From the Crates...

I thought I would share some thoughts about some recent LPs and tracks that I have come across.
The Chambers Brothers Greatest Hits. The title is a misnomer, of course. I am not a Billboard Hot 100 scholar, but really come on "Time Has Come Today" is the only hit I know of. The set opener "Funky" has a nice short break at the beginning. The LP version of "Time Has Come Today" has a much longer freak out / jam/ break than the 45 version that I have had for years. Look for this break to appear on a cratedigger labs release in the near future, sound pilgrims.

Side 2 contains a track that has much backwards weirdness and sound effects ala "Time Has Come Today" and was a nice treat that I had not heard before.

The name checking the Eric Burdon does on the track Monterey has not aged very well. The music is light as well. Not any of the Gratefully Dead unreleased single swagger is evident. Searh that track out as it has Burdon's growl, backwards guitars like Hendrix, and has that heavy acid sound that Chas Chandler (early Animals bassist, Jimi manager) became known for.

My ears perked up a bit when the stereo effects of "Closer To The Truth" where a blues dirge and and out of tune guitar line and twisted in a most peculiar way.

The hippie acid and horns concoction that M. Burdon brews up on this release is nothing to get charged up about. His acid soaked lyrics suggest a sophomoric obsession with Louis Carroll type topics. I won't be spending much time with this one.