The heyday of American baroque pop—or chamber pop—lasted from 1966 to the early 1970s. It used string quartets, harpsichords, and woodwinds to create a summer-into-autumn melancholy that was fairly new and quite removed from mainstream rock music. The musicians often came from folk backgrounds and had a preference for acoustic instruments. Linda Ronstadt's first band, the Stone Poneys, had incorporated the autoharp into their lineup in 1965, while Bonnie Dobson and Nico experimented with string quartets and explored other, post-electric Dylan directions. Left Banke created a sound that was gently but insistently sad—where were the guitars! There was no single blueprint for the American baroque sound—it could border on the gothic (Russ Giguere's extraordinary 'My Plan') or be as small and precise as a music box (Tom Northcott's 'Other Times').
Here you'll find an atmospheric and original selection of tracks from the late 1960s. Compiled by Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne)

It comes in gatefold sleeve full of rare photos and detailed and insightful liner notes.

TRACKS:

A1    The Merry-Go-Round–    You're A Very Lovely Woman    2:53
A2    Montage –    I Shall Call Her Mary    2:20
A3    John Randolph Marr–    Raggedy Ann    2:24
A4    Appaloosa –    Tulu Rogers    3:51
A5    The Pleasure Fair–    Turnaway    2:02
A6    The Stone Poneys–    Different Drum    2:38
B1    Nora Guthrie–    Emily's Illness    3:05
B2    The Association –    Barefoot Gentleman    3:23
B3    J.K. & Co –    Land Of Sensations & Delights    1:48
B4    H.P. Lovecraft –    Blue Jack Of Diamonds    3:08
B5    Bonnie Dobson–    Time    3:07
B6    The Blades Of Grass–    Satin Slipper    2:03
C1    Chris & Peter Allen–    My Silent Symphony    2:34
C2    The Monkees–    Mr Webster    2:45
C3    Eternity's Children–    Again Again    3:02
C4    Russ Giguere–    My Plan    4:36
C5    Nico –    Fairest Of The Seasons    4:06
C6    Tom Northcott–    Other Times    2:02
D1    Neon Philharmonic –    You Lied    3:26
D2    The Fun & Games –    Close To Carmel    2:39
D3    Nora Guthrie–    Home Before Dark    2:34
D4    The Common People–    I Have Been Alone    3:10
D5    Steve Martin –    Two By Two (I'm Losing You)    3:02
D6    Rosebud –    Lorelei    3:53