Elephant Mountain, the magnetic third album by the Youngbloods, is commonly looked upon as the pinnacle of the legendary Bay Area combo’s abundant eight-year career. From its spine chilling opening track—the strains of a somber Appalachian fiddle permeating “Darkness, Darkness”—the listener is inexorably sucked into psychedelic quicksand by the haunting vocals of Jesse Colin Young, whose plaintive cry to “hide the constant yearning for things that cannot be” proves mournfully irresistible.
In addition to Young’s songwriting masterpiece, the 1969 album also spotlights a sharp, country-rocking vocal duet (“Smug”) by Young and recently-departed singer Jerry Corbitt, as well as the jazzy interplay between electric keyboard whiz Banana and the locked-in groove of drummer Joe Bauer during magical instrumental “On Sir Francis Drake.” More songwriting gems loom like sacred totems on this landmark longplayer, including Young’s signature ballads “Sunlight,” “Quicksand” and “Ride the Wind.” It’s the Youngbloods at the top of their game, indelibly writing their names in the ledger of consummate San Francisco rock ‘n’ roll.
Tracks
1. Darkness, Darkness - 3:48
2. Smug - 2:11
3. On Sir Francis Drake (Lowell Levinger) - 6:45
4. Sunlight (Joe Bauer, Jesse Colin Young, Lowell Levinger) - 3:07
5. Double Sunlight - 0:41
6. Beautiful - 3:46
7. Turn It Over (Joe Bauer, Jesse Colin Young, Lowell Levinger) - 0:13
8. Don’t Let The Rain Get You Down (Jerry Corbitt, Felix Papalardi, Gail Collins) - 3:12
9. Trillium (Joe Bauer, Jesse Colin Young, Lowell Levinger) - 3:08
10.Quicksand - 2:41
11.Black Mountain Breakdown (Joe Bauer, Jesse Colin Young, Lowell Levinger) - 0:40
12.Sham - 2:44
13.Ride The Wind - 6:36
14.Pool Hall Song - 3:04
15.Beautiful (Alternate Version) - 9:31
All songs by Jesse Colin Young except where indicated
The Youngbloods
*Jesse Colin Young - Bass, Acoustic Guitar , Vocals
*Lowell "Banana" Levinger - Guitar, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals
*Joe Bauer - Drums
With
*David Lindley - Fiddle
*Plas Johnson - Tenor Saxophone
*Joe Clayton - Trumpet
*Victor Feldman - Vibraphone
1967/69 The Youngbloods / Earth Music / Elephant Mountain (2 disc set)
1971 Beautiful! Live In San Francisco (Sudazed issue)
1972 High On A Ridge Top
Related Act
1973 Jesse Colin Young - Song For Juli (2009 edition)
hi and thanks for this one, and for all, the password "xara" doesn't work with this one. Thanks again
ReplyDeleteA real classic! Thanks a lot...
ReplyDeleteWhat's the password, please? xara doesn't work.
ReplyDeletefor this only, pass is: The_Loner
ReplyDelete"Marios"thanks for expanded version...
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteLove this as i do i don't think i'll ever get over the memories and feelings that Jesse's Light Shine album used to bring to my life...sadly i don't own a copy anymore...!
ReplyDeleteCan anyone help out? Marios? Friends, Cypriots, Countrymen??
I had to sell my copy of Lightshine about 30 years ago - and I've been wanting to hear it again ever since! May I therefore second El Greco's request for an MP3!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, a year or so ago I did come across a thread on a site (I can't remember which) with several Racoon LPs - JCY, Banana, Joe Bauer, Jeffrey Cain etc - so, for anyone who is looking, that stuff is circulating out there in cyberspace somewhere - keep looking! Cheers HJ
Thanx so much!!!
ReplyDeleteI've bought this album 4 or 5 times (Original, MSFL, Vinyl etc) and I didn't know till recently there was a remaster with extra tracks!!!
Hello Marios and a happy and peaceful Christmas to you.
ReplyDeletePlease repost the FLAC link for The Youngbloods Elephant Mountain (1969 us Sundazed remaster ), thank you.
When you click on the link, Deposit Files says " This file does not exist, the access to the following file is limited or it has been removed due to infringement of copyright "
The FLAC link for the Blu Spec edition is working perfectly by the way.
Michael
Sunday 13th December 2015 19.58pm
Michael,
ReplyDelete..Link replaced....
As always, thank you for your kindness and for posting this again so quickly.
ReplyDeleteTake care and best health and happiness to you now and in 2016 and always.
Michael
I'm curious if any of you know anything about "The Youngbloods 3 Albums Collection 1967-1969 Sony Japan Blu-Spec 2014" version of this and the First Two albums?
ReplyDeleteI picked it up and the sound seems really good. I assume it's a remaster(?)
The first Two albums have both the Stereo and Mono versions of each album and bonus tracks. Very different mixes. As an example, The Vocals on the Stereo version of the First album are barely there while the Mono has gorgeous full-sounding Vocals.
I noticed the picture you use above is from this collection but the file is actual the Sundazed version.
Hi Leesa, if you look carefully and scroll down the page, you will se that both versions contained here, Sundazed and Japanese Blu Spec
ReplyDeleteThanx... but I was more curious if anyone scoped the Two Versions? Is one better? The Blu-Spec is only 3 or 4 years old, right? So it's the latest?
ReplyDeleteI have all three albums as Blu-Spec and I was curious what others thought.
The first Two albums have both the Stereo and Mono versions of each album and bonus tracks. Very different mixes. As an example, The Vocals on the Stereo version of the First album are barely there, while the Mono has gorgeous full-sounding Vocals.
Hello my friend. The MP3 link is down. Would you be able to re upload it sometime? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJoe Kenney, new links added, check again. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marios, for sharing this title. One of my favorites from the period. Also appreciate the Quicksilver shares!
ReplyDeleteHi, marios, can you re-up the Sundazed version of this album? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteEl Guajolote, "The Youngbloods - Elephant Mountain 1969", reloaded..
DeleteThanks for reposting the expanded "Elephant Mountain"!
ReplyDeleteMarios, I've tried three different links to "Elephant Mountain" and all have failed -- I keep getting a "File wasn't available on site" message from download.htm. What is the best link to use for the Sundazed version (in flac)? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe Blu-Ray version of "Elephant Mountain" did download without incident. Thank you!
ReplyDelete