Electric Music For The Mind And Body

I find it very hard to get excited about an album like this. It was probably big or important in its time (67, right at the beginning of the whole psychedelic pop-rocknsummer of love shit) but this is the same crap I've heard a done much better a million times. I paid more attention to the lyrics to see if I was missing something groundbreaking - cool cats, diggin trips, fuck LBJ, nothing new to see here. And I get that these are cliches now but might not have been at the time, doesn't make them less annoying. It's raw, and I fucking love raw albums, but these guys needed a couple more takes of a few of these songs. And the bluesy track that could have been a nice song was ruined by the loudest tambourine I've ever heard in a song, followed later by the loudest maracas I've ever heard in a song. "Death sound". Maybe I'd have enjoyed it if I'd heard it before I heard Jefferson airplane, grateful dead etc. Or if I never watched ANY Vietnam movies. Or if I dropped some acid first. Other than that, great album.

Well, it’s better than the Grateful Dead, but that’s a low bar.

Electric Music for the Mind and Body by Country Joe and The Fish (1967) McDonald’s moniker “Country Joe” is a reference to Joseph Stalin, and Barry Melton’s moniker “The Fish” is a reference to Mao Zedong (Wikipedia); you see, mommies, daddies, and managers were post-WWII socialists. This was music that was loved at the time because it was so ‘counter-cultural’. And it was loved by people who celebrated their difference from the mainstream by imitating each other. This mindset was perfectly parodied by Dick Shawn in the 1967 Mel Brooks classic “The Producers”. The ‘message’ is carried by trite lyrics that clunk along and stop just short of expressing feeling. It’s what you get when you turn red diaper babies loose in the studio. Lyrically, the album seems to be excusing itself by saying, “Since I’m stoned, I don’t have to make sense”. There’s one weeny stab at amateur political satire of LBJ (“Superbird”) that can be reduced to “I don’t like you, nyaah, nyaah”. And when a songwriter says (“Sad and Lonely Times”), “I can’t find the words to tell you how I care”, the listener can’t help but say, “Well, keep searching and get back to me”. Lead guitar has some nice moments (“Death Sound”, “Bass Strings”) with sparkling blues runs, inventive rapid tremolo and tasteful reverb, but it’s slapped against lead vocals that utterly lack soul. Plus, the bass strings on “Bass Strings” are seriously out of tune (actually, this is the case on most of the album). And there’s often an annoying mismatch between the gimmicky guitar effects (e.g., “Porpoise Mouth”) and the lyrical mood. Organ and harmonica on the pretentiously ‘psychedelic’ extended “Section 43” are strictly amateur. The closing track “Grace” (supposedly a tribute to Grace Slick) is so bad I can picture Slick saying, “Thanks, but no thanks.” It’s all about love, peace, getting high, stop the war, yada yada. And it’s all so plastic—an album that begs not to be taken seriously. 1/5

blues-y patchouli oil old school hippy stuff. Rugged, gritty, leftist. That classic "I recorded this in a tent" aesthetic.

These fuckers were at Woodstock and I was served this album during Daylight Savings Time. These things are both true and more substantial than I care to admit. Drugs and drug music have gotten much better since this album was released. Yet we still can't fix Daylight Savings Time or create another successful Woodstock.

Wow. A psychedelic rock album from 1967? These guys were truly innovators. There were definitely no other psychedelic rock albums from this time period! I'm sure this album belongs on the list and is not just a footnote in one of the most oversaturated music genres of all time! Country Joe should shut up and let THE FISH speak for a moment. I want to hear some blubs. Truly one of the albums ever. 2/5.

Apparently you can judge a book by its cover. My favourite part was the song that randomly played right after this album finished on Apple Music. Check out “Screamin’” by The Paul Butterfield Blue Band.

Was having a bad day. couple of beers and this CD fixed me.

Meh. Groovy, but only as a period example

Excellent stuff. Love finding bangers on this list that I've never heard of. Loved the weirdness of it

On the whole, I liked it. Good, old-school, jazz-infused psychedelic rock. There were some things I didn't like though. The guitars were occasionally too high-pitched and whiny for my liking (although I really liked the more swamp-style twingey guitar parts) and the vocals weren't the best either. Still, a nice listen overall.

Who could forget the time that LBJ fought the Fantastic 4 and Doctor Strange? This album is on DRUGS

swampy psychedelia? sign me the fuck up — 10/10

Great psych!

Fuzzy, loosey goosey blues and psych. A pleasant surprise, but I feel like it loses the plot near the end. I like how, at one point, they drop all pretense and just whisper the letters "LSD". Favorite tracks: "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine", "Love"

Well that Xmas recycling is not going to sort itself, I'd better get a crack on. For some reason our yellow bin cycle doesn't really align with Xmas, so it's a bit of struggle, what with two weeks of normal recycling and then all the Xmas boxes and stuff, but then that's Canterbury Bankstown council for you. Sorry did someone say something about Country Joe and the Fish, sorry, I didn't catch that..on a par with Stephen Stills? I can't hear you over the sound of boxes being scrunched.

I Liked this a lot more than I expected I would, especially after starting it and not getting through the first song or two the first couple tries. You can tell that it was one of the albums that laid the foundation, or discovered the formula for, psych and jam bands that would follow. It seems like a more bare representation of the elements that would go on to dominate those genres. Very bluesy at times with a country and rock ‘n roll vibes with a lot of experimentation and ambience.

On the whole, I liked it. Good, old-school, jazz-infused psychedelic rock.

I really enjoyed this album, maybe the electric stuff got a little too loud but when they go folksy, yum, I liked it so much I easily listened twice

One surprise in this project is how much I like psychedelic music. Certainly wasn’t much of a thing for me when I was younger. Through this project, though, the psychedelic-laced albums more often than not appeal. This album is no exception. I listened to it three times today and each time enjoyed it more! I dig it not just as a historic album but also as a groovy listen.

Had never heard of them before but loved it. All the sounds, the twang, the catchiness of the lyrics, I probably saved half the album to my music. This is why I'm doing this project, to find things like this. And also, what a name!

Really enjoyed this one, especially the dark psychedelic sound that it has.

tri bom o som

4.5/5. Might be low-key some of the best stuff from 60s Cali psych at the time

beautiful

Probably the best Country Joe and the Fish album

Better than I was expecting, typical 60s psych, but great guitar playing and interesting songs

I was picking up what they were putting down. I often don't connect with country-rock tinged psychedelia and usually favor either heavier rock or pop influences, but this album has the right shiftless druggie vibes for my shiftless druggie lifestyle!

A classic acid/psych rock album from 1967. You just can't miss that one!

drugs

Hippie Dippie ok.

A pretty plain 60's Psych record with lots of electric guitar, electric organ, and 60's shit. It was alright, but it didn't leave an impression

Joseph Allen “Country Joe” McDonald y Barry “The Fish” Melton padres del rock ácido (junto con The 13th. Floor Elevators, Blues Magoos, Jefferson Airplane...) La espléndida Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine tuvo bastante éxito en su día, aunque el tema más emblemático es sin duda I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin-to-Die Rag (no incluida aquí) y su momento tuvo lugar en su participación de Woodstock en 1969 ( a Country Joe lo contrataron para una actuación en solitario de emergencia, no programada, cuando Santana aún no estaba listo para subir al escenario y después actuó con su The Fish), luego desaparecieron. Abren con Flying High. Section 43 es un viaje de más de 7 minutos a lomos de armónica y órgano, remarcada por pausas al inicio y final del tema. Bass Strings es blues psicodélico , atrevido para su época por su explícita letra sobre drogas, aunque nada que ver con parias como la Velvet. Sad and Lonely Times es un tema ligero y fácil de escuchar. Death, es más ácido. Superbird es de lo mejor del disco, es una versión respecto a la publicada en otro EP anterior (como Section 43", "Thing Called Love" y "Bass Strings). The Masked Marauder es otra joya. Grace está obviamente dedicada a Grace Slick de los Jefferson Airplane. Un tema más propio de, pongamos Dvid Crosby, con su aire extraño y casi oriental. Uno de los mejores discos de la inigualable cosecha del 67. Música Eléctrica para la Mente y el Cuerpo. Palabras mayores.

Amazing as we lived in SF for a long time.

for my mind and my body

Thoroughly enjoyable bluesy stuff. Love the whole vibe of this.

This was an interesting listen and I'm sure it was a very early influence on the psychedelic sounds in Frisco n LA in the mid 60s. Love the guitar work. Atmospheric for it's time but with a raw sound at the same time.

i really enjoyed the psychedelic vibes

Это очень крутой и хороший психоделик рок альбом, который вот я прям заценил

she might have the body of a 12 year old girl but she has the mind of a woman which is what matters

Absolutely loved this! Every single song was a highlight for me

On the first listen, I thought this was just kinda alright, but on the second listen I think I appreciated it a lot more. It had a flavor VERY reminiscent of early Doors with some Animals, Cream and Jefferson Airplane thrown in there too. It was obviously super psychedelic and crunchy with a bunch of catchy hooks and cool melodies. The production quality was typical of 60's psychedelic rock, which is to say that it was a little fuzzy and not super crisp and clear, but I didn't mind it at all. Listened to it twice and really dug it. Five stars.

Loved it. I love 60s psych blues. More of this pls!

Now that’s some proper 60’s psychedelia, I think these cats mighta played at Woodstock tbh

Loved this. Totally 1967!

A hidden gem. Never heard of them before but I like the music. Shame they were so short lived

the keyboard and guitar on this album feels, ELECTRIC. the end of the album takes it slow and lets you soak in tbe beauty

60's psychedelic rock from San Francisco is where it's at. I thoroughly enjoyed this album. They played Monterey Pop and Woodstock. What an awesome scene to have been involved in. Great stuff.

I LOVED this

Electric Music for the Mind and Body is Country Joe and the Fish's debut album, originally released in 1967. This might be the best psychedelic album ever. I mean, the cover alone should peak your interest. This album is so raw. The guitars are mixed so loud that they just take over. It almost has the vibe of an early acid test live performance. There's fuzz guitar, delay, tremolo, everything you'd want in a psychedelic record. The organ parts can be a bit overbearing and dated at times but there's so many cool moments on this record that it gets overshadowed. It's fantastic under certain mind altering substances. It's a shame that Country Joe & The Fish kinda got lost in music history and aren't mentioned much anymore in the psychedelic scene because they were true psychedelia at the top of their game. Fun fact: You may see old vinyl copies of this LP with messed up corners. There was a rumor upon release that they dipped one of the corners of the record sleeve in LSD, and many a hippie tried to get dosed by chewing the corner.

This shit goes hard af

One of the best psychedelic rock record that really worked with what the genre wanted to do.

Scrappy hippies are my kind of wannabee cowboys.

What a fun album

Nice album.

Amazing listen all the way through

Well, I approach this with a great deal of nervousness. Country? Ew. Is it actually country? No, thank the lord it isn't. It's psychedelic rock, which is on every measure better than country. Speaking of "country", I absolutely love the filth of "Not so sweet Martha Lorraine". Clearly a reference to Shakespeare's "Country Matters", this is a song about sex. A bookish woman has learnt about sex from books and by rote. She doesn't take pleasure in it, but uses it. She wants him "to die" is obviously, glaringly la petit mort, the little death. Wiping the tears "from his friend's eye" is sordidly descriptive. She's using sex, using it to bring him to climax even - but she's never learnt "the country ways" - she doesn't know how to take any of that pleasure for herself. And he's lamenting that. What a cracking little track and what a story it tells!

What a fantastic record.

9/10 - pretty good album

Nice

Groovy, I love it. The first tracks are perfect, the last ones are a bit less interesting to me, but still very good

Wow.

Un viaje sonoro espectacular, recomendable

Amazing political songs, some serious jams, guitar licks.

I liked that more than I thought I would. They keep it weird the whole time for a fun ride Rating: 4.0

Better than Coldplay

I love psychedelic/acid rock from the late 1960s and this is another great San Francisco Bay Area album from 1967. I like the electric organ heavy songs which lean to more jazzy-psychedelic than acid rock. I still love Jefferson Airplane the most from the scene but this is also a very good album.

I enjoyed this one more than I expected. It’s a vibrant slice of late-’60s psychedelia, full of swirling organ lines and free-spirited energy. At times, it reminded me of The Doors with its moody, hypnotic grooves and extended jams. The album feels raw and exploratory, capturing that era’s sense of musical adventure without being too self-indulgent. Pass the incense and turn up the volume!!

Bass Strings is excellent Nice 60's psychedelic album.

Pretty standard 60's Psychedelic rock. Not bad.

interesting

Weird. Not quite sure how much I liked it, but I didn't hate it. 3.6

Dig it

trippy hippy rock. Liket it

first listen very cool

Pretty fun bluesy record.

Feels like country without the twang

Heard the name before. Knew they were at Woodstock, but knew nothing about their music. The name is so bad, I only had ugly ideas about what they might sound like. It's not bad for late 60's psychedelia. The music is well done. Appropriately groovy and spacey in parts, bluesy in others. The singer's voice is fine with a good range of tones and styles. To be honest, the first time I heard it I thought the first 2-3 songs had a female vocalist. I'm fine with it being on the list. Glad I heard it. Are there are other/better examples of psychedelia? Sure. But I think this covers a couple of the variations therein. Let's call it a 4.

Good groove. Enjoyed it

Loved this one, highlights - Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine Death Sound Section 43 Organ + harmonica + early psych rock with a western twang reminds me of Ultimate Spinach

Likeable psychedelic rock with playful irony, cool sounds and a nice mixture of shorter songs and longer jams. It's not on this album, but I really like their 'I feel like I'm a fixin' to die rag'.

Fine example of the sort of 60s psych-rock stuff that I have a bit of a soft spot for if I'm in the right mood

As Neil from the young ones would say, groovy! Loved this one. Brilliant.

I like it. chill and relaxed. Nothing really blows my mind, not memorable at all, but it’s enjoyable. It is a rare album that I can enjoy more when I turn down the volume and let it run as some background music. (It is not a bad thing.. I know it kinda sounds like it is). When I turn down the volume, the bass stands out more and it helped me focus.

I really loved the vibe of this album. Based on the name I thought it would be some hillbilly shit (which I also like), but it was more smooth and groovy. Definitely a nice one.

A really good psychedelic rock album. There's a few songs that are kind of oddly placed and boring, but for the most part I really liked it. 3.5/5

I enjoyed this listen, considering I had never heard of this album, I didn't know what to expect but was very surprised. good vibes

The title fits perfectly for its sound, as the album truly feels like music meant to alter both your mind and body. Favourite Songs: Flying High, Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine, Death Sound Blues. Least Favourite Songs: Section 43, The Masked Marauder.

Lowkey trippy.

Love the vibes

That was an enjoyable psychedelic album. I particularly enjoyed the middle with Porpoise Mouth, Section 43, and Super Bird.

somewhere in between the beach boys and jimi hendrix but if they both actually knew how to make music

4/5

I enjoyed this quite a bit. Very classic psychedelic rock sound.

Very good psych rock record. I enjoyed it immensely

A pretty good album, I liked Flying High, Super Bird and Bass Strings the most.

I've never really listened to these guys, but I found them really entertaining in a similar way that Louis Prima was -- not really connecting personally but still fun to have on while driving or making lunch.

Sweet psychedelic rock from San Fran. Absolutely love.

Felt like I was on acid and LSD while listening to this. The latter parts of each sides were best.

Groovy start, not country for sure. Feels like a more electric version of what I imagine the beatles sounds like. Sweet guitar licks, decent vocals, crazy synth. Kind of bluesy by the third song. Some strange electronic in the middle. Good ol classic rock to round out the back end...lmao nevermind, shit weird