If you check label ref number of the both issues, you will discover that "Brain" was issued early beginning of the label creation and "Roller Gold" 2 years after. Of course "Roller Gold" is final issue that every fan of The Action must have but at the origin, we had only "Brain" issue and it was something we never expected. Anyway, to arrive to "Roller Gold" album, there was a great suspense to finally found the masters.

Are we sure this is a completely different version from Reaction's US edition, considering the only difference is the country of origin?

Amazing psych/mod album recorded late 1967 but shelved for three decades due to lack of label interest. Every bit the equal of The Beatles', Beach Boys', Rolling Stones' or Kinks' contemporary efforts, it's an incredible shame that it was not released at the time - it surely would have caused quite the storm. Highlights include the beautiful Icarus and Something to Say, but it is a remarkably consistent album and every track is a winner (not something I say often). The production is rough and raw, but this gives the music a powerful edge which complements the electric performances. Overall, a fantastic record.

I would donate my kidney for a reiusse of this...

Every once in awhile, just when I think that I know and remember all that the 1960’s were about, I get surprised ... and never more pleasingly so then here on ‘Rolled Gold’ by The Action.Kids, Hippies, Freaks, and Heads, this was what most of the music was like during those chemically fueled days ... though most of us remember bands like The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Moody Blues, and The Faces, coming to think that groups like those were all that mattered. And while they may have risen to the zenith of the musical charts, it was fun little numbers like this that we played while the sky was still uncharted, and Flower Power was still beautiful.This is a conceptual piece of sorts, folding and ebbing it’s way into your head from every angle. The speaker fades are there, the billowy smokey flavors, the peaks, and slight nods to the harder edges that were just over the horizon with groups like Iron Butterfly. The Action have all the hooks down part, they ask all of the social questions, and give all of the hip answers from the day: Love, Dope, Freedom and Restless Action ... just digging the ride and the view.I know that I’m making this seem like a piece of history, but honestly, it’s as fresh as anything you will find the neo psychedelic bands like, House of Love, The Dylans, and Echo & The Bunnymen doing. It’s just a brilliant piece of music that should not be missed on any level. The harmonies are righteous [equal to The Beach Boys], the guitar playing is flawless, the silver strings bend with early petals and electronics, there are quiet melodies that carry each song forward, yet 'The Action' seem to be a step or two above what the Nazz were trying to do with their harmonies and melodies at the time. Believe me, I wanted to re-shelve this disc, and let it be what it was, but as each song unfolded I was drawn deeper and deeper into the psychedelic pop that was ‘The Action.’ And you will too ...Review by Jenell Kesler

Save your money, the recording quality of this transfer from acetate is shit. Get Rolled Gold. This has one song that album doesn't, but is for completists only.

Praise be to Dig the Fuzz for releasing these recordings in all their glory. Originally recorded in '67/'68 for a proposed LP for Polydor, for some reason, it just never happened at the time. Poor quality tapes of this material had been circulating amongst the chosen few as far back as the 80s, but it was not widely shared and few heard it or even knew it existed until the release of 'Brain' in '95. The reason few had heard it was that the ex band member who supplied the original tape apparently thought it was so awful, he didn't want it widely distributed. So he swore the few he did copy it for to secrecy. Anyway, it did finally see the light of day in 1995, but when another ex band member heard 'Brain', recorded from a tape of an acetate of the LP, he was horrified by the sound quality and revealed that he had the original mater tapes stashed. The master tapes that had been assumed lost were therefore unearthed and released to the world as 'Rolled Gold' about 3 years after the release of 'Brain'. Given these were only ever intended as rough demos, the quality of these songs is amazing. The Action were extending out into druggy psychedelia by this time, while retaining the foundation of their mod/soul roots, meaning these have emotional depth, beautiful vocal harmonies and are expertly played. While their earlier 45s had relied mainly on cover versions, this material was all original and demonstrated stunning song-craft. It is just heartbreaking to hear these songs and realise they were rejected at the time and almost didn't see the light of day at all. The orignal Action splintered after these recording, losing Reg King and briefly becoming Azoth, before signing to Head records as Mighty Baby.

You are strongly advised to seek out the issue of this called 'Rolled Gold'. This version was taken from a second generation tape of an acetate, whereas 'Rolled Gold' came direct from the master tapes. There is a long story about this, which I'll go into at a later date if nobody else better informed does first.