Electric Music For The Mind And Body
by Country Joe And The Fish

You can, as many probably are aware of, in several rock encyclopedias and other publications on rock and pop learn that this first album by Country Joe and the Fish is regarded as a classic, and that people with an interest in the psychedelic music of the 1960s should hear and appreciate it.

This I have now done - 3-4 times. And I must say that I'm a bit confused. Compared with albums from contemporaries like the Byrds, the Doors, Jefferson Airplane and many others, I think this album falls entirely.

I have a hard time finding really good songs. The vocals are mediocre at best. There may well exist excellent instrumental passages - especially solid blues guitar, but this applied course also for many of the group's contemporaries.

At the end of the day, it's probably about taste, and I have to just admit that this album does not hit me.

From teague TOP 100 COMMENTER 09/07/2020 00:02 | #257837 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Much like Days of Future Passed, Electric Music for the Mind and Body plays with the building blocks for a genre that is yet to be, in this case heavy metal. Each of the components are there, (psychedelic rock, acid rock, blues rock) but they're never fully combined. Unfortunately, Country Joe and the Fish's debut LP is not similarly as good as the aforementioned Moody Blues effort. The songs, as short as they may seem, ramble and wander and the guitar and organ become grating very quickly. Flying High is great though, a psychedelic 60s classic.

Criminally overlooked! Easily one of the best, if not the best, psychedelic albums of the late 60s Haight-Ashbury scene. I would heartily recommend this album to Deadheads but I already know that they are blissfully cocooned (or is it entrenched?) in their own solipsistic bootleg heaven. However, fans of Love, Jefferson Airplane & Moby Grape will rejoice at having another album to enjoy at 4:20.

This is such a good psychedelic album. It has an eerie feel to it in places, created using the organ textures and lead guitar accents. The first two tracks on side two (vinyl) bring in a more upbeat song structure. ‘Flying High’ and ‘Section 43’ are personal favourites. (Edited)

From mdbaxter TOP 100 COMMENTER 08/18/2020 16:48 | #257161 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

On the whole, an impressive record but it unfortunately suffers from the recording technology of the time. The overly sparse sound features some of the best electric guitar that you can find.