Comments for Psychedelic Sight

Comment on No. 47: ‘My Crystal Spider’ by Race Baker

Race Baker — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:41:03 +0000

I need to get this album.

Comment on Ray Manzarek of the Doors dies by Alex Del Zoppo

Alex Del Zoppo — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:43:33 +0000

RE: The sad passing of the great Ray Manzarek. Our band, Sweetwater, opened for the Doors fairly often during our heyday, including at the Shrine and second-lining them at the Forum. Each time we did, I’d stand off-stage watching Ray from behind, marveling at how he would not only play all those intricate organ lines, but also the bass part, on another instrument (a fender keyboard with bass sounds) with his left hand.

His contribution to the Doors’ sound is already well-known, but his overall talent has never been duplicated, and probably never will.

Comment on No. 34: ‘Mechanical World’ by Astroman

Astroman — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:19:16 +0000

I say this to anyone who will listen: Spirit is one of the most underrated and unjustly ignored bands in the history of recorded sound. Unfortunately, every time I say this most people say “Who?” (thus proving my point). But these five guys, Jay Ferguson (vocals), Mark Andes (bass), Randy California (guitar), John Locke (keyboards), and Ed Cassidy (drums), were all accomplished musicians. But when they came together something magical happened. They became a gestalt entity; five guys working with one mind and one vision. Their records repeatedly shift between dark and light, hope and despair, death and life, balance and counter-balance. And the thing is, it never sounds pretentious or forced, like with some other more well-known bands.

“Mechanical World” is definitely in the darker realms of Spirit’s musical wanderings. It’s absolutely haunting. It has the kind of sound that sticks to the walls of your brain. In fact, I woke up one morning with that song in my head, and it took hours to get it out. Not that I mind having Spirit songs in my head, but when the same one is on a loop in your brain for several hours, it can get a little disconcerting. But the marks of a classic song are ones that can stay with you long after you’ve heard it, ones that stir up emotions in you, and ones that make you think. And “Mechanical World” does all that and more.

Comment on Ray Manzarek of the Doors dies by domra5

domra5 — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:24:11 +0000

So grateful of the tour to Australia several years ago. A hell of a rock concert.

Comment on Ray Manzarek of the Doors dies by Astroman

Astroman — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:28:02 +0000

A true pioneer of Psychedelic music, and the glue that held that band together through all of Jim Morrison’s eccentricities. With someone like Morrison in the group, who was so talented and yet so volatile, I’m surprised they were able to stay together as long as they did and make that much great music.

Ray’s keyboard playing was arguably the best of the genre, and he did a mighty fine job of making up for the lack of a bass player as well. Grace Slick and Paul Kantner once recounted a story about when The Doors were touring Europe in 1968 with the Jefferson Airplane. Morrison was in one of his “too inebriated to perform” states, so Ray did all the singing as well as all the keyboard playing (including filling in for the bass).

While that must have pissed off a lot of teenyboppers who had just come there to witness Morrison’s antics, I’ll bet that was still one helluva show. Rest In Peace, Brother. Say “hi” to Jim for us. I know he’ll be glad to see you.

Comment on No. 33: ‘Eskimo Blue Day’ by Astroman

Astroman — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:14:51 +0000

I was about to post that I disagreed with your decision to put this song on the list, but I thought before I made a jerk out of myself in front of the entire world I better go back and listen to the song again. Although I’ve owned “Volunteers” for decades, I haven’t listened to it nearly as much as “Pillow,” “Baxter’s,” or “Crown.” After going back and re-familiarizing myself with the track, I can respect your choice of the song. It’s still not one of my favorites, the song or the album.

“Crown Of Creation” has been my favorite Airplane album for a long time. 1968 was a very dark year (Tet, MLK’s & RFK’s assassinations, the riots at the DNC), and that album seems to mirror that murky mood to perfection. Then again, 1969 was a pretty radical year, what with Tricky Dick taking over, so maybe in its own way “Volunteers” does the same thing “Crown” did the previous year.

Comment on No. 47: ‘My Crystal Spider’ by abel

abel — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:13:43 +0000

Patrick: I caught them at the Miami festival as well — probably every guy in the audience felt like sending her fan mail! Sensational performance. Alex DZ told me he and the band “fell in love with the entire state and returned many times — it seemed that Florida and Sweetwater enjoyed a mutual attraction.”

Comment on No. 100: ‘Just Dropped In’ by Astroman

Astroman — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:26:59 +0000

What’s more Psychedelic than opening your song with a backwards fiddle? To the First Edition, apparently nothing, for I think that’s exactly how this song opens (not with backwards guitar, as stated in the above article, but my ears could be deceiving me). Even exploitation can have merit, because if this was an attempt to cash in on the Psychedelic/Acid Rock craze, then it’s a heck of an exploit.

Even with a long career of boring the masses to death with songs about Gamblers, County Cowards, and Stream Islands, this is still the best thing Kenny Rogers ever did (I still remember as a young child riding in the back seat of my parents’ car and being forced to endure the man bellowing “You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille”). Despite the throw-away lyrics and country-tinged music, this is still a Psychedelic classic.

Although the First Edition would go on to produce such vomit-inducing drivel as “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town” and “Ruben James,” they nonetheless left one shining jewel in the Psychedelic crown. And as an aside, my original 45 plays the flipside “Shadow In The Corner Of Your Mind” on the side labeled ‘Just Dropped In,” and vice-versa. Does anyone else have one like that? (And no, I haven’t “tore my mind on a jagged sky.” It really DOES play like that!)

Comment on No. 47: ‘My Crystal Spider’ by Patrick Edmondson

Patrick Edmondson — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:52:34 +0000

And it was a show stopper as was the band. Nancy vocals were an aural trip twining around the flute. The unusual instrumentation with a rock beat was show stopping at each major festival where I had the joy to hear them play. I treasure a letter from Nancy Nivens in response to a fan letter after the Miami Pop festival where I first saw the band.

Comment on No. 47: ‘My Crystal Spider’ by Astroman

Astroman — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:26:53 +0000

A cool and very trippy song that deserves a spot on any list of good Psychedelic songs, although it does sound like they were seriously channeling the Jefferson Airplane on this one. Even Nancy Nevins’ delivery of the line “Send him back to me” sounds like Grace herself. While I don’t think it’s quite on the level of the Airplane, it’s still a pretty soundtrack for a freak-out. If “White Rabbit” is Coca-Cola, then “My Crystal Spider” could be considered Diet Coke.