Haymarket Square - Magic Lantern 1968 ,Psychedelic Rock
Haymarket Square originally released "Magic Lantern" in 1968. The group was from the Chicago
area and they played typical music of the time frame comparable to Jefferson Airplane.
This album was a rarity and found mostly in bootleg versions. The original LP in mint condition
commands a price of $2000 in the collectors market.
I noticed similarities in Gloria Lambert's voice to Deborah Harry and Grace Slick. She had a
great rock voice and you can actually understand what she is singing about. Marc Swenson is
mentioned as a Dave Davies imitator in the liner notes. He gets to move to the front of stage on
several occasions during the course of this recording. On the nine minute "Funeral," both Swenson
and drummer John Kowlaski cut it loose on a live in concert style track with long solos. And the
other half of the rhythm section, Robert Homa, played a standup bass at all times to hold up the
bottom end.
The sound quality is first-rate. Gear Fab always does a nice job with the remastering and
original cover art. The LP is housed in a gatefold sleeve, which is complete with psychedelic
swirls behind the liner notes, making it all very sixties, as it should be. This recording has a
nice consistency about it and serves as yet another testament to the importance of the culture
and music of the 60's.
~ Review by Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck.
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Track Listing:
Side One
01. Elevator (Lambert) - 0:00
02. The Train-Kept-A-Rollin' (Bradshaw/Howie/Sydney) - 7:09
03. Ahimsa (Homa/Kowalski/Swenson) - 14:30
Side Two
01. Amapola (Swenson) - 22:44
02. Phantasmagoria (Lambert) - 33:27
03. Funeral (Lambert) - 37:36
Formed : Chicago, IL, United States
Members:
* Gloria Lambert (vocals)
* Marc Swenson (guitar, vocals)
* Robert Homa (bass, vocals)
* John Kowalski (drums, percussion)
