5 comments about Abraxas.

1. I borrowed this disc from my sister to see if it was worth laying out a premium for it in the aftermarket. Buyer beware...this is a poor production. The bass is almost non-existent. The highs are overblown and the mix unto itself is bizarre. If you want to pay a premium for an audiophile version of Abraxas then treat yourself to the stereo SACD. It's really ashame as this would have been great album in 5.1 if done properly.



2. Santana-Abraxas ****1/2
   
   When some people think of the Gibson SG guitar they think of Angus Young of AC/DC or Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath or sometimes even Pete Townsend of The Who, and while all of those are great guitarists, None of them was able to make that baby cry like Carlos Santana was on the groups first two albums. Weaving his guitar lines through hit singles like their reading of the (original) Fleetwood Macs 'Black Magic Women' and 'Oye Como Va' for the mainstream to hear that the guitar could be played more than just one way....with passion.
   
   Passion is what fueled Abraxas, the passion to make a better album than their first. This certainly did become a bigger album, and even to this day is the bands signature release, and while I myself am partial to the debut, I must give this the recognition it deserves.
   
   Songs like the Aretha Franklin meets Miles Davis 'Incident At Nesbar' and the rocking 'Hope Your Feeling Better' are straight up rockers. The former contains a fantastic organ solo from Rolie, and the latter has amazing production and a catchy chorus, not to mention some amazing wha-wha pedal work from Carlos. The Carlos original 'Samba Pa Ti' transcends beauty with power to create one of the most sublime recordings in all of rock, rivaled only by his own 'Europa' which would come a few albums later. 'Se A Cabo' 'Mothers Daughter' and 'El Nicoya' show the percussion of the band as heard on the debut, and that is my only complaint with Abraxas is that the Latin and African rhythm has almost all but disappeared.
   
   Santana set out to make a great rock n' roll record with Abraxas and ultimately that is what they did. I loved the debut because of it's variety and instrumental prowess into multiple genres and worldly music, some of that was lost here, but this still remains a great rock album, and one of the all time best in fact.
   
   Now some releases of Abraxas come with three bonus tracks. 'Se A Cabo' and 'Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen' are both here live recorded at The Royal Albert Hall in 1970, but 'Toussaint L'Overture' is also included live from that same show, and it is one hell of a performance. So if you have the choice of either the original version or with the bonus tracks go for the extra as it costs the same and is way worth it.



3. And this is even better than the last one, or any other Santana album, for that matter! They're broadening out here, with some tracks even leaning towards fusion ("Incident at Neshabur") or even progressive rock ("Singing Winds, Crying Beasts"), and the branching out results in goodness - I especially dig "Singing Winds", an underrated song with a great atmosphere, though I also adore Rollie's piano solo on "Incident". Of course, the real selling point behind this is the pair of massive FM hits, which both are classics of the era. The group's creepy retelling of "Black Magic Woman" (with the rapid, fantastic guitar solo "Gypsy Queen" included on the end) is the bigger of the two, but my favorite is "Oye Como Va". It's not just because of Carlos, though his playing is up to his usual standard, but Gregg Rollie's organ solo is quite excellent too, and the percussion is awesome. And, of course, both of these songs are covers. Now, when they try to compose their own rock songs, things get a bit uglier. "Mother's Daughter" is poor generic blues complete with mock-Clapton vocals; "Hope You're Feeling Better" is a pale Hendrix imitation. But there are plenty of great moments to make up for that, especially Carlos' melodic solo "Samba Pa' Ti" (the obvious basis for the later "Europa") and the driving Latin rock of "Se a Cabo". It's not as consistent as the debut, III, or Caravanesari, but it hits higher, more frequent heights than any of them.



4. This is a review of the sound quality of the latest MoFi remastering of this album, NOT a review of the merit or stature of Abraxas (we already know it is classic).
   
   Having had several iterations of this album over the years, most recently the last Sony remaster, this MoFi blows everything else away. Incredible clarity, great 3-dimensional imaging... it's hard to believe that after all these years, Sony hasn't been able to get so much musical information out of the mastertape for their previous releases of Abraxas and that MoFi just did. I should note that the earlier MoFi release of this paled in comparison. It was surpassed by the last remastering of Abraxas that Sony did, BUT it was state of the art at time of release, and that's been many, many years ago... FIVE STARS!!!



5. If you think to spent your money on this DTS, save it.
   If you already have it and think that it sounds good, please send me your recommendations in order that I can hear it to.
   It's the worst mix of the century.

5 comments about Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru.

1. I love classic Cumbia, and I love classic Garage rock. SO Im thrilled to discover this intersection of styles. THe peruvian folk meoldies are an added bonus. Candy!
   
   Thanks to whoever hunted down this style. It's great listening music and great dance music. highly recommended



2. This CD has an infectious quirky sound. Love it.
   The kind of music you want at a party



3. I received a CD case that had been shrink-wrapped in plastic, but no CD. Very annoying.



4. This mixture of old and new themes in an upbeat salsa Peruvian style all its own.



5. This is a great set of songs perfect for listening to while cooking in the kitchen: spatula in one hand, margarita in the other and the urge to dance while you sautee.

1 comments about Magical Mystery Tour Memories.

1. Magical Mystery Tour Memories
   
   This newly produced hour long documentary on the making of the Beatle's third film - "Magical Mystery Tour" - can be highly recommended to TRUE Beatles fans who want ALL the inside info. (These are the folks who covet every CD made of news conference interviews with the Fab Four). For those who remember seeing the film once, or have never seen it at all, it's worth an hour to watch, though references made by the interviewees won't mean much.
   
   Show on high quality video, the documentary is "hosted" by Victor Spinetti, the British actor who appeared in all three Beatles films. He is personable. With two or three exceptions, the persons telling their "memories" are individuals who happened to live in Cornwall when MMT was filmed in 1967. There is the man whose father owned the smal newsstand and the local policeman who had his 15 seconds of fame in the film. We learned how the Beatles were just "regular folks.".
   
   The two "names" in this doc are musician Spencer Davis, who tells a few good short stories, and Neil Innes from the Bonzo Dog (Doo Dah) Band, who actually sings a song. (The rest of the music in the film consists of instrument versions of MMT songs - none performed by the Beatles.)Oh yes, we get Paul McCartney's brother, Mike, - who is back to using the family name after many years as "Mike McGear), mostly slumming off of his sibling's reputation.
   
   There are 11 short interviews on the DVD as "bonus material).
   
   A nicely done package, but as I said above, really aimed at the Beatles completist.
   
   Steve Ramm
   "Anything Phonographic"

5 comments about The Big Chill - Deluxe Edition.

1. Here, we have a brilliant assemblage of '60s tunes that will transport any Baby Boomer back to as close as one can get to the good old days.
   
   I particularly love this CD because they've revived some great songs that would have been otherwise forgotten for me. I swear that the folks who pulled this brilliant selection of tracks all together into one CD must be the scoundrels who stole my beloved giant box of 33s and 8-tracks!
   
   It would have been nice if they had included each and every song from this superb film but something is better than nothing at all. For anyone into '60s nostalgia, this CD is a must.



2. Brings me back to a better time. Love it. Even listen to it on the way to work instead of the news!



3. This is truly one of the best soundtracks ever compiled for a movie. Every song is a classic, with both power as a standalone song as well as meaning within the timeline of the movie. "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum is one of those songs that still sends chills through me when I hear it.
   
   Aretha Franklin sends power and strength through her rendition of "You Make Me Feel like a Natural Woman" - while The Temptations lay it all on the line with "Ain't Too Proud to Beg". You've got the sweet songs of "My Girl", the happy-go-lucky songs of "Good Lovin'" and "Joy to the World", and much more.
   
   These were songs that inspired a whole generation of new songmakers, and for good reason. They had great lyrics, intricate harmonies, and melodies that worked their way into your heart.
   
   Highly recommended! These are great to listen to as a set, to capture the essence of an era, as well as working into your other playlists you have, as cornerstones for groups of a variety of song types.



4. All the music is great and being a teen in the 60s brought back some good memories.



5. Even though i am too young to have experienced these songs when they were first released, they are classics that will never die. What a great collection, that has all of the songs from the movie plus others that follow along the same themes.
   Definitely worth the price (even when you take into account currency conversion and freight costs to New Zealand!!)
   I haven't stopped playing it since it arrived.

5 comments about Greatest Hits.

1. I'm 32 years old and just got this "best of" album, which is my first Sly album. That's how many years I missed out on this amazing music aside from radio play. You like to sing? You like to dance? You like to feel good? Then buy this album and go to town.



2. The quintessential sound of the late 60's and early 70's this CD is packed with great songs. Although the songs were re-mastered the CD still holds that unique sound that dates the music. The songs compiled on the disc are all songs that you will remember even though you forgot the song titles. If you are looking for that disc that holds that funky and groovy sound of the hippy generation this CD is for you.



3. Finally! Here is the Sly & The Family Stone Greatest Hits album on CD--but this one is remastered having sound that is far, far better than the previous CD issue. Every song is in stereo, while the previous CD of this album had two or three songs in mono. This remastered issue would make the previous issue totally obsolete. But, for those of you who like whatever songs that were in mono on the previous CD issue of this title, please feel free to keep it, but you will enjoy the entire album in stereo on this remastered issue. The cover art has been rightfully restored. It also features (on the inside) the original LP liner notes for it as well as the original LP back cover. You also get details on the sources where the songs were originally released from. A must have for any person who enjoyed this album back in the 70s, this reissue is a true keeper.



4. This CD has great sound (thanks to Bob Irwin And Vic Anesini), however three songs on the original album, Hot Fun In The Summertime, Everybody Is A Star and Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) are in stereo on this remastered CD. The old edition of this CD, as on the original album, had these songs in mono. It would have been nice, since the running order of this CD is only twelve songs long, to have included the mono versions of these songs.



5. I reviewed the 1990 CD of "Greatest Hits" some time ago and complained that the great catalog of Sly & The Family Stone had been neglected for far too long. Indeed the sound on those early CDs was thin and did no justice to the music. As most readers must know by know, Legacy has recently remastered and exapnded the catalog of one of rock and soul's greatest bands ever, eight albums originally issued on Epic from 1967 to 1974. (I guess 1975's "High On You" and Sly's 1976 farewell album for the label, "Heard You Missed Me Well I'm Back" are considered too minor to bother with, though the former especially has some strong tracks on it). Even if one has the newly remastered studio albums issued earlier this spring, a restored "Greatest Hits" is worth having. Originally issued in 1970, when the band was at the peak of its commercial success, "Greatest Hits" sounds fantastic, and includes three of the greatest 'non-album' singles ever, all released after "Stand!" (1969) and before "There's A Riot Goin' On" (1971). Each was a chart topping hit as well as a true classic. "Hot Fun In The Summertime" was a terrific, sexy summer song that came out a bit late in the season (8/69), yet spent four months on the "Billboard" chart. From the shimmering keyboard intro, the production is spectacular, worthy of Brian Wilson's most evocative soundscapes. Four months later the band closed one decade and opened another with a double sided masterpiece: "Everybody Is A Star" is as incandescent as the greatest doo-wop, yet was utterly contemporary, a melodically gorgeous affirmation backed with a far darker side, "Thank You", five minutes of irresistable hard funk boasting one of Sly's all time finest lyrics. Its pessimism marked a real change from themes Sly had been exploring on the group's first four albums. In fact it was one of the original band's most powerful performances, and one of the last to feature the whole talented Family Stone, since by the time the long delayed masterpiece "There's A Riot Goin' On" came out in late 1971 things had become much more desperate for Sly, and band members soon began to leave (bassist Larry Graham and drummer Greg Errico were the first to split).
   Is twelve bucks worth it for just under 12 minutes of music? Sometimes the answer is yes. Certainly pick this up if you don't already have these tracks on 2003's "The Essential" compilation. It goes without saying "Greatest Hits" collection hangs together quite well, and is sonically much better than any earlier versions of this material. And the cover art has been faithfully restored.
   Incidentally, it would be nice to have some of Sly's hard to find "Riot"-era material produced for his Stone Flower label (distributed by Atlantic)during 1970 - 71. At the moment Little Sister's full-length "Your The One" and its followup, "Somebody's Watching You" can be found on the Eric label compilation "Hard To Find 45s On CD: Sweet Soul Sounds" (highly recommended), while the latter single's excellent b-side, "Stanga" and another Stone Flower single, 6ix's "I'm Just Like You" have been issued on Rhino's recent box set "What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves 1967 - 77", which is a treasure trove of rare and classic material from the vaults of various Atlantic and Warner Bros distributed labels. Finally, after he was dropped by Epic Sly continued to make strong music, even if it didn't sell as well as his earlier classics. The limited edition "Who In The Funk Do You Think You Are: The Complete Warner Bros Recordings" on Rhinohandmade is still available as I write this, featuring 1979's "Back On The Right Track" and 1983's "Ain't But The One Way" in superb sound, plus several fascinating outtakes.

5 comments about The Boxmasters.

1. I went to go see the Box Masters in concert at Merrimack Hall in Huntsville Al for one reason. I liked Billy Bob's movies...it was a small venue and I might be able to meet him and get an autograph or two. Who knew that I would actually enjoy the friggin show?!? It is very rare that I see a group not knowing ANY of their songs and after one show I go to the lobby and buy a CD. It doesn't have the commercial appeal that Garth Brooks or Hank Jr. would pull but the songs are very real. You listen to them and if it doesn't apply to you...it applies to someone you know. It has this neurotic "last grasp" feel to it....like mixing the group "Everclear" with "Johnny Cash". I think the with the right exposure tracks 1-4 of their original stuff could easily be country hits.....and tracks 5 and 6 could resonate as bar room anthems across the country(like friends in low places sort of thing). There is quality to this CD and the live show and I think any doubters will be pleasantly surprised



2. i ADORE this album and i'm not even a country music fan. i saw these guys in Sellersville, PA (philly 'burb) on 8-19-08 and they were wonderful. can't wait to see them again. i'm listening to it right now :)



3. Often times I approach albums from actors with tremendous trepidation and skepticism. A good actor does not a good musician make. I have a stack of albums at home to prove it (Bruce Willis, Eddie Murphy, Keenau Reeves, echhh!). But what happens when the music is so good, the songwriting is so tight and the talent is so spot on that you forget that an actor is doing it? What happens is pure genius! The new album by the Boxmasters is steeped in tradition and yet sounds cool and contemporary. In the great tradition of American roots and rockabilly, Billy Bob Thornton and his henchmen have put out a record that is almost too good to be true. You not only get killer originals but a disc of covers that are interpreted so well, you almost think they were written by the band themselves.
   
   It started with "Private Radio" and I must say I have enjoyed Billy's musical journey immensely. Like characters in his films, he changes personas with such grace and agility that you can't help but be breathtaken. The band is hot, tight and if you see them live, you couldn't find a more talented bunch if you tried. See them and buy a bunch of copies and give them to the people you love! Music really is food for the soul, and this album is the best southern meal you can have!



4. Damn, Billy Bob Thornton has a new fan. Its me! Damn since I saw him 2 weeks ago, I bought his CD that night and I have been hooked ever since. Ya know its kinda nice to discover something new from someone that your really didnt expect it from. Ya know I like almost ever song on the double CD box. Por House, the 2 Nesmith songs, which by the way always has something differnt to offer, Shes Getting Better By The Minute and the remake of a song by The Beatles I Want To Hold your Hand which I feel was long overdue for a makeover. Ya know, I shook his hand and he looked at me and said, "I want to thank you for coming to the show", How really nice of him to be so in touch with his fans! Im a big fan of all of his movies and now, his music!



5. This is good, solid entertainment. The songs are gritty, unique, and just downright entertaining. It's about hard life and hard living, weird stuff, but fun. I love a blend of contradictions. I could see this album being used as the background music for The Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Toldwhen it is made into a movie.

5 comments about The Best of the Doors.

1. It's difficult for me to speculate how many hundreds of times I've played this double CD set but I'll just say "often, for many years". "The Best of The Doors" represents the very essence of Classic Rock music of the turbulent 60s.
   
   The Doors generated a unique, incredibly palatable sound, apart from all others. While this caveat probably exuded from "theater" as much as it did from musical innovation, the band's keyboard player, Ray Manzarek, was clearly as responsible for the brilliance of these compositions as was Jim Morrison himself.
   
   Here's the lineup of these great old rock tunes:
   
   CD No. 1
   Break on Through
   Light My Fire (7:05 version)
   The Crystal Ship
   People Are Strange
   Strange Days
   Love Me Two Times
   Alabama Song (bonus track -- CD only)
   Five to One
   Waiting for the Sun
   Spanish Caravan
   When the Music's Over
   
   CD No. 2
   Hello, I Love You
   Roadhouse Blues
   L.A. Woman
   Riders on the Storm
   Touch Me
   Love Her Madly
   The Unknown Soldier
   The End
   
   For those who savor such information, this CD is from Elektra, No. 9 60345-2. This "best of" album lives up to its assertion. If you want to hear all the Morrison greats, seize on this one, my friends.



2. I live just down the street from the Whiskey and I swear when you walk in that place you still feel Jim's presence, I also take everyone who ever comes to visit to Venice Beach where there is a giant mural of Jim painted on the side of an apartment building and I drink Strongbow's at Barney's Beanery where Jim planted his hot bootie night after night - to me Jim and the Doors represent a very interesting part of LA history, but for some reason this is the first time I've actually owned a Doors CD - and I can't not even fathom what I was thinking.
   
   The strangest part is I owe it to Wal Mart(sorry Amazon) who had this double disc remastered version for only $9.72 I picked it up immediately and can't stop listening to it. 2 full discs of ballsiness, organs, long guitar interludes and oozing sexuality. This disc has it all - the full 6 minute "Light My Fire," "Break On Through", "Hello I Love You", "Love Me Two Times", "LA Woman", the oozy appeal of "Riders On The Storm," "Touch Me" - all of it. One of the best $10 spots I ever spent. If there's a used version buy it - buy it now.



3. This album has to probaly be the best doors hits cd you can find(besides the legacy CD) anyways this 2 disc set has all the great doors songs, light my fire, break on through, when the musics over ETC... the only song missing is soul kitchen but besides that this album is great! Everything about it is just perfect all the songs are good just a great great album, buy this and like a few other doors albums and your set!
   5/5 stars
   THE DOORS RULE!



4. A friend of mine told me about this band and how good there music was. So, I went out and bought this 2 disc cd, and boy was I amazed at the music. I can't seem to stop playing it.



5. This product is the same greatest hits collection that has been available for a decade, but now packaged in a slimline case rather than the old bulky double-CD case. The tracklist is identical, and I don't notice much audio quality difference between the two.
   
   The tracklist is as good now as it was 1o+ years ago. Sure, there's a little fluff in here. "Touch Me" has never sounded at home in this tracklist. I've never really liked "Roadhouse Blues" or "LA Woman", but they were hits and I guess it's nearly obligatory that they be included. Still, the rest of the tracklist is outstanding. In the iTunes-era, we aren't really bound by a pre-selected "greatest hits" lineup anyways. For the current price of $10 for this product you'll get 19 great tracks, and you can then supplement it with a few singles here and there from iTunes or Zune marketplace to build the essential Doors collection. This product contains the two long tracks, "The End" and my favorite "When the Music's Over", that cannot be purchased as single mp3's because of their length, so this collection is probably the best way to get those songs.
   
   When you're building a collection of psychedelic rock, you have to include these songs. What Donovan was to psychedelic folk, what the Zombies were to psychedelic pop, so the Doors are to psychedelic blues. This is a great value for a great record.

5 comments about Directions To See A Ghost.

1. Directions to See a Ghost (2008, Light in the Attic) The Black Angels' second studio album. ***
   
   Back in fall of 2006 I stumbled across what was then a very little-known band called the Black Angels. I had found them on MySpace through a music search of the top psychedelic artists (that's another story in itself) according to the number of fans. On the third or fourth page back in the independent label column, I found this band. I clicked the link simply because I liked the artwork that was their logo. Back then they were featuring songs from their debut album, Passover, that had been released earlier that year. Upon my first listen to "Black Grease," I instantly classified them as a mix between Zeppelin, the Doors, and the Velvet Underground.
   
   That album - Passover, I mean - was a decent affair. For every song that was interesting to listen to, there was one that was boring. But here, on Directions to See a Ghost, the Black Angels have changed things up a bit. Maas is no longer trying to sound like anyone else. Passover found him switching between a pissed-off Lou Reed and a stoned Jim Morrison, but here Maas has accepted his own style, and that's good, because he has a very distinctive voice. As far as the music goes, it's not as gloomy as Passover, rather, it's more psychedelic. They dig even deeper into that sound, emulating the Doors, for example, on "Never/Ever," a song too similar to "The End." They emulate a heavy version of the Velvet Underground on their brilliant second track and first single, "Doves." The drones are just as strong, the slow, riff-tastical numbers are still prevalent, but with less aggravation. It's not the angry record that Passover was, and it's not as difficult to sit through.
   
   The standout, as was with the first album, is drummer Stephanie Bailey. Never since Bonham has a drummer shown so much love for the bass drum, and her constant, churning rhythms are such a breath of fresh air in a world filled with bouncy loops. The whole band has stepped up a bit, expanding their experiments with guitar reverbs and vocal distortion. It's a trippy affair for sure, and interesting at first, but like Passover, the formula for Directions to See a Ghost is too tiring to hold up. (Doves, Mission District)



2. Let me state upfront that I wasn't aware of the Black Angels until a friend of mine, who knows my musical tastes quite well, directed me to them with this, their second album. I would not be not disappointed. (I confess that I have not heard the band's first album, 2006's "Passover", yet at this time, but I will seek that out shortly.)
   
   "Directions to See a Ghost" (11 tracks; 71 min.) starts off with a blast, "You On The Run", which at first reminds me immediately of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, but then the song evolves. "Doves" kicks off with thundering drums, only to be joined by even more thundering guitars, awash in reverb, just great. "Science Killer" starts with a great bass line, and eventually works into a frenzy, just great. "Mission District" reminded me of early Pink Floyd (Syd Barret-era). The energy throughout the album is fantasic, shoe-glazing psychedelic-influenced music at its best (and it's not a coincidence that the Black Angels are now on the same label as Brian Jonestown Massacre). Other highlights for me include the hard-charging "Vikings" and the closer, a 16 min. epic "Snake In the Grass" which goes on forever, but you never want it to end anyway, fabulous. In all, this album is just great, and sure to make my "best of the year" list.
   
   Please note that simultaneously with the album, the band released an EP "Black Angel Exit" (4 tracks; 24 min.), which you could get by pre-ordering the album, or now at the band's shows (which is where I got it). It is a great companion to (and in the same vein as) the album, with the 9+ min. title track as the highlight. I had the good fortune to catch the Black Angels in concert here in Cincinnati recently in support of the new album, and they were nothing short of fantastic, a delight for any fan of live music. Meanwhile, "Directions to See a Ghost" is HIGHLY recommended!



3. '18 Years' might be the best song they've ever written, for one thing. But that aside, this album is an absolute, unadulterated masterpiece. I loved 'Passover'. This blows it out of the water. Deep chugging blues washed in some of the most profoundly cosmic feedback I have ever heard. I could sit here and go on and on and on... but just buy the album. Exalting, thrilling, and incredibly sexy...
   
   RIYL: Dead Meadow, Black Mountain, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Spacemen 3, The Warlocks (with whom I get to see them in a week!!!), Blood on the Wall (as in Mary Susan), The Verve



4. reminds me of the first two Black Rebel Motorcycle Club releases... awesome music... just what I was looking for!



5. I really enjoyed their first album and after two or three listens, I enjoy this one too. If you have not heard the first album or EP, the Black Angels play relatively heavy, bluesy, psychedelic yet catchy American rock.
   
   Comparisons to everyone from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (who they have toured with) to Velvet Underground to Spacemen 3 have been appropriately made. I don't think they sound like the latter two; the Angels' music is not nearly as raw or noisy. However, you can definitely hear how they influenced their unique update of those classic sound.
   
   If you are a fan of their first record (or their awesome live show), definitely pick this up. So far, there is not a single song as immediately catchy as "The First Vietnamese War" but the overall song quality might be an improvement from their debut LP.
   
   They are touring with the Warlocks, which is an incredibly appropriate pairing. Psyched!

5 comments about In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.

1. Arrived a little late, most likely due to shipper/shipping service, having hard time getting "stereo" mix right, still trying, but nice product for the price!



2. Ok, I only bought this CD for the one song In-A Gadda Da Vida. If you did not grow up when this was released, you probably won't like it...unless you are into to some weird tripping thing. This is old school psychedelic music period.



3. This is a great classic psychedellic album. And it came out when acid rock was extremly popular and bands like, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, The Beatles etc. Were sweeping the scene. Iron Butterfly was split up at this time but reformed. Key tracks on this album are, In A Gadda Da Vida, Most Anything You Want, etc. In A Gadda Da Vida is probaly one of the staple acid rock songs of all time first off the beat is so psychedellic and add on distorted guitar and cool organs it makes quite a good song. All in all a great 60s album and if you love acid rock this album is for you
   5/5 stars



4. Iron Butterfly was one of the forerunners of Heavy Metal.I just can't imagine what anyone thought back in 1968 when people put this on their turntable.I'm now 37 years old,I was 15 when I first heard this song in 1986,I was curious about the early days of hard rock/heavy metal.When I heard In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,I was just blown away by the intensity that was there! I was trying to compare 80's metal with Iron Butterfly's sound in my own mind,I would just like to say,IT'S A TRUE METAL CLASSIC!



5. Most people have heard the song In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, and the song is one of the greatest songs in rock history. The rest of the album is really good as well. I have played this album at many of parties throughout the years and it is always a hit. Many good memories of the late eighties and early nineties.

5 comments about Happy Trails.

1. Imagine Jerry Garcia at his peak, with all 10 fingers intact, though with a lesser band. Most songs are quite strong, though Calvalry suffers from some of the spacey self-indulgence of the era (cf Dead's Caboose).



2. You have to remember that at the time of this performance, guys like Bo Diddley and Link Wray were Oldies but Goodies. Maybe even Oldies but Moldies. I had heard of Bo Diddley, but had never heard his stuff. I was a kid. But this album was as frisky as a young rattlesnake. Their timing and rhythmic perfection is irresistably dance inducing. Who do you love is a tour de force of variations on a theme, an orgiastic Dionysian ritual, and Mona devolves into ancient Egyptian rites of the Dead and the elevation of the spine of Osiris. The mythic character of the sequences on side B, Maiden of the Cancer Moon, Calvary, map perfectly to TS Eliot's poem, The Wasteland, and What the Thunder Said, which takes up the theme of the Fisher King, desertification, healing, and salvation. With this recording QMS reached a psychedelic zenith they never attained again, but for a brief moment in time, the full moon shone down on the children of the enchanted garden, and the roses bloomed...



3. A rare live album of a much underated 60's band. Excellent guitar playing with the usual long solos that were a part of live 60's performances. This album, I think I am right in saying was rated in the top 200 of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. I thoroughly recommend it!



4. Happy Trails by The QMS is branded forever in our memory,
   and especially its
   
   Who, When, Where, How and Which Do You Love
   
   (Bo Diddley reworks) on this splendid piece of
   esoteric electric guitar masterpiece.
   
   It is fine buy with a very long playlist.
   
   Cipollina, Duncan and Others are superb.
   
   (Even if they spent time in lock-up for enjoying Life,
   in harmless peace-loving pursuits of flowerful happiness,
   rather than bombing the Jungle Life of SE Asia in a
   War Criminal War of extreme hypocrisy...)
   
   The audience joins in with clapping and chanting in
   complete harmony at times...
   
   Happy Trails really brings back
   vivid colourful memories, tinged with
   rainbow electric iridescence...
   
   Mona (originally by Bo Diddley), Calvary and Maiden
   of the Cancer Moon, with their strange eerie vibes,
   are worthy as unusual experimental music art.
   
   QMS is one band we hope to remember and listen to
   in the AfterLife.
   
   We heard QMS greatly live at Mammoth Gardens in Denver
   in the late 1960's and also enjoyed those colourful
   psychedelic Fillmore West mandala Postcards.
   
   Please Avoid Smoking in Flight...
   
   Take Another Hit...
   
   Of Fresh Air !
   
   Happy Trails To You...
   
   Until We Meet Again...



5. A crazy 25 minutes jamming with "Who do you love" plus a splendid "Mona" from Diddley and a still more crazy "calvary", with a funny 45 sec. country tune... and all that before Nicky Hopkins joins the band. QMS is one the the most underated groupe in classic rock.