Notes

---

Sparsely but inventively arranged folk songs with slight jazzy and psychedelic overtones are to be found on Academy's sole album. The main attraction is the clear voice of Polly and the interesting woodwind parts. Male singer Hardy is less convincing. "Poor Jean" has pretty harmonies but is marred by some out of key intonations. The best tracks are "Munching The Candy" and "Rachel's Dream", the latter starting sentimentally but later on incorporating a lovely Russian theme. They were also issued on a 45.Interesting album. Recommended...

An unfortunately short-lived band that had some interesting folk elements, including the charmingly named and sweet-voiced Polly Perkins, named for "Pretty Polly Perkins," a traditional folk song. Academy lasted long enough to generate a single album, Pop Lore According to the Academy, in which the folk elements were adulterated with elements of jazz and psychedelia. One single, "Rachel's Dream," was released to absolutely no acclaim whatsoever, and the band faded away. Perkins turned up as an actress once in a while in the following years, though not of any great note.