The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA.
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001. It features music from countries such as Iceland, Uruguay, and Japan. I’m profiling and rating each of the 109 tracks, working backwards.
Track 73—Path Through The Forest by The Factory
From: London, England
10
Credits
3/19. PATH THROUGH THE FOREST – The Factory (U.K.)
(Rollings)
PERSONNEL/JACK BRAND: bass, vocals * IAN OATES: guitar * BILL MacLEOD: drums
Produced by DAMON LYON-SHAW & BRIAN CARROLL for EDDIE TRE-VETT PRODUCTIONS
Recorded in London, England
MGM single #1444 (1968)
The Factory
There’s little information out there about The Factory. They cut two singles in the late 1960s, and featured a 16-year-old drummer and a 17-year-old guitarist. They were originally named Souvenir Badge Factory.
Path Through The Forest
The Factory didn’t record many songs, but ‘Path Through The Forest’ is phenomenal. It’s driven by a kind of proto-motorik beat, with a cold, driving verse – it hits a unique spot between Krautrock and psychedelia. Best of all are the guitar solos, spidery and haunting.
A stellar piece of British psychedelia, “Path Through The Forest” is as memorable as it is obscure. The distorted, megaphone-style vocals were a common affectation of the era, but combined with the careful blend of simple, droning rhythm and soaring lead guitars, a magical, otherworldly mood is created, transporting the listener to a place amidst the light and shadow of the trees.
Mike Stax, Nuggets II liner notes
The band cut some other cool songs in their meagre discography. Here’s ‘Try A Little Sunshine’:
The Aftermath
Despite some obvious talent, the three members of The Factory vanished without a trace. The single’s now a coveted collector’s item – the median price on eBay is US $1,350.
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Great stuff, excellent British psychedelia. Can’t see spending $1,350 for a single, though, unless it’s a never-before-seen, Paramount label, country blues ’78 from the 1920s or ’30s!
Yeah, it’s hard to comprehend spending that much on physical media at this point, unless it’s signed or something.
“Path Through the Forest” is a pretty cool song – very trippy! “Try a Little Sunshine” sounds neat as well. Too bad The Factory didn’t go further. They clearly had potential.
Yeah, it’s a shame. I think they mostly did covers – might be hard to make a lasting career in that era if you didn’t write, but lots of talent there.
Wonderful songs! I like Path Through The Forest…that is a great sounding song of the period. The guitar has that sixties sustain style…I like everything about it. I also like the other song as well. It’s a shame they weren’t more well known or stuck it out a little longer.
One of my favourites from Nuggets II so far too.
I agree…with me as well.