Classic Song 23 - The Collectors "Lydia Purple"

Let's talk about classic music, folks. 

Rare, little known, but seminal, classic Canadian music.

Like The Collectors' second nationwide hit single, "Lydia Purple".

Released in 1968, as a followup to "Looking At A Baby", 

"Lydia..." totally captivated me and made me wanna grow 

up, real quick, move to Vancouver and be a tie-dyed in 

the wool hippie, somewhere down in Kitsilano.

In less than 2 minutes and fifty seconds, "Lydia Purple" paints

a fantastic picture of psychedelia, describing a young damsel

who 'lived in a steeple, tall by nature, coloured by people',

all the while, 'writing sonets daily, drinking apple tea'.

Needless to say, I became instantly hungry for, 

and fascinated by, all things 'Collectors'. 

You could say I became a Collectors collector.

Led by original lead singer, Howie Vickers, future Chilliwack

guitarist, Bill henderson and multi-instrumentalist, Claire 

Lawrence, The Collectors to me were easily as worldly 

and musically adventurous as The Moody Blues 

and as innovative, vocally as The Association 

or The Mamas and The Papas.

Except that they were Canadian! Just like little ol' me.

Check out two videos of "Lydia Purple": the first one displays

the rich album cover for their eponymous debut album, while

the second reveals vintage glimpses of both The Collectors

and Vancouver in the late 60s, when Fourth Avenue

 was the centre of the known hippie universe.

First, meditate, high up in the Mosby treehouse 

(circa 1970) with my big brother, Ken.

Mozz the Elder

www.vapormusic.com