New Fruit From Old Seeds: The Rare Sky Saxon Volume One
by Sky Saxon and The Seeds
1983 album
New Fruit From Old Seeds — The Rare Sky Saxon Volume One was released in 1983 by Archive International Productions (AIP) of Hollywood, and was a compilation of early Sky Saxon solo songs and tracks from The Seeds’ final three singles of 1970-2. Its track listing is similar to Bad Part Of Town, another 1983 Seeds rarities compilation, though it does contain one song not available anywhere else before or since: a live version of "A Thousand Shadows" from The Joey Bishop Show by The Seeds, 1967.
As for the early 1960s pre-Seeds Sky Saxon songs, New Fruit From Old Seeds includes both 1962 Ritchie Marsh sides, "They Say" b/w “Darling I Swear That It’s True”; both Sky Saxon and The Soul-Rockers songs from 1964, "Go Ahead And Cry" b/w "They Say" (re-recorded version); and both of the other 1964 sides, "Do The Swim" b/w "Trouble With My Baby" by Sky Saxon and The Electra-Fires. (The Soul-Rockers’ version of "They Say" is the only song on New Fruit From Old Seeds not also appearing on Bad Part Of Town — “Darling I Swear That It’s True” was not on that LP but is on the CD version.)
All six songs released by Sky Saxon’s final versions of The Seeds from 1970-2 are included on New Fruit From Old Seeds as well: "Bad Part Of Town", "Did He Die", "Love In A Summer Basket" and "Wish Me Up" (all from 1970 on MGM); and "Shuckin' And Jiving" b/w "You Took Me By Surprise" (from a privately released 7″ on Productions Unlimited in 1972 — The Seeds’ final release). Note that "Shuckin' And Jiving" is not sung by Sky Saxon but by its composer Richard Barcelona.
The live TV version of "A Thousand Shadows", which includes a brief interview with The Seeds about their live schedule, is chopped up and in appalling sound quality, having apparently been recorded on a tape through a TV speaker. It remains this compilation’s only raison d’être, unfortunately, and the only unique thing about it. New Fruit From Old Seeds is only available on vinyl LP, there being no real reason to release it on CD anymore.
The cover, however, is nice-looking, and even depicts “SKY SAXON” spelled out in bananas. Where else can you see that? With its striking black and yellow color scheme, and photo of a young Sky lurking dementedly in a field of tall grass, it would make a good display piece. Despite the album’s subtitle (The Rare Sky Saxon Volume One), there never was a Volume Two, and unless you really want to hear the unlistenable TV recording, you’re better off getting Bad Part Of Town and Sky Saxon Presents “A Starlight Date With Richard Marsh instead.
Track listing
1. "Go Ahead And Cry" — 1964 single by Sky Saxon and The Soul-Rockers
2. "They Say" — 1964 single by Sky Saxon and The Soul-Rockers
3. "They Say" — 1962 single by Ritchie Marsh
4. “Darling I Swear That It’s True” — 1962 single by Ritchie Marsh
5. "Do The Swim" — 1964 single by Sky Saxon and The Electra-Fires
6. "Trouble With My Baby" — 1964 single by Sky Saxon and The Electra-Fires
7. "A Thousand Shadows" — performance from The Joey Bishop Show, 1967
8. "Bad Part Of Town" — 1970 single by The Seeds
9. "Love In A Summer Basket" — 1970 single by The Seeds
10. "Did He Die" — 1970 single by The Seeds
11. "Wish Me Up" — 1970 single by The Seeds
12. "Shuckin' And Jiving" — 1972 single by The Seeds (without Sky Saxon)
13. "You Took Me By Surprise" — 1972 single by The Seeds
