, at the expense of my own soul and happiness". Despite Holden's misgivings, the album has been described as "awesome incendiary rock".[1]
Holden went on to join Blue Cheer in 1968 before embarking on a solo career the next year. Geoff Weston would start C. K. Strong with lead singer Lynn Carey. Recording as The Balls in London, he released the single "I Love The Balls" on Towerbell Records, and the follow-up release "I Never Dress Right" under the name The Scoop. Weston also co-wrote songs for Shocking Blue and Alice Cooper, along with embarking on his own solo career, releasing six albums from 2003 - 2015.
The band's single "Mr. Pharmacist" was included on one of the Nuggets compilations in the early 1980s, Volume 12: Punk Part Three and was later covered by The Fall, becoming a number 75 UK chart hit. A collection of their recordings entitled Mr. Pharmacist was issued in 1982. This included their entire 1968 album and several tracks from singles. Two songs, "Bad Day" and "Oz Lee Eaves Drops" appear in the 1968 pilot episode of The Mod Squad.
Discography[]
The Other Half - Mr. Pharmacist (1966)
Studio Albums[]
- The Other Half (1968, Acta)
Other Releases[]
- The Other Half (EP) (1966, Vogue International)
- Mr. Pharmacist / I've Come So Far (Single) (1966, Crescendo)
- I Need You (Single) (1967, Acta)
- Wonderful Day (Single) (1967, Acta)
- What Can I Do For You / Bad Day (1968, Acta)
- Morning Fire / Oz Lee Eaves Drops (1968, Acta)
- Mr. Pharmacist (Compilation) (1982, Eva)
Members[]
- Randy Holden - Guitar, Vocals
- Geoff Westen - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
- Larry Brown - Bass (Died 2019)
- Danny Woody - Drums
- Jeff Nowlen - Vocals