OK, here we go. Bob Markley was the lead singer and lyricist for the L.A outfit, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. He was born August 29th, 1935 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was the adopted son of an oil tycoon and became a lawyer by trade but his heart wasn’t for it. He had been in a few bands already where he was only known for his lackadaisical percussion. Hollywood executives thought he was kinda hot and so they took him to L.A where they would find out he wasn’t built for the silver screen. Meanwhile but actually a bit ago are three L.A teens who decide to make a band, The Laughing Wind and due to Markley’s dream of becoming Frank Zappa, he just slid right on in there. At first, the three og members were reluctant but after realizing he was kinda rich they let him in. He oftentimes insisted on playing tambourine live & in studio. He was so out of time that they turned his mic down till it was metallic fuzz and nothing else. He dated a “hotel magnate progeny” (whatever the fuck that means) named Trisha, the subject of Carte Blanche. By the time their third album came out, Markley’s lyrics started to become more unhinged. This album features very political songs, as is expected from a hippie band from the 60’s but the opener of side 2, Queen Nympet as well as songs; Unfree Child & Delicate Fawn start to showcase a new side of our best boy here. He had a thing for young girls or at least innocence. He toned it down for their fourth album mostly with the exception of a few songs that aren’t as off-putting as the Vol. 2 material, but still. Also, in this album is a new trend for Markley, placing himself in the perspective of the little girl, further painting a picture of his psyche. But, now the contract has with Reprise has run out but they still want to make music, so bankrolled again by Marley they set out for their 5th album- Where’s My Daddy?
On the first song alone (the title track) we see a lot of interesting things. Such as a mention of his home-town, Tulsa as well a showcase of what I said earlier about placing himself in the eyes of a young innocent girl as well as a Bohemian Rhapsody reference 6 years before Bohemian Rhapsody came out. This still very much confuses me. Was he some kind of a time-traveler or something or rather? Anywhoozles, with this album, Markley’s artistic vision of innocence grows more obsessive. The songs still deal with politics but less so. At least 2/3rds of the material on this album makes me suck the air through my teeth.
Still some good songs. And for their last album they changed their name for some reason, to just “Markley” and as you might be able to tell from the title, Markley’s vision for the band fully took over, making Markley the only vocalist/lyricist. There is like three redeemable songs about a truck stop, country life and an interlude that means nothing but besides that, shit man, this guy is fucked up. It’s all pedophilia goddamn. Great musicians. Great band. Strange Tulsa Pedophile.