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 seven 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.
The CD reissue offers one bonus track from a 45 single, but it's just boogie rock.
Ownership: 1970 Capitol (LP). Gatefold.
1995 (acquired); 9/3/13 (review); 3/18/17; 1/12/22
When I think of 1960s psychedelic music, the debut by SRC is exactly what I want to hear. A six piece, with two guitarists and an organ player. The Quackenbush brothers clearly lead the instrumental sections with Glenn pounding away on his Hammond while Gary lays down these insane acid guitar solos - splattering it all over everything like The Plastic Cloud do - and just the way I like it. Meanwhile Scott Richardson's (Scott Richard Case is what's behind the acronym) vocals are spacey and trippy - a flower power voice in a psychotic setting.
From the town that hosts the University of Michigan, and it's clear the student body was TURNED ON in 1968 (which might explain why they lost to Ohio State 50-14 that year, but that's another story...).
SRC's debut is one of the gems of the major label US psych scene. Crushes most albums in this genre. Don't miss out on this one.
Ownership: 1968 Capitol (LP); One Way (CD) 90s pressing
1995 (acquired); 8/23/12 (review)
8/23/12 (new entry)
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