Episode 004: Fourth Floor Elevators
004 Fourth Floor Elevators: All Hallows' Eve Selections Part One01 Larry's Rebels - Halloween (New Zealand 1968) Quite a success in their homeland, this quintet laid down many fine singles and an album during their brief four year span. This fun Halloween theme isn't quite spooky, but the earnest vocal and hilarious sound effects give it a bizarre appeal that could only come from the 60's.02 The Rattles - The Witch (Germany 1969) This German band's career spans four decades beginning with the early 60's beat boom. Their psychedelic work is laced with hard rock as heard on this scorcher featuring sound effects that too sound like a hoot to make in the studio with a head full of hashish.03 Griffin - I Am The Noise In Your Head (UK 69) One-off band that features members of Skip Bifferty and Bell + Arc plus future Yes drummer Alan White. This demented number is a perfect example of the pre-hard rock that many long haired bands would pursue before fully committing to the sound or seeking more progressive pastures.04 Alice Cooper - Fields of Regret (US 1969) Before finding success with his brand of shock rock, Alice Cooper was a band led by Vincent Furnier who would later adopt their name as his government. This epic piece from their debut shows a band worshiping at the altar of Syd-era Pink Floyd while being freshly influenced by label boss Frank Zappa's twisted form of virtuoso rock.05 The Doors - My Wild Love (US 1968) This "work song" styled dirge by the LA kings of doom laden psychedelia features no instruments from the band, as they grew tired of trying to make the music work and opted instead to clap, stomp and hum their way through the backing track. The result is one of their most haunting and unique songs.06 Fever Tree - Death is the Dancer (US 1968) This Houston band's sound grew from their folk rock beginnings into an organ driven psychedelic stew that they cooked across four albums and numerous singles. This proto-prog number incorporates a bit of a Doors influence but beefs up the rhythm section a few decibels.07 St. John Green - Goddess of Death (US 1968) Exploito psych at its finest produced by shady LA scenester Kim Fowley and West Pop Experimental Pop Art Band member/producer Michael Lloyd. Encouraged by Fowley to explore the "Canyon Sound" that he was pushing on bands at the time, these Pasadena based misfits produced one of the earliest forms of occult rock ever released. 08 Les Sauterelles - Heavenly Club (Switzerland 1968) A smash hit in their homeland, this Swiss band produced two albums and a few singles of beat and pop-psych before calling it quits in 1969. This Bee Gees inspired tune is a strange story of a man's near death experience that leaves him insane and features such a soaring chorus that the nonsensical lyrics are easily forgiven.09 The Salt - Lucifer (US 1968) A funky pop ode to Beelzebub by an alias of bubblegum producer Joey Levine, who was also in Ohio Express and wrote their classic hit "Try It". This song proves that the most skilled pop songwriter can take the darkest of subject matter and produce an ear worm.10 The Flying Machine - The Devil Has Possession of Your Mind (UK 1969) Though the title suggests possibly the darkest psych single ever recorded, we instead find another bubblegum tune that draws parallels between the man downstairs and a cheating lover. This band started life as Pinkerton's Assorted Colours and specialized in breezy UK harmony pop.11 Childe Harold - Brink of Death (US 1968) Truly warped in every sense of the word, this cover of Bert Sommers' downer masterpiece features every production trick available at the time plus some. The band seems to be an alias project by electronic wizard Wendy Carlos.All songs recorded from vinyl and curated by Elvin Estela.