After the somewhat middling Milestones, SRC finish their career on a high note. The opening trio of songs recall their splendid debut, though with more compositional acumen than before. 'Never Before Now' is the kind of pop slop they tried on Milestones with no success here either. 'By Way of You' brings the band back to credibility, before embarking on two bonafide monster tracks: 'Diana' is a brilliant heavy psych tune dedicated to some mega babe, and I would love to see a modern video interpretation of the song myself. This is followed by the excellent 7 minute 'Across the Land of Light', a rare instrumental that comes dangerously close to all-in progressive rock, and perhaps a peek through the window of what SRC could have become. But, alas, it was not meant to be. Album finishes disappointingly with the overlong 'The Offering'. SRC's debut is one of America's greatest major label psych albums. And Traveler's Tale is about as good a late era psych album as you will find from anywhere.
Ownership: LP: 1970 Capitol. Gatefold with photos in the centerpiece. Online acquisition in 2017. The CD was the source of the above entry, and was my introduction to this fine album. It features one bonus track from a 45 single, but it's just boogie rock, and nothing else is offered to keep it.
9/3/13 (new entry); 3/18/17; 1/12/22
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