Biography
Collectors sometimes place Thorinshield in the sunshine pop category, yet the trio favored a direct rock approach that avoided the airy style associated with many California acts carrying that tag. Their only release, an obscure self-titled LP from 1968, clearly reflected the melodic rock and vocal-harmony style of the Beatles’ 1966–1967 recordings while incorporating the ornate orchestration, studio experimentation, and dreamily hopeful romantic lyrics then gaining traction across much of pop. Traces of the polished folk-rock sound linked to Southern California also surface, alongside occasional baroque melodic and instrumental touches. The result was an agreeable, upbeat album that benefited from solid production and vocals far less airy than typical sunshine pop, though the songs lacked the staying power of stronger artists sharing similar ground.
The group’s lineup consisted of drummer Terry Hand, previously of the Everpresent Fullness, guitarist James Smith, and bassist Bobby Ray, who had contributed session work to Donovan’s 1966 album Sunshine Superman. Donovan’s imprint stands out especially on the stronger Thorinshield cuts “One Girl” and the non-album single “Family of Man.” Top Los Angeles session saxophonist Steve Douglas handled production, with Perry Botkin, Jr. serving as arranger. The record attracted little attention, and the band dissolved after issuing the follow-up 45 “Family of Man”/“Lonely Mountain Again.” Hand later played with another obscure psychedelic pop outfit, the Moon, while Bobby Ray issued the 1970 solo album Initiation of a Mystic. In 2006 the Thorinshield LP returned to compact disc, augmented by the two tracks from the non-album single.
The group’s lineup consisted of drummer Terry Hand, previously of the Everpresent Fullness, guitarist James Smith, and bassist Bobby Ray, who had contributed session work to Donovan’s 1966 album Sunshine Superman. Donovan’s imprint stands out especially on the stronger Thorinshield cuts “One Girl” and the non-album single “Family of Man.” Top Los Angeles session saxophonist Steve Douglas handled production, with Perry Botkin, Jr. serving as arranger. The record attracted little attention, and the band dissolved after issuing the follow-up 45 “Family of Man”/“Lonely Mountain Again.” Hand later played with another obscure psychedelic pop outfit, the Moon, while Bobby Ray issued the 1970 solo album Initiation of a Mystic. In 2006 the Thorinshield LP returned to compact disc, augmented by the two tracks from the non-album single.