A-side "Revolution" Format 7" Genre Psychedelic rock | Released August 1967 Recorded 1967 | |
B-side "Three Jolly Little Dwarves" (Hopkins/Burgess) | ||
"Revolution" is a song performed by the London psychedelic rock group Tomorrow. It was first released on a single in the UK by Parlophone in September 1967, and on the group's self-titled album Tomorrow in February 1968. The song is credited to Keith Alan Hopkins (better known as Keith West) and Steve Howe. Though Tomorrow's song was not a hit, the group was well known to insiders of the London music scene.
Tomorrow's September 1967 single was likely the prime inspiration for the John Lennon song "Revolution" which was released a year later. Tomorrow's tongue in cheek lyric "Have your own little revolution, NOW!" sounds like it prompted Lennon's response "You say you want a revolution."
Several different recordings of the song have been released by Tomorrow. The 1999 CD re-issue of their album also includes a previously unreleased studio demo recording of the song. This version does not have the orchestral overdubs but instead has some phasing effects not heard in the later recording. Both were recorded at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London in mid 1967. Tomorrow performed this song for John Peel's radio show on the BBC, and there is also a live recording on the album 50 Minute Technicolor Dream.