Genre: psych 
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title:  Playback
Company: Verve Forecast
Catalog: FTS-3042
Year: 1968
Country/State: USA, California
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: minor ring wear; Canadian pressing
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 4
Price: $90.00

A studio project spotlighting the talents of brothers John and Terry Boylan (with support from guitarist Larry Coryell and various L.A. sessions players), The Appletree Theatre survived long enough to release one of the year's more interesting collections. 

Co-produced by the brothers (Pete Spargo serving as executive producer), 1968's "Playback" offered up a rather weird concept piece, though admittedly the plotline was largely lost on us. Written by the brothers, the collection offered up a bizarre collage of interlaced vocal narratives, sound effects, song fragments, balanced by an occasional pop piece ("Hightower Square", the bouncy "Brother Speed" and the trippy " You're the Biggest Thing In My Life"). Our personal favorite was the backward tape instrumental "Lotus Flower". There was no doubt the Boylans' were talented. Anyone doubting the statement need merely check out the collision of musical genres compressed into "The Sorry State of Staying Awake" - C&W, blue-eyed soul; they even find time to make mention of LSD and virtually every other pharmaceutical known to man. On the other hand, the set was simply too experimental for the normal listener - no matter how strung out they may have been. Hard to adequately describe, imagine The Association having overdosed on bad acid and you might get a rough feel for the set ... That said, it's a great slice of slightly demented "sunshine pop" which should definitely be checked out with a good set of headphones.  

"Playback" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) In the Beginning (instrumental) (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 0:55
2.) Hightower Square (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 2:24
3.) Lullaby (instrumental) (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 0:25
4.) Saturday Morning (John Boylan - Terry Boylan)- 1:53
5.) Nevertheless It was Italy (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 2:15
6.) I Wonder If Louise Is Home (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 2:10
7.) Chez Louise (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 1:02
8.) E-Train (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 1:00
9.) Meanwhile (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 0:15
10.) Brother Speed (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 3:15

(side 2)
1.) You're the Biggest Thing In My Life (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 3:35
2.) Don't Blame It On Your Wife (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 2:50
3.) The Sorry State of Staying Awake (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 3:54
4.) Barefoot Boy (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 2:43
5.) Lotus Flower (instrumental) (John Boylan - Terry Boylan)- 2:16
6.) What a Way To Go (John Boylan - Terry Boylan) - 2:50

In the wake of the set's commercial failure Terry went solo (under the name Terence Boylan), releasing a series of three late-1960s/early-1970s albums (see separate entry), while John reappeared as a member of the short-lived Hamilton Streetcar before turning his attention to production (The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, etc.) and the business side of the house.