No not Patti Smith, Patti Santos. Patti who? The Patti with the wonderful voice that fronted the best West Coast band in the 60s. It’s A beautiful day. (Or she would have turned 61 if she had not died in a car accident in1989)

Granted, most of you will not have heard of them but think of it as an opportunity to bring something truly wonderful into your life.

Formed in the mid 60s by violinist David la Flame and his wife Linda. It’s a Beautiful Day never really made it. They played a sort of jazz, folk, rock, mix. That they never became as big as the other bands around San Francisco at the time remains a mystery. They had the ethic, the songs and the musicianship. With Patti Santos they also had one of the best voices on the West Coat, knocking Grace into a cocked hat.

The eponymous first album contained some stand out tracks including White Bird. Other strong tracks were “Hot Summer Day”, “Time Is” and Bombay Calling (as an aside listen to Deep Purple’s “Child In Time” – where do you think that they knicked that opening?)

The second album “Marrying Maiden” was more commercial, but thankfully not much. There was no sign of selling out and “Don & Dewey” and “The Dolphins ” stand out.

Perhaps one of the reasons they never broke through is the choice of manager. Matt Katz had previously been sacked by both Jefferson Airplane and Moby Grape and in the early 70s the band and ex-manager were locked in a bitter legal wrangle.

The world is full of what ifs. What if ISBD did break through, if David and Linda had not split up, what if the manager matched the band in terms of talent? All I know is that I saw them when they came to the UK in 1970 and sat in a field in Somerset entranced listening to that pure and wonderful voice.

Patti, happy birthday, whereever you are.

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