Opal Butterfly

Although the official recorded work of Opal Butterfly extended to just three singles (see audio extracts), Robbie Milne and I have trawled through various archives and toiled over audio processing software to bring you...

Opal Butterfly 'Complete'

1. I had too much to dream last night (demo, lowish quality)
2. Wind up toys (demo, lowish quality)
3. Beautiful Beige
4. Speak up
5. Mary Anne with the shaky hand
6. My Gration Or? (original 7 minute plus B-side version)
7. Gigging Song
8. Groupie Girl
9. My Gration Or? (remastered from the original studio tape, and with original intended faded ending)
10. Mary Anne with the shaky hand (alternative version, completely different performance/mix)
11. Groupie Girl (also from the film of the same name, but a totally different song to track 8 above!)

The CDR disc comes with ink-jet printed cover and a slightly edited version of the Opal Butterfly history recorded here.

Either Robbie or I are happy to distribute copies of Opal Butterfly - 'Complete', but you should be prepared to pay our costs, including CDR media, jewel case, artwork, packing and postage. If you contact me (Steve Litchfield), I'll normally ask £5 for a copy sent within the UK, and a little extra for postage further afield.

Here's a short review of the CD from Mike Reed:
"I'll bet many of you aren't familiar with Opal Butterfly. They're a psych band that existed for a short time in the late sixties. The band included future Hawkwind drummer Simon King(1971-79). It's been noted that Lemmy was in the band for a short time after Sam Gopal disbanded. These eleven tunes were apparently 'salvaged' from the band's actual 45's and some dust-gathering 30 year old plus cassette tapes. The first two tracks (Electric Prunes cover "I Had To Much To Dream" and "Wind Up Toys") are of muddy sounding quality, though I've heard worse. Rest assured, because after that, this CD does indeed get better. Remember, this is a recording that its existence alone is more vital than its sound quality. Really, for a true rarity as such, it's not bad. Best described as psychedelic pop, the band does appear to have some songwriting talent. The songs that I enjoyed the most were "Speak Up", "My Gration Or?" (both demo and the remastered version), the psych gem "Gigging Song" and the irresistible "Groupie Girl". Definitely aimed toward true collectors and Hawkwind completists".