Strange Night Voyage

Congratulations to England's Cherry Red label for making available this obscure Peter Pan concept album available on CD for the first time. STRANGE NIGHT VOYAGE was recorded in May 1968 and released by A&M Records as 'SP 4149.' The compositions of John Francis "Jack" Murphy were discovered by a St. John's University classmate, Vinny Testa. Testa was an executive of Community Productions, headed by George "Shadow" Morton. He had worked with The Shangri-Las, Janis Ian and Vanilla Fudge, and this was helpful in setting up the recording deal with A&M. Joining Murphy (keyboards & vocals) in the Merchants were David Bumgarner (rhythm guitar), John Bumgarner (vocals), John Pizow (bass), Bobby Musac (drums) and Jeff Druck (lead guitar). According to the liner notes, psychedlic rock, strings, harmonies and driving beats were used to create a clever parallel between Peter Pan's quest for perpetual childhood and contemporary rebellion against adult "morals" (the Generation Gap) and the Vietnam War. Released in early 1969, neither the album nor the single ("Dorothy the Fairy Queen" & "Sing Me Life") received much promotion or recognition. After playing a few gigs, the band broke up and Murphy worked as a solo artist with Testa as producer. Verve-Forecast issued the self-titled "J.F. MURPHY" album, and his band 'J.F. Murphy and Salt,' later renamed 'J.F. Murphy and Free Flowing Salt,' recorded for ABC-Dunhill, Columbia, MGM and Elektra. Murphy wrote songs for numerous stage musicals, including 'The Silver Dollar,' Rudolph,' 'Zelda,' 'Carmen' and 'The Count of Monte Cristo.' His score for 'The Civil War,' written with Frank Wildhorn, was nominated for a Tony Award. He released a rock-oriented disc, 'LIVE & LEARN,' in 2003. His current production, 'Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure,' explores childhood themes again and is scheduled to debut on Broadway during 2011. Fans of The Association, Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Turtles and other late 1960s bands who combine vocal harmonies with adventurous psychedelic instruments should find plenty to enjoy with 'STRANGE NIGHT VOYAGE.' It's great that after 43 years this overlooked classic gets the opportunity for rediscovery.

I bought this album when it came out, based on a recommend from a friend in high school. I remember not liking it at all at the time. I was expecting something similar to the Moodies In Search of the Lost Chord, but instead it bored me to tears. That being said, I was only 16 at the time and what did I know? Nothing. I may buy this and give it a second shot. I've been on a couple of excursions in life since then that might just change my outlook. Why three stars and not one? I think my first assessment was probably wrong after all. So, I am going to give it another try.

Just wanted to add one thing of interest. I bought this record when it came out based on a review that i read in TIME Magazine of all places. I think Time thought this would be a rather popular record, proved otherwise.And one would think with the appearance in TIME that might have created a hit. It's a delightful light pop/psyche trip, really a favorite record of mine from that time.Very creative, just not profound nor heavy for those who look for that. It's a bit sunshine pop, lots of orchestration, sound effects, good melodies and singing, fun instrumentation. I wonder if they made a second record if they would have chosen another "theme".The charm of this record is the story. The record always played as a series of songs linked together by the Peter Pan story rather than a song here and there. .Definitely a concept record that for me holds together, a little more haunting 40 years later. BTW. I enjoyed the review posted above.

This was one of the records I burn on compact disc recordings before I sold my records very poppy spacey music very cool.

This is a rare and underrated psychedelic concept album based on J.M.Barrie's famous tale Peter Pan.The legendary producer Shadow Morton had made his name producing for Vanila Fudge...etc.,so had no problem securing a deal for Jack Murphy with A&M Rec.to release Strange Night Voyage in early 1969.More musicians were recruited to create this album and the band which actualy was-David Bumgarner-r.guitar,John Bumgartner-backing v.,John Pizow-bass,Bobby Musac-drums,Jeff Druck-guitar and frontman Jack Murphy-keys,vocals.He composed here such songs that reflected many musical styles of the time,psych rock,pop,Broadway show tunes,orchestration and some discothéque effects.Without wider promotions from A&M,the album was lost into oblivion.J.Murphy continued career in J.F.M.&Salt,also known as J.F.M.and Free Flowing Salt.

Was kann man von einer Band, die sich The Merchants Of Dream nennt und 1969 ihr erstes und einziges Albm namens STRANGE NIGHT VOYAGE herausgebracht hat, wohl erwarten? Nun die Antwort ist wohl keine große Überraschung, denn es handelt sich auch hier um für die Entstehungszeit sehr typischen Psychedelic Rock/Pop. In Anbetracht des extrem geringen Bekanntheitsgrades der Band möchte man eigentlich sofort von einem echten Geheimtipp sprechen, doch als ganzes betrachtet ist das Ergebnis doch ein bisschen durchwachsen. Die zwei herausragenden Stücke sind "The Strange Night Voyage Of Peter Pan" und "Alicey" - beide bestechen durch tolle Melodien und interessante Instrumentierung (inklusive Cembalo z.B.). Der Rest des Albums knüpft an diese Stücke an, hat immer wieder großartige Momente, aber kann sich manchmal auch nicht so recht für einen Stil entscheiden und bleibt daher etwas unausgegoren. Manchmal etwas cheesy, aber mindestens so oft auch echt faszinierend - so kann man das Album wohl am besten zusammenfassen.

A concept album in the form of a psychedelic rock opera.Some psych pop and some rockers too.Not bad at all.