RidingEasy Records have just released a retrospective collection from American Psychedelic Rockers Parchment Farm on May 24th, 2024. The label also released the single “Midnight Ride,” stream it through the YouTube player below:
Over the course of about five years beginning in late 1968, several musicians living in eastern Missouri Rocked the area clubs and festivals with a mix of cover and heavy original songs. The band’s name, Parchment Farm, came from a song on Blue Cheer’s debut LP, “Vincebus Eruptum.”
RidingEasy Records states: “We have been on a crazy streak lately and it’s not slowing down. This album is so amazing! Spanning from recordings from 1968-1972. This batch of tunes really smokes and ticks off all the boxes. This is some of the same guys out of the same camp as Back Jack, there is tons of photos, even videos! Parchment Farm played with greats such as ZZ Top and Alice Cooper but never released a record….until now.
Tune in and make sure you play it for your neighbors too!”
Over the course of about five years beginning in late 1968, several musicians living in eastern Missouri rocked the area clubs and festivals with a mix of cover and Heavy original songs. The band’s name, Parchment Farm, came from a song on Blue Cheer’s debut LP, “Vincebus Eruptum.”
Parchment Farm 1.0
Mike Watermann (drums), Paul Cockrum (guitar, vocals), Ace Williams (bass, vocals), Gary Reed (keyboards; RIP)
According to Mike Watermann, original drummer for Parchment Farm, their first gig was in late 1968.
Parchment Farm 1.0 was an opening act for the following:
Sons of Champlin, sometime in early August and/or November 26, 1969 at The Rainy Daze Club (Dates for Sons of Champlin shows are according to a post on The Rainy Daze Facebook page. That Parchment Farm 1.0 was an opening act is per Mike Watermann).
Brian Auger & Trinity on July 7, 1970 at The Rainy Daze Club (per Mike Watermann).
NOTE: Parchment Farm 1.0 played with another local band, Burlington Route at The Rainy Daze Club on January 9, 1970.
Parchment Farm 2.0
Mike Dulany (drums, vocals; RIP), Paul Cockrum (guitar, vocals), Ace Williams (bass, vocals)
In early 1971, Mike Dulany (RIP) became the drummer and they were, now, a 3-piece band. The development of original songs ramped up and they began playing and recording them right away.
Parchment Farm 2.0 was an opening act for the following:
ZZ Top on July 29, 1972 at the Airway Drive-In Theater, St. Louis, MO.
Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes on October 14, 1971 at the Shrine Mosque in Springfield, MO.
Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes on January 29, 1972 at the Columbia, MO National Guard.
Velvet Underground & Brownsville Station on August 29, 1971 at Fun Valley Lake in Pacific, MO.
Parchment Farm 3.0
Sometime in late 1972, Mike Lusher became the drummer and the band added a keyboardist, Cliff King. They expanded the repertoire by playing songs by The Moody Blues, YES, etc. At some point after February, 1973, Cliff left the band and was replaced by Mike “Scotty” Scott, a young Keith Emerson follower that owned a Moog and played the flute.
Parchment Farm 3.0 (presumably with Mike Scott) was an opening act for the following:
Canned Heat, The Hollies and Rare Earth on Sunday, May 27, 1973 in Evansville, Indiana (as reported in the Evansville Press on May 28, 1973)
REO Speedwagon on August 18, 1973 at the Rollins Music Festival near Villa Ridge, MO.
Parchment Farm disbanded in late 1973.
Purchase and Stream the album here: https://ridingeasy.ffm.to/pfarm.OYD
Tracklist:
01. Songs Of The Dead
02. Midnight Ride
03. Devil’s Film Festival
04. Medici
05. Summer’s Comin’ Soon
06. Blind Man
07. Blue Skies Comin’
08. My Lady
09. Friends Or Lovers
10. Mind Trip
11. Concrete Jungle
12. If I’m Elected I Will Not Serve
