The Common People has been played over 10 times on NTS, first on 4 June 2020. The Common People's music has been featured on 11 episodes.

Originally released in 1968, their sole LP. Soft, floating,swirling psychedelia that in parts gets very intense and fuzzed out.

A friend of mine paid $200 for this album by California based group The Common People and was raving about it to me, so I asked him to make me a tape of it, which he did and I've been playing this thing for months and I'll be damned if this isn't one of the best psychedelic pop records I've ever heard!

The record begins with a beautiful swirling psychedelic pop song called "Soon There'll Be Thunder" that sounds like the best of the Strawberry Alarm Clock meeting The Left Banke, the track has brilliant strings supplied by David Axelrod. "I Have Been Alone" is next and follows the same formula and it's even better, this one has some magical acid guitar lines played against a Love "Forever Changes" like backdrop, this song is a true knockout. "Those Who Love" once again follows the same style to absolute perfection. With "Go Everyway" the psychedelic juice gets turned up full on this brilliant melodic rocker, lead singer Denny Robinett has an unusual but engaging voice that stands out on almost every track.

"Why Must I Be" has a Moby Grape/Buffalo Springfield folk rock flavor to it, some understated organ fills add to the song's appeal. "I Take From You" is a driving folk/punker that again recalls early Love. Things go back to the garage for "Feeling" this one is incredibly simple but dynamite, the guitar solo is wonderful! I can't enough of this one. Up next is my favorite track on the LP called "Girl Said Know" which is a direct descendent of the Byrds "So You Want To Be A Rock and Roll Star" which features a punchy latin style trumpet section that adds wonders to the song, the only trouble is the song is under 2 minutes long which is a shame. "Land Of A Day" is a slightly doomy Doors type thing that works really well. The trumpets are brought back up front for "This Life" which ends the record in a rousing upbeat fashion. This is a fantastic album from start to finish. This record should have sold crate loads but probably wasn't promoted much, it's weird that Capitol signed several outstanding groups in the late 60's like SRC, Gandalf, Hearts and Flowers, Food and Stained Glass and didn't seem to push them at all, perhaps these groups were just tax write offs, I guess they were too busy with The Beatles, Beach Boys and Grand Funk Railroad.

This record by The Common People is one of the great lost records of the late 60's I think it has been issued recently on CD, so I would suggest you pick up a copy I know will be as soon as I can find one.

Soon There'll Be Thunder I Have Been Alone Those Who Love Go Every Way Why Must I Be Take From You They Didn't Even Go To The Funeral Feeling Girl Said - Know Land Of A Day This Life She Is Mine