Psychedelic Music: Songs And LPs Quiz

Answer: Damon

Damon released the LP "Song Of A Gypsy" back in 1970. It is considered to be in the acid folk or folk psych genres. Only 200 copies were made to my knowledge. One hundred were in a mostly black textured gatefold (fold open) cover and the other hundred were in a mostly white standard single record cover.

The cover art was completely different between the single and textured covers. The textured gatefold is preferred by collectors and sells for quite a bit more than the single sleeve. Pictures can be viewed on popsike.com. You should be able to hear songs on youtube.com. Copies of the gatefold Damon have sold in the past for over $3,000.00.

Answer: C.A. Quintet

The C.A. Quintet released their "Trip Thru Hell" LP back in 1969 on the Candy Floss label. It was produced in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their music is very psychedelic as well as being eerie, menacing, and even bordering on nightmarish. The cover art fits the music very well and is reminiscent of what hell might look like if it existed.

In the past I saw a copy of this LP sell for $3,488.00. "Trip Thru Hell" is in the top ten favorite psychedelic LPs of many a big time collector of the genre. You can view photos of the cover on the internet or popsike.com. Songs can most likely be heard on youtube.com.

Answer: D.R. Hooker

D.R. Hooker released the LP titled "The Truth" back in 1972. The band was formed in New Haven, Connecticut and the label it was released on was On Records.
In the past a copy of this true rarity sold for $2,275.00 and there are only a few known copies out there. The music is very highly regarded.
"Forge Your Own Chains" is considered the highlight song of the LP. The lyrics touch on drug abuse and its iniquities.
The cover of the LP shows a very Messianic looking man with an acoustic guitar strapped around his shoulder.
You'll find pictures of the LP on the internet and probably can find songs on youtube.com.

Answer: Concrete Rubber Band

The Xian group Concrete Rubber Band released their "Risen Savior" LP on the American Artists label in 1974. It is an extremely rare LP that is highly sought after by collectors. In the past I've seen a copy sell for $2,310.00.
There is a book called "Acid Archives" that gives details about rare and obscure LPs. A few things mentioned in the book about this LP are:
"Amazing murky basement lo-fi head trip from the furthest depths of the Christian underground", "Droning psychedelic DIY excursions with a strong ritual undercurrent as though recorded by some primitive society", "Halting harpsichord and spooky organ", and "This is what the band Stone Harbour might have sounded like if they'd dropped enough acid to actually meet Jesus in person, and returned to their cavern studio on an even smaller budget."
In the past I've seen a copy of "Risen Savior" sell for $2310.00.

Answer: New Dawn

New Dawn released their "There's A New Dawn" LP in 1970. It was on the Hoot label and the band was from Salem, Oregon. It is highly regarded by collectors and is extremely rare. They say it's one of the LPs that actually justifies its huge price tag.
Initially 500 copies were pressed but due to traveling and warpage only about 200 copies are still in the hands of collectors. The rest were garbage. There was also very limited distribution at the time because they only sold their LPs at live gigs.
I sold my copy of this LP to a fellow in Spain for $2,000.00. The highest I've seen a copy go for is $2,015.00. Most, if not all, of the LPs I have discussed in this quiz are available as a vinyl or CD reissue and at a mere fraction of the cost of an originals.
Check youtube.com to hear some of the songs on this LP. They have songs from the most obscure bands of the past that one can imagine.

Answer: Zerfas

Zerfas released their self titled LP in 1973 on the 700 West label out of Indianapolis, Indiana. The song on the LP titled "I Need It Higher" doesn't sound like a song from 1973. It's more typical of psychedelic music from 1968 or 1969. It was actually written in 1969 when the band consisted of only the two brothers, Dave and Herman Zerfas. This LP is a prime example of psychedelia.

The lysergia.com review rates it ten out of ten stars and the guys at Lysergia are very highly regarded. The highest price I've seen one sell for in the past is $1137.00. Even the LP reissue can get up in the $100+ range. You should still be able to hear "I Need It Higher" on youtube.com.

Answer: Madrigal

Madrigal released their self titled LP in 1971 on a private label. They are from Morristown, New Jersey. This is one of the most sought after psychedelic LPs out there. I was offered $5,000.00 for my sealed copy so that gives you an idea of rarity and collectibility. There is a vinyl reissue available on the Lysergia label at a fraction of the original price.
The "Acid Archives" book has a lengthy description of this LP. Here is some of what it had to say:
"A rather amazing do-it-yourself descent into the murkiest depths of the early 1970s underground. It's two guys sitting in what sounds like a boiler room, equipped with a drum machine, an electric guitar & bass and some oscillators, hotwiring themselves into the lysergic flow of the Now. The music drones and cavorts while incomprehensible screams and dialogue lurk in the background, as heard through a locked door."

Answer: American Blues

In 1968 American Blues released their "Is Here" LP on the Karma label. They were a Texas band with Frank Beard on drums and Dusty Hill on bass. Both of these guys later went on to form ZZ Top. The most I've seen a copy sell for is $586.00.
There was another Texas band around the same time named The Moving Sidewalks. Billy Gibbons played guitar for them and later went on to ZZ Top along with Frank Beard and Dusty Hill.
ZZ Top has always been famous for their long beards. Oddly enough Frank Beard was the only member who didn't have a beard.
Be careful and know who you buy from if you decide to pick up an original copy of this LP. There is a bootleg out there that looks identical to the original. I bought one at a Chicago record store and when I got it home to look at it with a magnifying glass, I noticed on the back cover that what appeared to be a tiny design. It was actually the word REPRO that was well disguised.

Answer: Haymarket Square

Haymarket Square released their "Magic Lantern" LP on the Chaparral label in 1968. The music on the album was used to accompany "The Original Baron & Bailey Light Circus" at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art. Only 100 LPs were pressed. If I recall, the band was from Naperville, Illinois which is not far from Chicago. The most I have seen a copy of this LP sell for is $2,750.00.

Answer: Majic Ship

In 1969 the band Majic Ship released their self titled LP on the Bel-Ami label out of Brooklyn, New York.
Along with original songs there are also a few cover songs on this LP. One is "Down By The River" which was Neil Young's song and the other was "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield.
Unfortunately, Majic Ship's equipment was destroyed in a fire in 1971. That was the end for them. The most I've seen an original copy of Majic Ship sell for is $1,125.00

Answer: Morgen

Morgen released a self titled LP in 1969 on the ABC Probe label out of Long Island, New York. Morgen is actually singer/guitarist Steve Morgen but the LP has always been identified as just Morgen. The front cover has an image of Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" on it.
Included with the LP is a poster insert that has photos and song lyrics on it. For collectors, it is important that the insert be included if they decide to buy a copy.
Musically, Morgen is considered to be excellent psychedelia with great fuzz guitar.
The most I've seen a copy of Morgen sell for is $660.00. Check youtube.com for songs from this album. The song "Love" has close to 1,000,000 hits if you count the several different videos.

Answer: Creme Soda

Creme Soda released their "Tricky Zingers" LP in 1975 on the Trinity Records label. They were from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Musically, "Tricky Zingers" sounds like it's from 1969. By 1975 true psychedelic music was pretty much gone.
There is an excellent various artists LP called "Endless Journey Phase Two" that was released on the Psycho label in 1983. You can hear songs by Creme Soda, Hunger, and Paisleys on it as well as several other artists.
Creme Soda has been reissued on vinyl and CD. The most I've seen an original vinyl copy sell for was $774.00.

Answer: The Grodeck Whipperjenny

The Grodeck Whipperjenny released their self titled LP in 1970. It was released on the People Label which was James Brown's label. The band was from Cincinnati, Ohio and were actually jazz musicians.
The group leader was David Matthews. He was arranger and writer for James Brown. Under his guidance The Grodeck Whipperjenny ventured into rock and psychedelic territory.
The standout and most psychedelic song on this LP is "Sitting Here On A Tongue." It fits the psychedelic genre well and is good enough to be on any psych compilation. The most I've seen a copy sell for was $423.00.

Answer: Fraction

Fraction released their "Moonblood" LP in 1971 on the Angelus label. They were from Los Angeles, California.
"Moonblood" is considered to be Xian music. This LP is unlike anything else in the Jesus Music genre though. There is an overall eerie vibe going on. It's listed in the book "Archivist - Vintage Vinyl Jesus Music 1965-1980" written by Ken Scott. It's also listed in the book "Acid Archives" by Patrick Lundborg.
The vocalist sounds a lot like Jim Morrison of the Doors and the music is heavy. By heavy I mean like the style of Black Sabbath, Iron Butterfly, and Vanilla Fudge. I've come across descriptions that call the "Moonblood" LP a heavy psych beast.
It's said that it is the LP the Doors wished they had recorded. If you have a spare $2,000.00+ you may be able to purchase an original vinyl pressing. The highest price I've seen it sell for is $2,500.00.

Answer: Obelisk

Obelisk released their "Conspiracy To Commit Music" LP in 1983 on the Anonymous Records label. It sounds like the songs were written in 1969 though.
Obelisk was a power trio who played heavy psych rock music that was driven by fuzz guitar. The music also has a homemade sound to it.
There are seven tracks on side one that are short but sweet. The problem with this record is that side two is a 22:43 sidelong track that is a drum solo. That's why the price never hit the four figure price mark.
The highest price I've seen a copy sell for was $349.00. That is because it's relatively unknown, the year 1983 scares psychedelic music collectors away, and side two is a drum solo. It is a very rare LP though.