Psychedelic States: Georgia in the '60s, Vol. 1

by Psychedelic States / Various

Overview

The first of Gear Fab's Psychedelic States compilations to take place outside the borders of Florida -- this time around the label swaps Sunshine State oranges for Georgia peaches -- starts out very promisingly with the Spontaneous Generation's "Up in My Mind," a pure Yardbirds vintage psychedelic rave-up as good as or better than anything on the three previous CDs in the series. But from there, however, the album, by and large, ranges from merely adequate to middling. One surmises this might have something to do with possible plans to release more than one Georgia in the '60s collection, which would thereby necessitate that Gear Fab spread the finest and most idiosyncratic cuts to emerge from the state in the latter half of the '60s over several albums. Much of the music on this initial Georgia edition, then, can only be characterized as filler, and like all filler, it is by turns prosaic and uninspired or amusing, but inconsequential, wholly forgettable at times, and total garage rock cool (Bo Allen, Faman, the Celtics, Tier Park, the Mach V, Red Beard & the Pirates) at others, although rarely psychedelic in even a cosmetic fashion. It is up to the listener to determine his or her threshold for this stuff, and as always, '60s fanatics will want it all. As for the rest of us, there are indeed other outstanding efforts aside from "Up in My Mind" to make the CD worthwhile (if not entirely worth its purchase price). Bitter Creek, like Stack (a previous Gear Fab rediscovery) or Blue Cheer, wreaks proto-heavy metal havoc on "Plastic Thunder," a crunching acid-streaked storm of cavernous bass and bolts of fuzz guitar, and King David & the Slaves do their best metalized interpretation of psychedelic Beatles on "I've Been Told." The Sweet Acids, the Fly-Bi-Nites, and Little Phil & the Night Shadows -- the latter reasonably famous in collector's circles -- also have worthy cuts. And while it's not kaleidoscopic in any discernible way, the Fugitives' bluesy "Meggie" is a superbly raunchy Rolling Stones theft to round things off. As for the rest, listen at your own discretion. ~ Stanton Swihart

Product Details

Release Date:	10/02/2001
Label:	Gear Fab
UPC:	0645270017725
Rank:	74075

Tracks

2. Up in My Mind  - Terry Lawson
3. I Want You to Know  -  Malibus
6. Go Away  -  Younger Brothers Band
7. Sets My Soul on Fire  - Joey Hall
10. I Hope You're Proud
12. Yes, It's Too Bad  -  Gang of Saints
14. Hurry  -  Faman  - Wayne White
15. Thinkin' About You  -  Checkmates International
17. Ode to Girl  - Larry Bowie  -  Soul
20. Plastic Thunder  -  Bitter Creek
21. Ballad of a Useless Man
24. Continentals Jam  -  Continentals
26. Times With You
27. I've Been Told  - Randall Bramblett  -  King David & the Slaves
30. A Woman  -  Bandits
31. The Way
34. Meggie
35. Laugh in My Face  - Wayne White
38. That Creature  -  Sweet Acids
39. If I Could
42. I Can't Look Down
44. How Can I Tell Everybody  - Dave Conway
46. Found Love  -  Fly-Bi-Nites  - Greg Presmanes
47. So Much  - Phil Jackson  -  Little Phil & the Night Shadows
50. People Say  - Gary Pearson
51. Starry Eyed Woman  - Larry Bowie
52. Go on Leave  -  Red Beard & the Pirates

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bitter Creek   Primary Artist
The Fly-Bi-Nites   Primary Artist
The Checkmates International   Primary Artist
The Malibus   Primary Artist
Younger Brothers Band   Primary Artist
Faman   Primary Artist
King David & the Slaves   Primary Artist
Little Phil & the Night Shadows   Primary Artist
Red Beard & the Pirates   Primary Artist
The Bandits   Primary Artist
The Gang of Saints   Primary Artist
Continentals   Primary Artist
Sweet Acids   Primary Artist
Soul, Inc.   Primary Artist
Clinton Collins   Bass
Tom Simmons   Guitar (Baritone)
Larry Bowie   Organ,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Phil Whitley   Guitar,Vocals
Doni Smith   Guitar (Rhythm)
Joe Burton   Drums,Vocals
Steve Winwood   Saxophone
Joe Lee Williams   Guitar
Charlie Collins   Guitar
Jim Brock   Drums
Richard Chadwick   Drums
Mike Davis   Organ
Bill House   Drums
Randall Bramblett   Saxophone
Terry Lawson   Vocals
Bob Hill   Keyboards
Keith Hanson   Organ
Billy Lee & the Rivieras   Vocals
John Whitley   Vocals,Guitar,Bass
Joey Hall   Guitar
Dave Conway   Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals
Gary Pearson   Guitar

Technical Credits

Gary Pearson   Composer
Younger Brothers Band   Performer
The Gang of Saints   Performer
Larry Bowie   Composer
Greg Presmanes   Composer
The Bandits   Composer,Performer
Soul, Inc.   Performer
The Malibus   Performer
Joe Lee Williams   Arranger
Randall Bramblett   Composer
Terry Lawson   Composer
Phil Jackson   Composer
Keith Hanson   Arranger
Roger Maglio   Liner Notes
Wayne White   Composer
Joey Hall   Composer
Dave Conway   Composer