Universal Int'l
1969
Introspection
About This Album
It must be a good sign about the health of the reissue market in 2005 that Decca Records has put out this expanded reissue of Introspection by the End. A Surrey-spawned quintet whose roots went back to early-'60s British pop/rock, in support of vocalists like Dave Berry and John Leyton, the group achieved some modest notice in the press when it was taken under Rolling Stone bassist Bill Wyman's wing as producer. Their one and only album, Introspection was recorded during the rather disjointed Rolling Stones sessions for Their Satanic Majesties Request, which has only added to its mystique across the decades. It was a good psychedelic album in any case, but it was so much better a piece of psychedelic rock than what the Stones themselves delivered that it actually outshone the better-known group's efforts, at least among those rarefied few who actually got to hear Introspection. This re-release has a nice close sound that gives impact to the playing even as the ethereal backing vocals waft over the listener on "Dreamworld" and "Under the Rainbow," while the single "Shades of Orange" displays the same kind of mix of spacy lyrics and ballsy guitar work that the Stones achieved on "2000 Man," and is one of the best psychedelic rock mood pieces you can find.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,5 and 10)

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