COLOR VINYL. 200 COPIES ONLY! BLACK VINYL VERSION COMING SOON!!!
Once Upon A Twilight stands alongside the finest British pop-psych of 1968—an ambitious, original Australian masterpiece.
After four years of relentless touring and live performance, Adelaide-born The Twilights had become one of Australia’s leading bands. Their second and final album, Once Upon A Twilight, found the band moving beyond the hit-making formula of the day into sophisticated, adventurous pop-psych.
Following a formative, if unsuccessful, 1966–67 trip to Britain, the band returned home determined to raise its musical and recording standards. Their exposure to the cutting edge of the London scene — together with their legendary, note-perfect live performance of the entire Sgt. Pepper album — helped fuel a remarkable creative leap.
Recorded in early 1968 at Bill Armstrong’s Melbourne studio, using Australia’s recently installed 8-track technology, the album brought together the songwriting of guitarist Terry Britten, the distinctive vocals of Glenn Shorrock, and the talents of the entire six-piece ensemble. Orchestral arrangements by Johnny Hawker and production by David Mackay added further colour and sophistication.
Of the fifteen tracks recorded, all but two were written by Britten. The material ranges from melodic, playful pop to darker, psychedelic and lightly science-fiction-inspired territory. Tracks such as “Mr Nice,” “Stop The World For A Day,” “Blue Roundabout,” “Take Action,” “Bessemae,” “Devendra” and “Paternosta Row” reveal a band willing to experiment while retaining its formidable melodic and rhythmic strengths.
The album’s release was delayed until October 1968, partly because plans for the proposed Once Upon A Twilight television series collapsed after Ford withdrew its funding. By then, anticipation had faded, and the record was soon overlooked. Yet contemporary critic Ed Nimmervoll called it “the most important pop record ever made in Australia.” The Twilights disbanded soon afterwards, playing their final shows in February 1969.
In the decades since, however, Once Upon A Twilight has undergone a remarkable reassessment, recognized as a major 1968 pop-psych recording.
Faithful reproduction of original gatefold sleeve including pop-up centrefold. First time vinyl reissue sourced from original masters. Four panel insert with photos and liner notes. Annotated and remastered by Grammy-nominated archivist Alec Palao.
RIYL: Hollies, Blossom Toes, Beatles, Pretty Things, Idle Race, July, Small Faces…
