Thunderclap Newman ● Hollywood Dream

I’m not sure Thunderclap Newman is the best candidate for The "I-Own-Every-Record-You’d-Never-Buy" CD Consumer’s Guide—the band’s “Something in the Air” was a worldwide hit in 1969—but the dismal commercial failure of the single’s accompanying album means you probably don’t own a copy. I do, of course, and am happy to report that Hollywood Dream fits nicely in between albums by Three Man Army and Touch. Assembled by The Who’s Pete Townsend to help promote the songs of lead singer John “Speedy” Keene, Thunderclap Newman’s falsetto-based, acoustic-driven “Something in the Air” is a brilliant four minutes of ethereal melodic rock. It’s the best song on a record full of unusual twists and pleasant surprises. “The Reason” and “When I Think” are like-minded numbers, both employing the band’s unique vocal approach amidst an almost dreamy musical backdrop. The remaining nine tracks include an odd yet effective collection of funky piano breaks (“Hollywood #1), punchy guitar leads (“Wild Country”) and progressive-tinged elements of psychedelia (the lengthy “Accidents”). Thunderclap Newman disappeared in a flash, although that didn't spell the end for at least one of its members. Guitarist Jimmy McCulloch played with Stone the Crows and Paul McCartney’s Wings before ending his career with a band called The Dukes. He passed away from a drug overdose in 1979 at the age of 26.

Notes: Pianist Andy “Thunderclap” Newman recently assembled a new version of the band (www.thunderclapnewman.com/tn/). Oh, and here is an audio-only YouTube clip of “Something in the Air:” www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_srFu5slZU.