"MUSIC EMPORIUM - MUSIC EMPORIUM" (GREAT PSYCHEDELIC 60s GARAGE US 1969)

Initially called "The Cage", "Music Emporium" was a Los Angeles creative quartet, comprised of "Dora Wahl" (drums and percussion), "Carolyn Lee" (bass guitar, vocals, piano and sometimes organ), "Dave Padwin" (lead guitar), and "Bill 'Casey' Cosby" ("Farfisa Compact Organ").
All four were either classically trained or seasoned club veterans, "Bill Cosby" himself being a UCLA music major.
"Music Emporium"'s album (Sentinel Records ‎– PC 69001, 1969) is a fascinating testimony of a different time and place.

Music Emporium: "Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo" / "Times Like This", Sentinel Records 4-501 Promo, 1969

Highly organ dominated, it has just about everything one would expect from a late 60s album: driving rhythms, heavy guitar riffs, "Farfisa Compact Organ" and cool, groovy male/female vocals by "Bill Cosby" and "Carolyn Lee" who delivers her lyrics with style.


Their solos are concise and they know how to lock into a groove without jamming aimlessly, as did so many bands of that era.
They also know how to structure songs that best display their strenghts although in retrospect, it is their softer tunes that seem to have aged better, especially those with a nice Gothic / Classical feel.
"Music Emporium" were blistering rockers with wispy melodies, with wild-eyed Psychedelic anthems: all part of the unique "Acid-Folk" vision of LA's "Music Emporium".
"Music Emporium" is a basket full of truly brain-bending sounds for the ears and minds of those who dig "The United States Of America" and other Los Angeles Psychedelic acts.

Music Emporium: "Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo" / "Times Like This", Sentinel Records 4-501, 1969

Unfortunately, a year later "Bill Cosby" got drafted and the band broke up.