John’s Children (July 22 1967) – “Come and Play with Me in the Garden” Review – Melody Maker

This short review from July 1967 praises John’s Children’s new single Come and Play with Me in the Garden on Track Records. Following the near‑success of Desdemona, the piece describes the band’s latest release as loud, forceful, and perfectly tuned to the flower‑power groove of the era.

Publication: Music Paper   Date: July 22 1967 Country: United Kingdom

The review notes that after Desdemona narrowly missed the charts, John’s Children quickly returned with another energetic and original track. The writer highlights the group’s “urgent sound propelling all the time and attacking nicely,” calling the single a “commercial record right in the flower‑power groove.” The tone is enthusiastic, predicting success based on the strong reaction to their previous release.

CONTEXT AND NOTES  

John’s Children were known for their flamboyant performances and early association with Marc Bolan, who briefly joined the band before launching Tyrannosaurus Rex.

This review reflects the optimism surrounding their music during the height of the British psychedelic scene, when Track Records was home to acts like The Who and Jimi Hendrix.

The language and imagery typify the “flower‑power” press style of the late 1960s.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS  

Event: Release of Come and Play with Me in the Garden single Era: 1967 – British Psychedelic Pop Period Tone: Upbeat, colourful, and promotional Photography: Text‑only column; no accompanying image

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Headline: “John’s Children: ‘Come and Play with Me in the Garden’ (Track Records)”

• Review referencing Desdemona and predicting chart success

• Psychedelic phrasing typical of 1967 music journalism

• Compact newspaper layout with justified text

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

---