As much as I like Psychedelic music, my knowledge of the scene from the USA is not as good as it is for other countries from around the world. The brand of Psych from the US sometimes is lumped under the title of Acid Rock, which generally means that songs have heavy, distorted guitars with extended jams and lyrics full of drug references, either blatant or subtle. However, like most labels of music, it is pretty meaningless.
A lot of the groups and singers on this compilation either came out of the Garage Rock or Folk Rock scenes. Those bands that developed from Garage Rock into the Psych era took with them the distorted guitar sound and sound effects, which is major contrast from British Psych which took its cues from childhood imagery and the Music Hall Tradition. As time went on, the guitars became heavier and would eventually evolve into heavy rock and metal.
For this compilation, I looked at using music from the golden age of what could be considered Acid Rock music, which is arguably between 1966 and 1970. Not all of these artists are rockers, with the likes of Joni Mitchell and Time Rose making an appearance. What I was going for here was the feel of the US in the late 60s and I hope that I achieved this. Enjoy.
Disc 1
- The Fish Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag – Country Joe & The Fish
- Spirit In The Sky – Norman Greenbaum
- Going Up The Country – Canned Heat
- Hey Grandma – Moby Grape
- Alabama Bound – The Charlatans
- Night In The City – Joni Mitchell
- Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was in) – Kenny Rodgers & The First Edition
- For What Its Worth – Buffalo Springfield
- That’s It For The Other One (Edit) – The Grateful Dead*
- Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
- The Weight – The Band
- The Pusher – Steppenwolf
- The Red Telephone – Love
- Karmic Dream Sequence #1 – The Millennium
- Mr Skin – Spirit
- In A Gadda-Da-Vidda – Iron Butterfly
*Edited at 6:26
Disc 2
- Wooden Ships – Crosby, Stills & Nash
- The Golden Road (To Ultimate Devotion) – The Grateful Dead
- Underdog – Sly & The Family Stone
- Do You Follow Me – The United States Of America
- Down on Me (Live) – Big Brother & The Holding Company
- Morning Dew – Tim Rose
- Magic Carpet Rode – Steppenwolf
- Two Days ‘Till Tomorrow – The Beau Brummels
- The Crystal Ship – The Doors
- Sugar Man – Rodriquez
- 1982-A – Sons Of Champlin
- Up & Down – The Serpent Power
- Volunteers – Jefferson Airplane
- Fool (Single Version) – Blue Cheer
- How Can I Miss You When You Won’t Go Away – Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks
- Bryte ’N’ Clear Day – Kak
- Bummer In The Summer – Love
- Murder In The Heart For The Judge – Moby Grape
- Five To One – The Doors
- Sure ‘Nuff ’N Yes I Do – Captain Beefheart & HIs Magic Band
- I Need It Higher – Zerfas
- Get Together – The Youngbloods
- Porpoise Song (Mono Single Mix) – The Monkees