VINYL RELICS/Things! (1968): Merrell Fankhauser’s Lost Psych-Pop Treasure

EPYSODE 60: "Things!" by Merrell Fankhauser & H.M.S. Bounty.

Guest: Merrell Fankhauser.

Additional commentary by Uncle Herff.

This week we resurrect one of the most intriguing and overlooked gems of the psychedelic era: "Things!", the lone LP by Merrell Fankhauser and H.M.S. Bounty.

With exclusive commentary from Merrell himself, we journey through the album’s sun-soaked melodies, acid-drenched lyrics, and fuzzed-out textures that reflect California’s transition from surf rock innocence to psychedelic introspection. Hear the backstory behind the tracks plus tales from the band’s brief brush with fame.

We explore how Fankhauser’s surf and folk-rock pedigree (The Impacts, Fapardokly) evolved into something stranger and more visionary, making "Things! " a cult classic among garage-psych collectors and psychedelic historians alike.

Whether you’re a crate-digger, lysergic listener, or new to the psych-pop underground, this epysode is a front-row seat to the making of a lost masterpiece.

I hope you dig "Things!" as much as I do.

- Farmer John

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===THE MUSIC===

Songs used in this Epysode, in order of appearance. Here's a link to a Spotify playlist for all the tracks featured:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1iWlPhXKF0MZB7xMGUpjQB?si=cf7688c8e1a9444b

JOHN KONGOS "He's Gonna Step On You Again"

THE IMPACTS “Revellion”

THE IMPACTS “Wipe Out"

MERRELL & THE EXILES “Can’t We Get Along”

MERRELL & THE EXILES “Run Baby Run”

MERRELL & THE EXILES “Tomorrow’s Girl”

FAPARDOKLY “Mr. Clock”

FAPARDOKLY “Lila”

FAPARDOKLY “Gone To Pot”

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "Things (Goin' Round In My Mind)

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "Girl (I'm Waiting For You)

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "What Does She See In You"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "Lost In The City"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "Your Painted Lives"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "Drivin' Sideways (Down A One Way Street)"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "In A Minute Not Too Soon"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "A Visit With Ashiya"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "The Big Gray Sky"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "Rich Man's Fable"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "Ice Cube Island"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "Madame Silky"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY "I'm Flying Home"

MERRELL FANKHAUSER “Tampa Run”

MU "Mumbella Baye Tu La"

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