Tintern Abbey – Beeside (UK Freakbeat 1967)

Tintern Abbey released only one 45rpm single on Deram Records, “Beeside”/”Vacuum Cleaner” (Deram 164), in December 1967. Produced by Jonathan Webber, the single failed to sell, and its follow-up, “How Do I Feel Today” / “Do What You Must”, was slated for an April 1968 release but never appeared. A full-length LP was allegedly meant to follow in August 1968, but the group had disbanded by then. The group was originally founded in 1967 by guitarist Don Smith and singer David Mactavish who then recruited John Dalton and Stuart Mckay to the band.It was this line up that recorded the Beeside/Vacuum cleaner single.At this point the proposed follow up was a song called “Snowman” which had reached mastering stage when Smith left the group to be replaced by Paul Brett. Lead singer/songwriter David MacTavish was later a member of Big Bertha and Velvet Opera, the latter of which latter-day Tintern Abbey guitarist Paul Brett also later joined.[1] Other band members were, at various times, Terry Goldberg (organist, originally of the Mark Leeman Five), Stuart McKay (bass), John Dalton (Drums), Don Smith (Guitar). Since the band’s breakup, the single has been highly sought after by collectors (selling at £1000 plus) and has been hailed as one of the best examples of British psychedelia.[2][3][4] As such, the band has become something of a cult favorite. Among other places, “Vacuum Cleaner” was re-released on the Nuggets II compilation. A 7″ vinyl EP was released in 2006 of 4 of the …