This 23 track CD is the definitive collection by these '60's psychedelic legends. Collecting the best tracks from the band's first two albums, ultra-rare singles, demos and a hilarious radio spot for Vox wah-wah pedals. Th... more »is is the only release anyone will ever need by the Electric Prunes. All tracks are restored and remastered by 'Prunes leader James Lowe. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.« less
This 23 track CD is the definitive collection by these '60's psychedelic legends. Collecting the best tracks from the band's first two albums, ultra-rare singles, demos and a hilarious radio spot for Vox wah-wah pedals. This is the only release anyone will ever need by the Electric Prunes. All tracks are restored and remastered by 'Prunes leader James Lowe. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.
CD Reviews
The Kings of Psychedelic Tunesmithery
02/22/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Lost Dreams album gathers together all the evidence that the Electric Prunes were well and truly ahead of the pack when it came down to having a good song and some original ideas about how to arrange it and record it.There are the two main hits here " I had Too Much To Dream Last Night" and "Get Me To The World On Time", along with some blistering album cuts like "Great Banana Hoax" and "You Never Had It Better". Also included is one of the best B-sides ever released, the flip to "Get Me To The World On Time" entitled "Are You Loving Me More (But Enjoying It Less)" which is a killer example of what the Prunes sound was all about, it pulsates and throbs right outta the speakers of your stereo.
The problem with a lot of stuff from the psychedelic era is that it was music made by people who were trying to turn their brains to mush with drugs. Not so here, the songs are sharply executed and stand up even in this day and age. The biggest shame is that there is too little of their music around as their career was wrecked by a short sighted record company, although it's great to see that the band are back together and making great new music in the 21st Century with a new album "Artifact".
So, all in all "Lost Dreams" is an essential purchase for followers of sixties psychedelia and for anyone who likes just great music."
An Amazing (and Wonderful) Surprise!
Brian G. Ehlert | Coushatta, LA United States | 06/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a treat and wonderful compilation! The biggest thrill for me was "Shadows", previously unavailable on any recording until this time. It was featured in a dandy little 1968 film, The Name of the Game Is Kill, and I loved it when I saw the film on it's original release, and have been searching for it for years. But all the other tracks are excellent as well, with first-rate sound quality."
Almost definitive
Will Shade | USA | 06/16/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This compilation renders all other Electric Prunes releases obsolete. James Lowe, lead singer, intended this. Unhappy with all the other Prunes releases, Lowe and bassist Mark Tulin selected tracks they deemed worthy of the Prunes legacy and remastered them specifically for this release. Consequently, this is the best Punes album you'll be able to get your hands on. One minor quibble: where is "Children Of Rain" and "Antique Doll"? However, the remastering makes up for this minor omission. The sound is simply amazing. You can put away the first two albums for good now."
Electric Prunes - 'Lost Dreams' (Birdman)
Mike Reed | USA | 05/18/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Beside the hard-to-find UK import 'Long Day's Flight',this collection of 23 songs on 'Lost Dreams' is the only legit Prunes compilation release.Includes mostly cuts from their first two albums 'I Had Too Much To Dream' and 'Underground' plus some super-rare singles and previously unreleased demos(those are always good to hear).Since I've always dug these guys,It's tough for me not to fully appreciate tracks like their lesser known tunes such as "Luvin'","Try Me On For Size","Wind-Up Toys" and "Ain't It Fun".Strictly for the Electric Prunes completists OR a new fan that just prefers to get JUST one of their CD's.A should-have."
Excellent single disc overview
Laurence Upton | Wilts, UK | 07/13/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Electric Prunes put out two magnificent garage-psyche albums on Reprise in 1967, as well as several stunning singles, including of course their big American hit, I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night. Their final single in this incarnation was Everybody Knows (You're Not In Love) backed with You Never Had It Better, and Lost Dreams collects the strongest tracks from all of these onto a single disc. The band loved to experiment with all the latest gadgets and stretched the recording techniques available at the time to achieve a densely sophisticated sound with their three guitarists and the expert engineering of Richie Podolor and Bill Cooper.
The band were not always in agreement with the record label or with manager and producer Dave Hassinger and both albums, particularly the first, contained non-original material they didn't want to record. Members of the band apparently had considerable input on this compilation and have not only omitted the tracks they find embarrassing, but have added longer mixes of several of their best and most exploratory numbers, namely Hideaway, The Great Banana Hoax (a wonderful satire of the times), Dr Do-Good and the magnificent Long Day's Flight. This gives a clearer view of the band's intent than on the original albums and the sound throughout is startlingly clear. Brief track by track notes have been added by Jim Lowe, the band's primary lead singer.
Rarities include Shadows, which played over the credits of the exploitation film The Name Of The Game Is Kill, and was released at the time only on a promo single; both sides of 1st release Ain't It Hard/Little Olive from 1966; an unreleased Hollies cover, I've Got A Way Of My Own, and another unreleased outtake from the first album sessions, World Of Darkness. The albums were released in both stereo and mono formats and the stereo mixes have been chosen for everything here including outtakes, apart from third single Get Me To The World On Time and the non-album first single.
For those wanting to delve a little deeper, Too Much to Dream - Original Group Recordings: Reprise 1966-1967 is a two-disc anthology put out more recently by Rhino"
Track Listings (23) - Disc #1