"Motor-Cycle transported me back to the '60s in a way not many records do...There's no irony or second-guessing: Golden's all in, a psychedelic daughter of the Beat generation, among her equally hippie cohort, in swirls of free-loving, drug-chasing, multiracial, pan-sexual abandon... The album is a mother lode, not unlike Daniel Johnston or The Shaggs, say, for its multi-level fascination."  High Moon Records has quoted groundbreaking punk legend Richard Hell in describing Lotti Golden's 1969 album Motor-Cycle, which the label is reissuing in an expanded edition on March 28.

The singer-songwriter's Atlantic LP remains an album that could only have been produced in the late '60s - a melting pot of experimentation and innovation "produced and directed" by a legend of the era, Bob Crewe.  The Newark, New Jersey native was one of music's true renaissance men.  An architecture student and onetime fashion model, Crewe flourished behind-the-scenes.  As a young man, he and co-writer Frank Slay spearheaded hits for The Rays ("Silhouettes") and Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon ("Tallahassee Lassie").  He formed his first record label, XYZ, in 1957, and within five short years had launched the most enduring partnership of his career when he met fellow Jersey boy Bob Gaudio and took the creative rains to introduce Gaudio's band, The Four Seasons.  Not only did Crewe write lyrics to Gaudio's rich melodies, but he was credited on the Seasons' debut LP with production, arrangement, conducting the orchestra, and even designing the cover artwork.  Crafting this gutsy new sound - melding street-corner doo-wop harmonies with a vibrant, modern beat - might have been enough to content some producers, but Crewe diversified.  He started the DynoVox (later DynoVoice) label in 1964, encouraging the career of Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels.  He hit the top 20 under his own name two years later with The Bob Crewe Generation's groovy "Music to Watch Girls By;" the subsequent Crewe label launched another star with the single-named Oliver ("Good Morning Starshine," "Jean").  It was against this heady backdrop that Lotti Golden met Bob Crewe.

Always on the lookout for new and different sounds, Crewe was enamored with New York native Golden's singular and unusual compositions.  He brought her demos to Atlantic Records, where Ahmet Ertegun sharing his enthusiasm.  Though Golden had envisioned her song cycle to be recorded with sparse overdubs to her vocal and guitar, Crewe had grander plans.  His production for Motor-Cycle emphasized the inherent theatricality and genre-defying style of Golden's songs, bringing in varied orchestral instrumentation, rock guitars, psychedelic riffs, funky rhythms, and even a children's choir.  Composer Charles Fox, with whom Crewe had collaborated on the score to Barbarella, was enlisted to assist with the expansive arrangements.  The album would shatter any notion of conventional pop, with unexpected song structures, radical shifts in sound, stream-of-consciousness lyrics sung as various characters, and extended instrumental passages.

Though perhaps too unconventional even for the psychedelic '60s, Motor-Cycle acquired cult status as the years passed - a status which only grew due to its unavailability.  (None of its songs were even considered for single release, hampering any chances on radio, even the FM format.)  Though it's been released to digital and streaming services, High Moon's CD and LP reissue marks the first authorized physical appearance of the album since its original release.  The CD edition boasts two bonus tracks: both sides of the Crewe-helmed non-LP single "Sock It to Me Baby/It's Your Thing" b/w "Annabelle with Bells (Home Made Girl)."  These are also available on a 7-inch single bundled with High Moon's LP reissue.

Lotti Golden continued to carve out a remarkable (and remarkably varied) career in music, recording a more accessible follow-up album for GRT in 1971 and working as a rock journalist.  Later, she recorded with Limozine and electro group Warp 9; for the latter, she co-wrote, arranged, and produced their 1986 Motown album Fade In, Fade Out.  Golden frequently collaborated with remix king Arthur Baker and The Faragher Brothers' Tommy Faragher (whom she would marry), while Diana Ross, Patti Austin, Jennifer Holliday, Brenda K. Starr, Al Green, The O'Jays, and Taylor Dayne were just a few of the artists to record her compositions.  (Dayne had a top 5 hit with Golden, Faragher, and Baker's "With Every Beat of My Heart.")  Appropriately, hip-hop artists latched onto Motor-Cycle for samples.

Motor-Cycle embodies the innovative spirit which has guided Lotti Golden's career as well as that of the late Bob Crewe.  It's due from High Moon Records on March 28.  You'll find pre-order links and the track listing at the links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Lotti Golden, Motor-Cycle (Atlantic LP SD 8223, 1969 - reissued High Moon Records, 2025) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Motor-Cycle Michael
2. Gonna Fay's
3. A Lot Like Lucifer (Celia Said Long Time Loser)
4. The Space Queens (Silky is Sad)
5. Who Are Your Friends
6. Get Together (With Yourself)
7. You Can Find Him
8. Annabelle with Bells (Home Made Girl) *
9. Sock It To Me Baby/It's Your Thing *

(*) CD Only Bonus Track, from Atlantic single 45-2687, 1969​