Tuesday, November 5, 2019

VA - My Mind Goes High 1966-68 (Psychedelic Pop Nuggets From The WEA Vaults) [2005]




PSYCHEDELIC POP

VA - My Mind Goes High 1966-68 (Psychedelic Pop Nuggets From The WEA Vaults) [2005]


"My Mind Goes High" is a true excavation of the vaults, picking overlooked album tracks and neglected singles from a cornucopia of WEA-owned labels, including Warner Bros., Cotillion, Jubilee, Valiant, Reprise, and Atco.

While the focus is on acts that released a single or forgotten album, there are a handful of recognizable names, The Association, Kim Fowley, the Electric Prunes, the Bonniwell Music Machine, The Tokens, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, and in the Monkees' "Porpoise Song," there's even a genuine hit. But that song is the exception to the rule: most of these are quite obscure, and it's even arguable that because they were released on major labels (or at the very least, high-profile labels), the songs haven't been given the attention or respect as psychedelia released on smaller, regional labels.

That argument is laid out in the introduction of the excellent liner notes, and the music on "My Mind Goes High" supports it strongly. Often, collections of rare heavy psychedelia and garage rock can grow a little samey even when the musical quality is high, since bands tended to emulate the same sounds and ideas, using the same production techniques as their peers. "My Mind Goes High" is a much more interesting listen than the average psychedelic rarities collection since these underground ideas are applied in bizarre, unpredictable ways to professionally written, melodic songs that were designed for mainstream radio.

Where its companion collection, Come to the Sunshine, is heavy on lush surfaces and harmonies, "My Mind Goes High" is overtly trippy and psychedelic, filled with fuzz guitars, echoes, phased vocals, organs, studio effects, and minor-key drones. This brings it closer to familiar Nuggets territory, but there's a much heavier emphasis on studiocraft and production here than there is on anything on the original double-vinyl Nuggets or Rhino's original box set; again, the focus is on the record, not the song, even though there are some excellent songs here. Nevertheless, the sound and effects of the productions are the most memorable aspects,  Jeff Thomas' "Straight Aero," quite likely the trippiest square anthem ever recorded, has a weird undercurrent of menace in its hiccupping bass and clanging piano. "My Mind Goes High" is filled with moments as strong as this, and it makes a convincing argument that psychedelic pop is at its best when it's pure, undiluted ear candy like this. It's not just a good introduction to the charms of psychedelic pop; it holds its own next to any collection of freaky, guitar-fueled garage-psychedelic rarities.
(AllMusic review  by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)


Prepare to have your mind completely blown by this....er... mind-blowing compilation, subtitled Psychedelic Pop from the WEA Vaults.

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VA - My Mind Goes High 1966-68 (Psychedelic Pop Nuggets From The WEA Vaults) [2005] CD1
https://www75.zippyshare.com/v/ipi6qdvJ/file.html

VA - My Mind Goes High 1966-68 (Psychedelic Pop Nuggets From The WEA Vaults) [2005] CD2
https://www75.zippyshare.com/v/xab2i8HT/file.html


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Track list

CD1


  01. Hallucinations - Baker Knight & the Knightmares
  02. It's Love - Misty Wizards
  03. Break Away - Next Exit
  04. Looking at a Baby - the Collectors
  05. Her Name Is Melody - Adrian Pride
  06. Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies - Association
  07. Lantern Gospel - World Column
  08. Who Planted Thorns in Miss Alice's Garden - Tom Northcott
  09. Man of Straw - John Wonderling
  10. The White Pony - Ellen Margulies
  11. Straight Aero - Jeff Thomas
  12. My Mind Goes High - MC2
 
CD2

  13. Hell Will Take Care of Her - Brass Buttons
  14. Lucifer - Salt
  15. Strangers in the Sky - Kim Fowley
  16. Antique Doll - Electric Prunes
  17. Astrologically Incompatible - Bonniwell Music Machine
  18. How Nice - Tokens
  19. Your Love Belongs to Everyone - Coronados
  20. That's the Way It's Gonna Be - Lee Mallory
  21. House of Glass - Glass Family
  22. Wildflowers - Holy Mackerel
  23. Porpoise Song - Monkees
  24. Smell of Incense - West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

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4 comments:

  1. Hi Butterboy,
    I always enjoy all the psychedelic comps like this that you post!!!
    Thanks a lot
    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Il Commendatore

      The Psych comps are always a great listen for me too.
      hope you enjoy this one and the ones to come.

      Cheers

      Delete
  2. I am forever indebted to you Butterboy. I salute you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Karl del Castillo.
      Enjoy the tunes.

      Cheers.

      Delete