Singles and Rarities

 Whilst the Magic Mushroom Band shares members with

Astralasia, the Magic Mushroom Band has been a working

band for far longer. The band first came together in 1982 when

they first began playing their brand of "Psychedelic Space Pop".

It was said that one of the original members Kim Russell AKA

Kim OZ was discovered by another founder member Gary

Masters AKA Gary Moonboot when he heard her singing in the

bath and promptly climbed through the bathroom window and

invited her to join the band. In addition to becoming a member

of the Magic Mushroom Band Kim has subsequently become

Mrs. Masters. The band has had many members over the year

with members sometimes coming and going in twos or threes,

although the core trio of Masters, Russell and Guitarist Gary

Twining have remained throughout the band's history. Initially

the band released a limited edition cassette, which was limited

to a run of 1,000 copies. The cassette idea was to remain

popular even while the band were releasing proper albums and

all of these cassettes are now highly prized collectors items

The band has also released nine albums in the period 1982

through to 1994.In 1990 members of the Magic Mushroom Band

embarked on what was to be initially an offshoot band or part

time project if you like. This project was the Ambient trance band

Astralasia which although sharing members of the Mushroom

band were actually more dance oriented than the Mushies as

they were now known. By 1992 however, the band were devoting

about 50% of their time to the offshoot band Astralasia and

were experimenting more and more with the ambient dance

led direction of that band which has continued up to the present

while the Mushroom Band have been on indefinite hold since

1995.

This CD brings together all the singles and rarities that have

otherwise been released by The Magic Mushroom Band since

their inception in 1982. Included on the CD are many cover

versions that have appeared as B-sides or bonus tracks such

as the Byrds Eight Miles High and a version of Pink Floyds Set

The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun. Other tracks of note

are those tracks that initially appeared on the limited cassette

only releases at the start of the bands career. In keeping with

the rest of the Magic Mushroom Bands back catalogue this

album has been re mastered for release. 

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