Various Artists - Epitaph For A Legend 1960’s (@320)

 

Various Artists - Epitaph For A Legend 1960’s

Epitaph for a Legend Review by Richie Unterberger.

The Texas-based International Artists label recorded some intriguing, slightly off-the-wall psychedelic-garage-pop in the 1960s, their most famous act being the 13th Floor Elevators. This is an erratic but extremely interesting double-LP compilation of IA oddities and rarities, much of it previously unreleased. The five Red Krayola demos (some of which would be re-recorded for their first LP) are prime acid folk, especially "Hurricane Fighter Plane," one of the closest American approximations of Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd. The Chapparrals' "I Tried So Hard" is gutsy punk-pop, Thursday's Children's "A Part of You" is reminiscent of the mid-period Zombies, and the Emperors' "I Want My Woman" is growling garage punk. Side four is devoted entirely to 13th Floor Elevators/Roky Erickson rarities, including a beautiful acoustic version of "Splash I" and the rare single by Roky's pre-Elevators group the Spades. In this company, side three -- which has unexceptional straight blues material, including a song by Lightnin' Hopkins -- is a misfit, but psychedelic collectors will want the record for the rock material.

Tracklist:

 

CD 1:

01.The Chayns - Night Time (Is The Right Time)

02.The Patterns - In My Own Time

03.The Chaparrels - I Tried So Hard

04.Thursday's Children - A Part Of You

05.The Rubayyat - If I Were A Carpenter

06.Sonny Hall - Poor Planet Earth

07.Inner Scene - Communication Breakdown

08.The Red Crayola - Hurricane Fighter Plane (Demo)

09.The Red Crayola - Pink Stainless Tail (Demo)

10.The Red Crayola - Nickle Niceness (Demo)

11.The Red Crayola - Vile, Vile Grass (Demo)

12.The Red Crayola - Transparent Radiation (Demo)

13.The Emperors - I Want My Woman

14.Lost And Found - 25 M.P.H.

 

CD 2:

 

01.Big Walter - Breakfast In Bed

02.Dave Allen - C. C. Rider

03.Dave Allen - Saturday A.M. Blues

04.Lightnin' Hopkins - Conversation With Lightnin' Hopkins

05.Lightnin' Hopkins - Black Ghost Blues

06.Roky Erikson - Interview with Roky, KSAN 4/1/78)

07.The Spades - You're Gonna Miss Me

08.The Spades - We Sell Soul

09.Roky & Clementine Hall - Splash 1

10.Roky & Clementine Hall - Right Track Now

11.The 13th Floor Elevators - Wait For My Love

12.The 13th Floor Elevators - 60-Second Radio Spot for 'Bull Of The Woods'

13.The 13th Floor Elevators - Fire Engine

 

****