The Other Half (US)
Band members Related acts
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Line up 1 (1965-66) - John Branca -- keyboards - David Lacey -- bass - Tommy Lennon -- lead guitar - Jeffrey George Pasternak -- vocals, harmonica - Tommy Russo -- drums, percussion
Line up 2 (1966-67 NEW
- Larry Brown (RIP 2019) --
bass (replaced David Lacey)
(replaced Jeff Pasternak)
John Branca) Tommy Russo)
Line up 3 (1967) - Larry Brown
(RIP 2019) -
bass
Line up 4 (1967) - Larry Brown (RIP 2019) - bass NEW - Randy Carlisle (RIP 2011) -- drums, percussion (replaced
Danny Woody)
Line up 5 (1967-68) - Larry Brown
(RIP 2019) -
bass Randy Carlisle)
Line up 6 (1968-69) - Larry Brown (RIP 2019) - bass
NEW - Tom Hundley
-- lead guitar (replaced Randy Holden)
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- The Balls (Geoff Westen) - Black Kangaroo (Larry Brown) - Blue Cheer (Randy Holden) - C.K.Strong ( Geoff
Westen) - The Jayhawkers (Jay Walker and the Pedestrian) (Tom Hundley and Ron Saurman) - Geoff Westen (solo efforts)
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Genre: garage Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: The Other Half Company: Acta Catalog: A-38004 Year: 1968 Country/State: Los Angeles, California Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -"Lindsey" written in black magic marker on back panel Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4 Price: $200.00 Cost: $1.00
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While there are literally thousands of psychedelic LPs out there, there's a small core (say 200 or 300), that are widely recognized as sought after genre classics. In spite of what dealers' list may have you believe, this isn't one of them. Mind you "The Other Half" album is collectable and worth checking out, but be warned it's better described as garage, perhaps proto-punk, than psych.
During their brief
recording career The Other Half never achieved a great deal of attention or
sales. Today most of their recognition stems from the fact one of
their songs, the 1966 single "Mr, Pharmacist" was included on the
1986 compilation album "Nuggets, Volume 12: Punk Part Three"
(Rhino catalog number RNLP 70036).
The Other Half came together in Los Angeles in early 1965. The original line-up featured friends and acquaintances John Branca on keyboards, bassist David Lacey, lead guitarist Tommy Lennon, singer Jeffrey George Pasternak and drummer Tommy Russo. Essentially a blues oriented cover band, the line-up had more ambition than talent. They apparently used Pasternak's money, status and connections (movie producer father and movie star mom) to score gigs playing private parties and clubs, but never recorded. By the end of the year, none of the original members were still active in the band. By the time The Other Half signed a one shot recording contract with Gene Norman's GNP Crescendo label the band line-up had gone a complete update now showcasing bassist Larry Brown, former Fender IV and Sons of Adam guitarist Randy Holden, singer/harmonica player Jeff Nowlen, rhythm guitarist Geoff Westen and drummer Danny Woody.
It's always struck me as kind of interesting that these guys have been lumped in with San Francisco bands such as The Dead, The Jefferson Airplane and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Geographically their roots were in Los Angeles so initially they really weren't part of the Haight Ashbury scene (though they played a lot of shows at the Avalon and other San Francisco clubs). Musical comparisons to those other bands are equally clumsy given their weird hybrid of garage and psychedelic set them apart from most of their West Coast contemporaries.
- 1966's "Mister Pharmacist" b/w "I've Come So Far" (GNP/Crescendo catalog number 378).
Penned by Nowlen, the track offered up a growling slice of garage/punk anger. While the single did little in terms of sales, it attracted the attention of Kenny Meyers, who promptly signed the group to his newly formed Dot-affiliated Acta label (along with San Francisco's Neighb'rhood Childr'n).
Produced by Larry Goldberg and Hank Levine, the band made their label debut with the 1967 single:
- 1967's "Wonderful Day" b/w "Flight of the Dragon Lady" (Acta catalog number 45-801)
Under the title "The Other Half of Underground", in 1969 the album was released in Germany with an alternative cover (Die Volksplatte catalog number 1 C 048-90 248).
In 1982 under the title "Mr. Pharmacist" the French Eva label reissued the original album with six non-LP 45 sides (Eva catalog number EVA 12003 A/B).
"The Other Half" track listing: 1.) Introduction (Randy Holden - Jeff Nowlen, -Geoff Westen) - 1:50 rating: ** stars Well,
the first thirty seconds was nothing but canned audience applause and the
band tuning up. From there the tune morphed into a bouncy blues number
with the band seemingly goofing off in the studio; closing out with more
dubbed audience applause. Powered
by Randy Holden's slashing guitar, their cover of Arthur Lee's anti-war
themed "Feathered Fish" was rawer and more energetic than the Love
original. You also got a taste of Jeff Nowlen's banshee-like
voice and Danny Woodsy frenetic drumming. Holden had previously
recorded a version of the song with The Sons of Adam. I
always struggle when trying to categorize music. "Flight of the Dragon Lady"
is a great example of the challenge the task can pose. Is there such a
category as "psych-blues"?
Nowlen's vocals and harmonica along with the Larry Brown
and Danny Woody rhythm section provided the pounding blues base while
Holden's fuzz guitar added the psych touches. The song was also
released as the "B" side of their "Wonderful
Day" 45. Previously
released, "Wonderful Day" was a breezy sing-along
number. The performance was certainly charming, but
in a dark, disturbing fashion. Still, how couldn't you love a song where
pretty much anyone could play the bass line? Written by Holden and Sons Of Adam band mate Mike Port, "I Need You" found the band diving headlong into screaming proto-punk. Love that "Summer of Love" vibe? Well ya' ain't gonna find it here. This was two and a half minutes of pure rage and angst. The song also sported one of Holden's best fuzz guitar solos. Interesting choice as the album's second single.
- 1967's "I Need You" b/w "No Doubt About It" (Acta catalog number 45-806)
1.) Oz Lee Eaves Drops (Randy Holden - Jeff Nowlen) - 2:29 rating: **** stars In
spite of the goofy title, "Oz Lee Eaves
Drops" was one of the album's more commercial efforts. Nowlen's
vocals on this one have always reminded me of the late Marty Balin had he
ever tried to sing a garage rock tune. The
song was one of two featured in the band's appearance in The Mod Squad
television series debut episode. It also appeared as the "B: side
of their final, non-LP single "Morning Fire". The
garage-rock "Bad Day" was the
track I would have spun out as a single Yeap, getting drafted and
waking up in Vietnam would qualify as a bad day. The song was also used in The Mod Squad debut episode and served as the flip
side of their "What Can I Do For
You" 45. Easily
the album's most psychedelic performance, "Morning Fire" sounded
like a mash-up of a Gypsy melody and an Indian raga mixture. Cool
tune. Another
track powered by Holden's guitar, "What Can I Do For You, First Half"
was a slow-churn blues-rocker. It wasn't bad, but hardly the album's
standout performance. Initially shifting the focus to Nowlen's vocals and Brown's hypnotic bass pattern," What Can I Do For You, The Other Half" slowed the tune down to a crawl, reminding me of something out of Jim Morrison and the Doors' catalog. From there the song became a showcase for Holden's meltdown guitar display. Extra star for Holden's work.
The band survived long enough to appear on the debut episode of television's "The Mod Squad" which featured two tracks from the album - "Oz Lee Eaves Drops" and "Bad Day". YouTube has a clip of the band lip-synching "Oz Lee Eaves Drops" for the show: The Other Half on "The Mod Squad" Those two songs subsequently appeared as the "B" sides on their last two non-LP singles. By the way, they didn't write The Mod Squad Theme Song. Earle Hagen gets the credit.
- 1968's "What Can I Do For You" b/w "Bad Day" (Acta catalog number 45-819) - 1968's "Morning Fire" b/w "Oz Lee Eaves Drops" (Acta catalog number 45-825)
There are also rumors that at least some basic work was done on a sophomore album, though nothing has ever been released. Increasingly unhappy with the band's direction, Holden tendered his resignation, subsequently replacing Leigh Stephens as a member of Blue Cheer and then going on to a solo career.
After I posted my "review" I stumbled across a posting by Bruno Ceriotti. Ceriotti bills himself as a "rock historian" and one of the bands he's researched is The Other Half. Along with collaborator Mike Stax, he's essentially written a thesis on the band, including listings of every show they played during their three year career. You can find it as: The Other Half - Bruno Ceriotti, rock historian
Brown remained active in music, including a stint in Peter Kaukonen's Black Kangaroo and various locals bands. Having suffered a heart attack, he died in February, 2019 after undergoing surgery to insert a heart stint.
Guitarist Randy Holden joined Blue Cheer for one album and then recorded an in-demand solo album - 1970's "Population II" (Hobbit catalog number HB 5002). The album garnered strong reviews but few sales leading Holden to move to Hawaii and drop out of music. He turned his attention to fishing and boating and didn't resume his musical career until the mid-1990s where he's continued to sporadically release material up through 2023.
Nowlen dropped out of music and apparently struggled with various addictions. Only in his early-'50s, he died in April, 1997.
Westen remained active in music working in a number of bands including Balls, C.K. Strong and Scoop. He worked as a songwriter and producer, eventually turning his attention to graphic design, where he's probably best known for designing Steely Dan's "Aja" cover.
I'll have to find the email, but years ago Westen saw a blog post I'd published where I praise the cover as one of my all time favorites and he dropped me a note with a little information on the photo.
After his stint with The Other Half Woody went on to play with Heart & Flowers followed by stints supporting Nicky Hopkins, The Jefferson Airplane and as a touring musician. In the mid-'70s he was arrested by Mexican authorities. Convicted of smuggling marijuana we spent three and a half years in a Mexican jail. He eventually moved to Shanghai China working as musical director for Ritz Carlton and eventually settled in Bangkok, Thailand.
© Scott R. Blackerby July, 2026
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g in the midst
of "Introduction" . Elsewhere you can hear someone coughing in the
background of "Wonderful Day".
Produced by Larry Goldberg, Leo De Gar Kulka, Hank Levine and the band,
1968's "The Other Half"
is somewhat of a lost classic. That's a horrible description, but
propelled by Holden's wild lead guitar (check out his moves on the closer
"What Can I Do For You, The Other Half") and
Nowlen's bluesy voice the album featured a wonderful mix of Yardbirds-styled
blues-rock, raw garage moves and occasional West Coast-psychedelic and Eastern
influences.
Yeah, I've described an aural stew that includes virtually everything
but a kitchen sink. Holden's dizzying guitar work was unparalleled making it
easy to understand why The Yardbirds were reportedly interested in looking
at him as a replacement for Jeff Beck. Highlights included the Arthur Lee-penned "Feathered
Friend" (check out Holden's fuzz guitar), the group composition "Flight of the Dragon Lady"
(how'd he get that sustained distortion?), the lysergic tinged "Morning
Fire" and the cataclysmic closer "What Can I Do For You, The Other
Half". Regardless of whether you were into garage, proto-punk, or psych, this
was simply a great
guitar album !!! Greeted with complete indifference from the buying public, the set quickly
vanished into cutout bins. Tom Hall provided the cool period cover art.
