Six Feet Under - In Retrospect 1969-'70. USA-New Jersey

This archival CD from New Jersey's Six Feet Under is an extraordinary document, and captures a rare time in American rock history - that of 1970, a year I've often referred to as "lost". The music featured here is something of a prototype for another "proto" (double proto!) sound that I've focused on prior. That is to say it's a forceful heavy psychedelic, just beginning to border the progressive rock movement sweeping Europe at the time. Like 99% of the underground US bands before them during this era, Six Feet Under's dreams of grandeur were met with disappointment and off to the workforce they went. But few left so much great music on tape for posterity.

Personally I consider the "Studio Recordings" as the album proper and the other 11 tracks as bonus. Highlights include 'Freedom', 'What Would You Do?', 'Inspiration in My Head', 'Baby I Want to Love You', and 'Running Around in the Sun'. All feature the strong vocals of Nanette DeLaune, with blistering guitar from Scott Julian, and the inspiring keyboards of band leader Jerry Dobb. These are all well written tracks, and feature the kind of hooks that get notice. Certainly the Jefferson Airplane were an influence, but this is considerably heavier than that connotation may imply. I think the band Six Feet Under resemble the most is the Florida based Fantasy, a band from the same era that made the list above.

"The Home Recordings", while not up to the same standard as the studio, are still quite enjoyable. I'm not a big fan of CCR, but their rendition of 'Suzy Q' (actually a 50's hit, but CCR made it that much more famous) is excellent, with some fine fuzz guitar soloing to close it off. 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' is a straight cover (minus the excess), and is interesting but does not transcend the original. As for the "Bonus Tracks", yea they're just that. Certainly worthy of inclusion but should not detract from the overall experience.

One interesting tidbit - their original drummer (deemed "not good enough" by their original label) went on to sit behind the kit for none other than Bon Jovi. Ha - take that!

In a nutshell - a super archival release, one not to be missed for fans of heavy psychedelic and the embryonic stages of progressive rock.

Ownership: CD: 1998 Arf! Arf!. Excellent package with full liner notes from Jerry Dobb, photos, memorabilia, etc...

5/16/19 (new entry)