Text by Bruce Gallanter (Downtown Music Gallery, Friday May 13th, 2022)

“Funny Freak Parade” by Ultimate Spinach. From their debut album, released in 1968

I saw a funny freak parade
Marching down the street
They were acting very strange
Kissing everybody they meet
Bananas hanging from their ears
Daffodils in their hands
Someone asked what’s happening here

They were lead by a strange little man
Playing on a celery flute
Backed up by a big brass band
Made up one strong ruse
They were making a very strange sound
That was hard to describe
But you know something good’s going ’round

Ra nana na naa…
The fat policeman was getting uptight
Because they drowned him with flower
He knows the they smell very sweet
But his face is very sour
He wants to bust the whole company
Though he doesn’t really know why
Maybe it’s because they act kind of free
Who knows

I saw a funny freak parade
Marching down the street
They were acting very strange
Kissing everybody they meet
Bananas hanging from their ears
Daffodils in their hands
Someone asked what’s happening here
That’s what’s happening baby

During the period of time when their first album was released in 1968, Ultimate Spinach, were considered to be part of the media-hyped ‘Bosstown Sound’. All of these bands were from Boston, which had its own inventive psychedelic scene, both great bands and bands not so great.

I started reading rock magazines in 1966 and listening to underground FM radio in the Spring of 1967. I became aware of hype when I was young and often took advertising & promoting with a grain of salt. It turned out that I did dig around a dozen of the Boston bands from this era: the Remains, Kangaroo, Beacon Street Union, Eden’s Children, Earth Opera, Listening, Saint Stephen, Ill Wind, Bo Grumpus, Phluph and the Apple Pie Motherhood Band.

My fave of the bunch were/are Ultimate Spinach who had Ian-Bruce Douglas as their leader & main songwriter. The above song, “Funny Freak Parade” is somewhat silly yet it did fit well during that period of time when many folks were smoking or and/or doing acid.

When you alter your own view of reality, certain things do not sound so strange or silly since that is what was permeating our consciousness during that period. If you get a chance to hear this song or perhaps, “Ballad of the Hip Death Goddess” from their second album, Behold and See, you will get a better idea of what I am talking about. Perhaps some cosmic herb may help as well.