Despite possessing one of the most memorable names in rock music history and leaving behind a musical legacy deserving a much better fate, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy were one of the most underappreciated recording artists of their time.

Cherry Red Records has compiled the group’s released catalog, supplemented by previously unissued acetate, demo and home recordings, one hundred sixteen tracks total, in a new five disc box set ‘The Most Up Till Now-A History 1966-1970’ issued on its Strawberry Records imprint.

The box set’s discs are organized, chronologically and thematically, with the group’s earliest, pre-LP recordings, some included on a sampler album along with demo and acetate versions of tunes from their debut long player composing the first. Discs two through four are devoted to The Peanut Butter Conspiracy’s three studio albums, supplemented by single sides, alternative and demo versions, and takes included on compilation releases as well as film soundtrack recordings by band members. The set is completed by a disc of fifteen previously unreleased live tracks, recorded by the group in its finest hour, just previous to the appearance of the band’s second album, at Eagle Auditorium in Seattle, Washington.

Disc one opens with four tracks recorded in August 1966 by the original lineup: Barbara “Sandi” Robison (lead vocals), Lance Fent (lead guitar, vocals), John Merrill (vocals, 12-string guitar), Alan Brackett (vocals, bass, guitar) and Jim Voigt (drums). The tunes appeared on Vault Records’ sampler LP ‘West Coast Love-in’ which was issued in May 1967, with “Time Is After You” and “Floating Dream” selected for single release . The songs were representative of the band’s live performances, showcasing the group’s guitar driven psychedelic rock instrumental work with gorgeous vocal harmonies, bringing to mind a blend of fellow West Coast acts The Jefferson Airplane and The Mamas & The Papas. The disc features tracks recorded but unreleased until making appearances on 2005 compilations on the Sundazed and Big Beat labels, highlighted by “Free” and “In The Middle” tunes penned by Brackett and Fent portraying the failing marriage of Sandi Robison and future Clear Light guitarist Robbie Robison. The disc is completed by acetate versions of tracks which appeared on the band’s 1967 Columbia Records debut album and home recordings produced by bassist Brackett making their first appearance on this set.

Disc two begins with the eleven tracks comprising ‘The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading’ issued in March 1967. The LP, which peaked at #196 on the Billboard Hot 200 Album charts, is a mix of fuzzed out psychedelic rock and melodic tunes showcasing the band’s vocal harmonies, but the sound was tamed by the work of Columbia Records’ producer Gary Usher. Among the album’s highlights are the Brackett penned tunes “It’s A Happening Thing”, which opens the long player, and the box set’s title track, along with Merrill’s “Dark On You Now” and “Twice Is Life.” The group’s lone track to reach the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, “It’s A Happening Thing” is a melodic fuzz rocker, featuring a mix of male and female vocals with Fent’s tasty lead line and solo, with Brackett and Voigt holding a rock solid rhythm. “The Most Up Till Now” is in the same vein with Merrill’s guitar accents and tasty tempo changes making the song a strong prospect for single release. “Dark On You Now”, sung by Robison, is a hot rocker, with a driving beat and fiery lead line from Fent, while “Twice Is Life” combines male and female lead vocals with Fent offering outstanding guitar work. The album is balanced out by melodic tunes like Merrill’s “Then Came Love” with strings adding to the vocal harmonies and “Second Hand Man,” a relaxed, melodic pop rocker, again reminiscent of The Mamas & The Papas. The disc contains thirteen bonus tracks, including the mono single versions of “It’s A Happening Thing” and “Dark On You Now” which are much heavier and representative of the band’s natural sound than the album takes. Other highlights are the Brackett penned, aptly titled “Flight Of The Psychedelic Bumble Bee” and John Merrill’s mid-tempo quirky rocker “Light Bulb Blues” featuring the deep groove of Brackett and Voigt and a memorable Fent solo.

Disc three opens with the eleven tracks from the group’s sophomore album, October 1967’s ‘The Great Conspiracy.’ The LP was recorded with the core of Robison, Merrill, Brackett and Voigt, with interim member Mike Kollander on four tracks before Bill Wolff took over as the permanent lead guitarist playing on the remaining seven tunes. The album begins with Brackett’s Eastern influenced West Coast rocker “Turn On A Friend (To The Good Life)” a commercially accessible tune with gorgeous harmony vocals, but failed to chart when issued as a single. The album includes two tracks reminiscent of The Jefferson Airplane, each exceeding six minutes, affording The Peanut Butter Conspiracy an opportunity to show their instrumental prowess, Brackett’s “Too Many Do” featuring Kollander on lead, and Merrill’s “Ecstasy,” with Wolff. Both tunes included steady, heavy beats courtesy of Brackett and Voigt as well as the band’s signature vocal harmonies. Another highlight is a reworking of “Time Is After You” with chugging guitars, tasty tempo changes and a soaring solo by Wolff. The album closer is the driving rocker “Wonderment” with mouth harp giving the track a bluesy feel. The disc includes thirteen bonus tracks, two pop rock single sides “I’m A Fool” and “It’s So Hard”, as well as numerous alternative and demo versions, a solo Robison side, and a Great Conspiracy radio spot.

Disc four begins with the ten tracks included on ‘For Children Of All Ages’ an LP issued on the Challenge Records label in 1969, following the band being dropped by Columbia. The tracks were originally intended as a side-project by Brackett. The core of Brackett, Merritt and Robison were joined by keyboard player Ralph Schuckett, with Pete McQueen and Michael Ney contributing drums. The material is mostly keyboard driven, mid-tempo pop rock, with Brackett composing eight of the tunes as well as producing the album. The long player’s standout track, the heavy, garage influenced psychedelic rocker “Back In L.A.” was issued as a single in August, 1969, but failed to chart, despite the strong performance of Schuckett on keys and the tight rhythm section of Brackett and McQueen. Other strong tracks include the mid-tempo balladish “It’s Alright” with strings complementing Robison’s gorgeous vocals and Schuckett’s keys, as well as the gentle, slower tempoed, keyboard driven ballad “Gonna Get You Home.” The disc contains six tracks recorded at the time of the album but not issued until their inclusion on a 2005 expanded version on the Collectables label, as well as three previously unreleased cuts recorded in 1968 and 1969, produced by Brackett. Also included are nine tracks recorded by members of the band in Hollywood between 1968 and 1969 which were included on movie soundtracks, completing the studio recordings by members of The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, many tracks making their first appearances on this box set.

Disc five is the true gem of ‘The Most Up Till Now’ containing fifteen tracks, seventy minutes total, recorded live by the band, with Bill Wolff on lead guitar, over a two day period, September 16 and 17, 1967, just a month before the release of ‘The Great Conspiracy.’ Live the Peanut Butter Conspiracy were a truly formidable psychedelic rock force. Unrestrained by the pressure of their label or its producer their sound was a mix of heavy rock and gorgeous, melodic vocals. The recordings, issued for the first time, include material from the 1967 Vault sampler, tracks from both Columbia albums and extant single tracks, and a rare blues number, featuring a rare vocal appearance by lead guitarist Bill Wolff, while affording the band an opportunity to stretch tunes out and exhibit their instrumental prowess. “Wonderment” rocks, led by Wolff’s lead line, with mouth harp adding a hint of blues. Fuzz rocker “Dark On You” features a heavy riff supplied by Merrill, along with gorgeous vocals by Robison. “Captain Sandwich” presents the group’s vocal harmonies with Wolff adding a smoking solo. “You Took Too Much” exemplifies the band’s versatility, with their luscious vocals dominating the gorgeous arrangement. “Time Is After You” goes back to the group’s earliest recordings, its driving garage sound joined by smooth tempo changes. “Junker Blues” is a showcase for Wolff, his roaring lead line and bluesy vocals leading the way to a smoking solo, with mouth harp adding flavor. “Living, Loving, Life” displays Robison’s vocals before the band kicks it into high gear with a driving beat and incendiary Wolff solo. “Pleasure” has Robison’s vocals to the fore, a pleasant mid-tempo take with Wolff adding a subdued lead line. “Lonely Wolf” continues in the same vein before the band turns the heat up mid-tune, with Wolff’s lead line and solo taking charge. The band stretches out on its eight and a half minute blues influenced delivery of “Ecstasy.” “Turn On A Friend (To The Good Life)” is transformed from its mid-tempo pop rock studio version thanks to the deep groove of Merrill, Brackett and Voigt, maintaining its delicate vocal harmonies while Woff delivers another memorable solo. Brackett, Voigt and Merrill deliver a relaxed, tight performance on “Living Dream” while Wolff’s subdued lead line and solo gently accompany. The band perfectly blends its vocal harmonies and instrumental prowess on the seven minute performance of “Too Many Do” as The Peanut Butter Conspiracy again shows its ability to effortlessly match The Jefferson Airplane or The Mamas & The Papas when given the opportunity. The disc, and box set, end with a showstopping, rocked out rendition of the band’s signature song “It’s A Happening Thing” relaxedly stretched to eight and a half minutes, the tune maintaining its accessible melody but with added tempo changes and an extended break by Wolff, as the crowd is left excitedly calling for more. The tune is absolutely the perfect ending to an incredible performance which has waited nearly sixty years for release, lovingly and caringly preserved by Brackett.

‘The Most Up Till Now-A History 1966-1970’ comes in a clamshell box with each of its five discs in its own cardboard mini-LP sleeve. The box set includes a lavishly illustrated forty page booklet with band photos, album and single artwork, and other memorabilia. The set, compiled by Alan Brackett, Gray Newell and Alec Palao includes liner notes and an extensive essay by Newell, along with track notes by Palao, who also sequenced, restored and mastered the recordings. Without question the last word on The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, this box set will be of interest to fans of psychedelic rock, 1960s rock, as well as classic rock in general and comes most highly recommended.

Kevin Rathert

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy – ‘The Most Up Till Now-A History 1966-1970’ (Cherry Red Records, 2025)