The Smoke

VINYL FORMAT. This legendary popsike suite was the brainchild of pop prodigy Michael Lloyd, a founding member of The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. Recorded in Hollywood over several months, it consists of melodic and imaginative psychedelic-tinged pop, with clear Beatles and Beach Boys influences. Poor marketing ensured low sales on its original release in April 1968, but its reputation has never ceased to grow since.
"Copies of the Smoke's self-titled album are highly valued by collectors of West Coast soft rock and psychedelic music. The album certainly deserves its reputation as one of the masterpieces of 1968. It opens with the organ-driven "Cowboys and Indians," which was producer/songwriter Michael Lloyd's personal homage to Brian Wilson's "Heroes and Villains" and lyrically makes mention of war (obviously the Vietnam War was very much on everyone's minds at the time). Lloyd had met Wilson after Beach Boy Bruce Johnston invited him to the recording sessions for "Good Vibrations." In addition to Beach Boys-style production values, there are also references to the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band throughout. The album is dedicated to Stuart Sutcliffe. Fans of post-Pet Sounds West Coast psych-pop or Curt Boettcher-produced groups (the Millennium, Sagittarius) will love this album." – All Music