New Juggler Sound, Laghonia, Smog, and the first
We All Together (later on some of the members reunite in the 80s)
constitute the only rock saga in Latin America. With 40 years
of permanence during which, although they have had their ups and
downs, they always maintained a solid musical coherence oriented
towards what today is defined as power pop. The best of their
early magic is revealed in this anthology in all its secret splendor.
New Juggler Sound marks the commencement of this productive and
secretive saga during the essential years of 1965-1973. During
their founding moments (and they had many, as their history is
full of reinvention) they were their country's version of the
Beatles. But once they gained creative freedom and left behind
direct influences, they were simply a great rock and roll band
with an unparalleled sound.
They started practicing and meeting up in Maranga, Peru, in 1965.
In the beginning the band consisted in Saúl Cornejo and
Alberto Miller on guitars and vocals, Eddy Zarauz on bass, Carlos
Salom on the Hammond organ, Manuel Cornejo on drums, and Alex
Abad on percussion. Extremely influenced from the beginning by
the Mersey Beat prevalent at that time, and guided by the exquisite
vocal harmonies of the Byrds, they released two 45s on the RCA
Victor label. The group soars higher into the psychedelic stratosphere
and move more towards an Acid style; influenced by the Eric Clapton
style in the Yardbirds and Cream. Alberto Miller leaves the band
and is replaced by Davey Levene, a guitar virtuoso who they record
three 45s with. New Juggler Sound reaches its creative peak. There
is immediate chemistry between the melodic sensitivity of Saúl
Cornejo and the Acid talent of Davey Levene which manifests itself
in improvisations filled with the colors of pop and other shades
closer to that of black music. These three 45s are of the most
beautiful gems to ever emerge, not only in Peruvian psychedelia
but for pyschedelia period.
1968: New Juggler Sound changes their name to Laghonia and initiates
a new phase. Under this new name they release “Glue”,
a first LP which in reality is a New Juggler Sound anthology with
the exception of the songs Neighbor and My Love. With these two
songs, the group announces its new orientation towards a greater
predominance of keyboards and the creation of atmospheres, an
influence probably taken from the melodic range unlocked by Todd
Rundgren‘s Nazz. Laghonia's new style will appear in all
its splendor on the second LP, Etcetera, and the 45 “World
Full of Nuts b/w We all”.
In 1970 Saúl Cornejo accepts a proposal from Carlos Guerrero
to form part of a project seeking to recreate the sound of bands
like The Iveys/Badfinger and Wings. The band -christened We All
Together- grew on a vocal level returning to the times of their
early years when vocal harmonies were paramount.
In 1971 Ernesto Samamé founds Smog, a parallel group accompanied
by Manuel Guerrero on guitar and vocals, and Eduardo Vásquez
on drums. They record a brilliant 45 and break up. Meanwhile We
All Together record a second album to later split up in 1973.
During the second half of the 70s, in that dark era when Rock
in Peru literally died, they release their last reincarnation
under the name You.
