Perhaps kicked into action due to the inclusion of
Scrugg's "I Wish I Was Five" on Rhino's second Nuggets box from the year prior, the Castle label issued
Lavender Popcorn: 1966-1969, which digs deep into the discography of eccentric psych-pop musician
John Kongos. Prior to the period documented here,
Kongos had several records under his belt as a South African artist, which were popular there but failed to translate elsewhere. Upon his 1966 relocation to England, he headed the short-lived bands
Floribunda Rose (one single) and
Scrugg (three singles) and then went solo. This anthology ties up everything from
Floribunda Rose and
Scrugg, while adding some unreleased material.
Kongos' first solo album, 1969's Confusions About a Goldfish, is also included in its entirety. Though it doesn't include significant later singles like "Tokoloshe Man" and "He's Gonna Step on You Again," the disc is rather essential for psych-pop completists. ~ Andy Kellman