Giant Crab - A Giant Crab Comes Forth (1968)
Giant Crab - A Giant Crab Comes Forth (1968)
Santa Barbara, California's A Giant Crab Comes Forth featured the talents of siblings Ernie (vocals and guitar), Raymond (bass) and Ruben (drums) Oroscoe. With the line up rounded out by Dennis (drums) and Kenny (keyboards) Fricia, the group began playing local dances and clubs, eventually finding a mentor in local DJ Johnny Fairchild. With support from Fairchild the group debuted with a series of three little heard singles on the local Corby label:
- 1967's "Listen Girl" b/w "Summer Breezes" (Corby catalog number CR-216)
- 1967's "Day By Day (It Happens)" b/w "Kind of Funny" (Corby catalog number
CR-217)
- 1967's "It Started with a Little Kiss" b/w "The Answer Is No" (Corby catalog
number CR-221)
While the singles failed to sell, outside of Southern California, they attracted the attention of Uni Records, which promptly signed the quintet to a recording contract.
Produced by Bill Holmes, 1968's "A Giant Crab Comes Forth" offered up an engaging mixture of Rascals-styled blue-eyed soul with occasional psychedelic influences. As lead singer/prime writer, Ernie displayed a knack for penning highly commercial material. With the exception of the leadoff narrative (apparently meant as a way of thanking mentor Fairchild), virtually any of the 16 tracks would have made a dandy single. Highlights included a reworking of the earlier single "It Started with a Little Kiss", "Watch Your Soul", "Enjoy It", "Lydia Purple" and the heavy metal "Hot Line Conversation". That wasn't to say the set was perfect in that the band's penchant for incorporating happening sounds was annoying. Elsewhere their out-of-tune cover of Joey Levine's "I Enjoy Being a Boy" was thoroughly irritating. Sadly the collection vanished without a trace.
1. A Giant Crab Comes Forth
2. It Started with a Little Kiss
3. Directions
4. Watch Your Step
5. Intensify Your Soul
6. Enjoy It
7. Hot Line Conversation
8. I Enjoy Being the Boy
9. Lydia Purple
10. Groovy Towne
11. Thru the Fields
12. The Chance You Take;
13. Believe It or Not
14. The Answer Is No
15. Hi Ho Silver Lining
16. Why Am I So Proud?;
17. E.S.P.