What Petula Clark Can Teach Us About Psychedelic Rock

Petula Clark is a legend. She’s also responsible for some of the best psychedelic rock of the 1960s. Here’s what she can teach us about the genre.

Who is Petula Clark?

Petula Clark is a British singer, actress and composer who rose to fame in the 1960s with hits like “Downtown” and “My Love.” While she is best known for her pop music, Clark actually started her career as a child actress and singer in the 1940s. In the 1950s, she transitioned to adult roles in film and television. It wasn’t until the 1960s that Clark found mainstream success with her pop music. She is credited as being one of the first pop stars to successfully make the transition from child star to adult star.

While Clark is best known for her pop hits, she also dabbled in psychedelic rock. In 1967, she released the album “Color My World,” which featured the song “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair).” The song was written by Scott McKenzie and became an anthem for the 1967 Summer of Love. While it’s not considered one of her most successful albums, “Color My World” is notable for being one of the first psychedelic rock albums released by a major label.

Petula Clark’s foray into psychedelic rock may have been short-lived, but it’s an interesting footnote in her career. It’s also a reminder that even established artists were experimenting with new sounds in the 1960s.

What is psychedelic rock?

Psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s with the goal of expanding the boundaries of traditionalrock music.Psychedelic rock began to fall out of favor in the early 1970s, but experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s with bands such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Dandy Warhols, and The Flaming Lips.

Psychedelic rock is often characterized by its use of electronic effects (such as feedback and distortion), extended jams, unusual song structures, and elaborate stage shows. It is also often associated with mind-altering drugs such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and mescaline.

While psychedelic rock was initially developed to challenge the conventions of traditionalrock music, many psychedelic bands were influenced by other genres such as jazz, world music, and electronic music. Psychedelic rock has had a lasting impact on popular culture and has been cited as an influence by numerous artists across multiple genres.

How did Petula Clark become associated with psychedelic rock?

Petula Clark’s connection to psychedelia is often forgotten, but her 1966 song “Color My World” is widely considered one of the first examples of psychedelic pop. The song was co-written by Tony Hatch, who also worked with The Kinks and Dusty Springfield. It features a dreamy, ethereal arrangement with sitar, tabla, and looping sound effects that create a disorienting, otherworldly atmosphere. The lyrics are equally strange and baffling, with Clark singing about being “lost in a world of technicolor.”

“Color My World” was included on Petula Clark’s 1967 album Color My World, which was released in the UK on Pye Records and in the US on Warner Bros. Records. The album also includes two other psychedelic-tinged tracks, “I Know A Place” and “Don’t Sleep In The Subway.” Although it’s not as well-known as some of her other records, Color My World is an interesting snapshot of Clark’s experimentation with different musical styles during the late-1960s.

What can we learn from Petula Clark about psychedelic rock?

Petula Clark is often thought of as a bubbly pop singer, but she also dabbled in psychedelic rock. In 1968, she released the song “Sunny”, which featured heavy use of psychedelic guitar and sitar. The song was a hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard charts.

What can we learn from Petula Clark about psychedelic rock? First, it’s important to have a catchy melody. “Sunny” is a great example of this – the melody is memorable and easy to sing along to. Second, psychedelic rock should include interesting instrumentation to create an otherworldly sound. The sitar in “Sunny” is a perfect example of this. Finally, it’s important to create a sense of mood and atmosphere in your songs. “Sunny” creates a summery, happy feeling that makes listeners want to smile and dance along.