Their full-length debut is their most joyous and cohesive statement and one of the most important and enduring documents of the psychedelic era, the band's swirl of distorted guitar and organ at its most inventive. In contrast to Jefferson Airplane, who were at their best working within conventional song structures, and the Grateful Dead, who hadn't quite yet figured out how to transpose their music to the recording studio, Country Joe & the Fish delivered a fully formed, uncompromising, and yet utterly accessible -- in fact, often delightfully witty -- body of psychedelic music the first time out.
Ranging in mood from good-timey to downright apocalyptic, it embraced all of the facets of the band's music, which were startling in their diversity- soaring guitar and keyboard excursions (Flying High, Section 43, Bass Strings, The Masked Marauder), the group's folk roots (Sad and Lonely Times), McDonald's personal ode to Grace Slick (Grace), and their in-your-face politics (Superbird).
Hardly any band since the Beatles had ever come up with such a perfect and perfectly bold introduction to who and what they were, and the results -- given the prodigious talents and wide-ranging orientation of this group -- might've scared off most major record labels. Additionally, this is one of the best-performed records of its period, most of it so bracing and exciting that one gets some of the intensity of a live performance.
The CD reissue also has the virtue of being one of the best analog-to-digital transfers ever issued on one of Vanguard Records' classic albums, with startlingly vivid stereo separation and a close, intimate sound.
by Richie Unterberger & Bruce Eder
Tracks
1. Flying High (Joe McDonald) - 2:38
2. Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine (McDonald) - 4:21
3. Death Sound Blues (McDonald) - 4:23
4. Happiness Is a Porpoise Mouth (McDonald) - 2:48
5. Section 43 (McDonald) - 7:23
6. Superbird (McDonald) - 2:04
7. Sad and Lonely Times (McDonald) - 2:23
8. Love (McDonald, Melton, Cohen, Barthol, Gunning, Hirsh) - 2:19
9. Bass Strings (McDonald) - 4:58
10. The Masked Marauder (McDonald) - 3:10
11. Grace (McDonald) - 7:03
Country Joe And The Fish
*Country Joe McDonald - Vocals, Guitar, Bells, Tambourine
*Barry Melton - Vocals, Guitar
*David Cohen - Guitar, Organ
*Bruce Barthol - Bass, Harmonica
*Gary Chicken Hirsh - Drums
Free Text
Fine Stuff!Many Thanks!
ReplyDeleteA great classic. I love this album.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, marios
ReplyDeleteThanks Marios! I've always loved the Country Joe And The Fish segment of the Monterey Pop documentary.
ReplyDeleteLove Country Joe & the Fish,one of those bands that are part of our soundtrack...amazing songs in a Must Album!!! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteHi Marios! Thanks for post this great album!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you have in FLAC other 2 compilations of Country Joe & The Fish: 1. Acid Sounds (Bootlegs, 1967-1968) and 2.The Life & Times of Country Joe & The Fish (1971)
Make post,please,if you got them.
Love this album Marios,although some of the tracks are better on the first E.P's,it's a must.
ReplyDeleteStrangely I don't have this in flac,so thank you.
Thanks for this great album Marios!
ReplyDeleteI remember when this was first released It seemed like music from another world. I loved it then and I love it now. Thanks for the quality music.
ReplyDeleteApparently I forgot to thanks for this great album. Great job, much appreciated. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThanks great record,great band.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThis is a great posting Marios
Thank you very much
All the best, Albert
hi Marios, the 'Free Text' link is broken. (gives account suspended). Any chance of a 're-upload' of this? Thanks.
ReplyDeletehi Marios, the 'Free Text' link (on the 'Electric Music' blog page) is broken. (gives account suspended). Any chance of a 're-upload' of this? Thanks.
ReplyDelete(repost/edit of this comment, but with an active 'jp' id)
Hi Marios! Can you please re-up to TB? Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteSorry Marios. Nevermind since I found the newer version already posted.
ReplyDelete