As one of the weakest Rubble volumes of late-'60s (mostly) U.K. psych rarities, this has none of the items that most aficionados would consider to be core classics in the genre, and some that only marginally fit into the category at all. Certainly something like Mint's "Love by Numbers" is more middling, late-'60s British pop than psychedelic;
Dreams' "Softly, Softly" is very average soul-rock with a fuzz guitar riff blatantly copped from
the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"; and Carriage Company's "Feel Right" is MOR pop with rather overwrought vocals, albeit with some psychedelic echo in the singing. Even the biggest names here are not represented by their more noteworthy moments. The Ace Kefford Stand (led by the former
Move member) single "Gravy Booby Jamm" is as unappetizingly heavy as its title;
the Pretty Things' "Grey Skies" is a secondary item from the Even More Electric Banana soundtrack; and St. Valentines Day Massacre's "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," a desultory finale from
the Artwoods using a different name. So what can you say that's good about this anthology? Well, Gary Walker & the Rain (led by the ex-
Walker Brother) play some fair storming mod-psych on "Francis"; the Chasers' "Inspiration" is a good R&B-mod pounder; and the Remo Four's "Live Like a Lady" is decent mod-soul with organ.
Glass Orchid Aftermath was reissued on CD in 2003 as one of the ten discs in the box set The Rubble Collection Volumes 11-20. ~ Richie Unterberger