Lost in time description : Shin Jung Hyun & the Donkeys - feat. Lee Jung Hwa (Korea 1969)
"Great Korean psyche jam! Korean guitar god and his band the Donkeys. Superb, little-known psychedelic music. Superb exploratory tracks packed with organ and fuzz. This group leader is Shin Jung Hyun who was a Korean rock godfather!! He played guitar at American 8 army show for long time before he organized this group. And he was influenced by Psychedelic music of Jimi hendrix, Jim Morrison etc. Here Shin Jung Hyun & Donkeys were backing band for a basically mainstream song oriented release. Still, the psych elements are all there (electric guitars, organ,..), especially in some tracks. The first chosen song ("Petal" possibly means "marijunana") has some orchestration arrangement too. Last 16 minute track is similar and is the complete B-side of the album. Of course here's more room for band improvisation. This means a melodic repetition (drum, electric guitar, bass, organ) with on top a really great electric guitar improvisation on the musical theme (with some wa-wa effects too) by Shin Jung Hyun, followed by a psych organ improvisation (somewhat Iron Butterfly like), a bass solo, and small piece of a rather simple (let's say a garage-like version) of a drum solo."
This first album of Lee Jung-Hwa with Shin Jung-Hyun & Donkeys is perhaps in a more consistent way psychedelic compared to the second album of hers, which only features one track where the band takes its expansions much further. This is a very good album and good songs and there’s room for some improvisation with organ and sometimes electric guitar or a drum solo. The recording quality of the reissue could have been better because this is taken directly from an LP with not the best equipment and the small hiss is present here as well. The music is too good so that it compensates a bit. Still I hope it will get a better reissue some day. The first reissue I could no longer trace.
1. (with female singer Lee Jung-Hwa) ; (First pressing) : This record normal price is a over 800$.
2. (Second pressing) This record normal price is a over 700$
Donkeys Members are Bass: Lee tae hyun ; Lead Guitar: Shin jung-hyun ; Rhythm guitar: On duk gi ; Keyboard: Kim min rang ; drums: Kim ho sik.
Folkie Jin : "Great Korean psyche jam! This group leader is Shin Jung Hyun who was a Korean rock godfather!! He played guitar at American 8 army show for long time before he organized this group. And he was influenced by Psychedelic music of Jimi hendrix, Jim Morrison etc.
These records are available as a recently reissued box set (2LPs). First pressing plus second pressing, but these records are different recordings and play style. First pressing is a psychedelical and improvisation style song based, more rocky band styled, but the second pressing is a psychedelical with some popular string arrangements additions.
Announcement of the 2LP reissue : "Another incredible looking reissue, and a steal considering it comes straight from the source: Seoul, Korea. This one features 2 separate LPs from loungey vocalist Lee Jung Hwa. She's backed up by legendary guitar man Shin Jung Hyun on all tracks. Frame-worthy poster and exquisite liners (all in Korean, but the pictures speak for themselves). Housed in a classy, yet understated, plain brown box. A definite staff pick. Highly recommendable record!!"
airplayed : Tr.3,"A Petal" 5 min, Tr.6,"My Hearts" 16 min (=entire side B) 21
Radioshow comments : "Here Shin Jung Hyun & Donkeys were backing band for a basically mainstream song oriented release. Still, the psych elements are all there (electric guitars, organ,..), especially in some tracks. The first chosen song ("Petal" possibly means "marijunana") has some orchestration arrangement too. Last 16 minute track is similar and is the complete B-side of the album. Of course here's more room for band improvisation. This means a melodic repetition (drum, electric guitar, bass, organ) with on top a really great electric guitar improvisation on the musical theme (with some wa-wa effects too) by Shin Jung Hyun, followed by a psych organ improvisation (somewhat Iron Butterfly like), a bass solo, and small piece of a rather simple (let's say a garage-like version) of a drum solo. Great!
This albums has two versions (First pressing and Second pressing). This is the second pressing. It contain the same songs but with different recordings. First pressing is more primitive and live gem style but second pressing is more psychedelic pop style of late 1960s."
Folkie Jin : "This record normal price is a over 600$. Kim sang-Hee is a famous female popular singer. Her mostly records are Korean pop styled but this particular record is a psychedelic style thanks to the Support of Shin Jung-Hyun. Shin Jung-Hyun wrote all songs and arrangement. and Musical performance by Donkeys of Shin Jung-Hyn. The album title song "How am I?(A Ta Ke Ha?)" was big hit!! I think that this record style similar to Jefferson Airplane. (lately 1960th-early 1970th San Francisco psychedelic scene)."
Kim Chu-Ja/Shin Jung-Hyun songs collection 1969
Folkie Jin : "This record normal price is a over 250$ (original record is a gatefold sleeve single cover is a second pressing and normal price is a 150$).
Kim Chu-Ja is a another korean pop star and debuted with support of Shin Jung-hyun. This record is a her debut album. Musical performance by Donkeys of Shin Jung-Hyun. I think that this record Donkeys play style similar to early Japerson airplane. Especially side B 2 song is a unique koreanized psychedelic song!! Side A songs are a little pop style but Side B songs are very good psychedelic style!! Recommendable !!"
SJH mvd. Kim Chu Ja with Shin Jung-Hyun & Donkeys (KO,1969)***''
airplayed : Tr.4, "Gone to my lover" 4 min,Tr.5, "Please don't go" 3 min
Tr.8, "Leaving to the people" 9 min 16
Radioshow comments : "60’s psychpop. The recording was done directly from vinyl. From the 7th to 10th track are with male voice. The 8th track is more psychedelic, with great guitar and organ."
