11 NOVEMBER 1966

San Francisco-based group William Penn and His Pals released this - their only single - under the name The William Penn Fyve during this month. 'Swami' is a deliciously sardonic putdown of what seems to be a fairground fakir, but could also be read as a thematic precursor to songs about disillusion with the late '60s mystical spiritualism scene, such as the Beatles' 'Sexy Sadie'. This record failed to chart, although it was later included on the respected compilation album 'Pebbles, Vol. 3: The Acid Gallery'.

The fuzz guitar, growling bass and Eastern-style chanting and instrumentation give this song a strong psychedelic flavour that would have not been considered just a couple of years earlier. William Penn and His Pals disbanded in 1967.