VA - The Berkeley EP's
1995
Big Beat Records CDWIKD 153
Tracks:
1. Bass Strings - Country Joe & the Fish
2. Thing Called Love - Country Joe & the Fish
3. Section 43 - Country Joe & the Fish
4. Hearts to Cryu - Frumious Bandersnatch
5. Misty Cloudy - Frumious Bandersnatch
6. Cheshire - Frumious Bandersnatch
7. Gazelle - Mad River
8. Orange Fire - Mad River
9. Windchimes - Mad River
10. Where Does Love Go - Notes from the Underground
11. Down in the Basement - Notes from the Underground
12. What Am I Doing Here - Notes from the Underground
13. Got to Get Out of This Dream - Notes from the Underground
14. You Don't Love Me - Notes from the Underground, Notes from the Underground
15. Let Yourself Fly - Notes from the Underground
16. Where I'm at Today - Notes from the Underground
Off the Amazon site:
Quote:
A BIG thank you to Big Beat UK for releasing this compilation of 4 very rare EP's from San Fran's psychedelic underground, otherwise known as the "San Francisco Sound". If you were lucky enough to find and purchase VG+ to near mint original pressings of these EP's, God Bless You and because you have spent over $4,500 easy. Big Beat UK have done a fine job remastering these gems on CD as the sound quality is superb considering the sources. The Frumious Bandersnatch was taken from the master tapes and every song on their EP is a gem. "Hearts To Cry" is an incredible song and features some of the finest 2-way acid guitar attack to come out of the west coast during 68'. It's a crying shame this band never signed to a major label and released a full length LP. The Mad River EP is a psych masterpiece, although it was dubbed from acetate. "A Gazelle" should be played at maximum volume with the speakers facing out of the house windows! Notes from the Underground released 2 LP's after the EP and is decent late 60's rock. Country Joe and the Fish's EP is a must have. These guys basically started it all. The EP versions are a bit faster and looser than the LP versions, but nonetheless are performed with conviction and assurance that a "change is gonna come". Overall, all 4 EP's are ESSENTIAL listening for 60's music collectors and lovers alike!
Quote:
excellent 60s psych compilation, this is a highly recommended release. the version of section 43 is actually probably even better than the one on the lp. country joe &the fish are in fine form on the ep. mad river's amphetamine gazelle ( also done on their debut record) is a wild and brilliant slice of acid rock, as is the weird ep only anti war anthem orange fire. i also strongly recommend both of their albums, which i feel are two of the stronger san francisco area releases of the period. notes from the underground, despite their moniker, won't remind you of the great dostoevsky story, they were really a fine garage, or proto -power pop aggregation, with a good timey flavoring somewhat like the lovin' spoonful or bay area contemporaries the charlatans. the frumious bandersnatch (their name taken from lewis carroll's poem jabberwocky)serve up some wonderful and exhilirating psych that probably is the highlight of the cd along with mad river's material. the guitar work, ominous bass riff, great vocals, and powerful lyrics in hearts to cry is amazing, and the song is a san francisco acid classic. the other two bandersnatch tracks are also very good. there's very little filler on this release and it definitely should be heard by acid rock fans and sixties enthusiasts
|
