The austin based th floor elevators represent the quintessence of american psychedelic rock. The th floor elevators was an american rock band from austin, texas, united states, formed. The th floor elevators the psychedelic sounds of the. The psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators by the. The th floor elevators was an american rock band from austin, texas, united states, formed by guitarist and vocalist roky erickson, electric jug player tommy hall, and guitarist stacy sutherland.
Despite the fact it was recorded quickly on three tracks in what sounds like a cave, the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators is an impressive accomplishment. Tommy halls sleevenotes for the album, which advocated chemical agents such as lsd as a gateway. Walton was a banjo picker who was playing for anyone who cared to listen, and sutherland, already an accomplished guitarist, struck up a conversation. The elevator doesnt stop here anymore washington post. The eight perfect minutes of slip inside the house manage to stretch out the sound. Roky erickson, who helped pioneer psychedelic rock in the 1960s as the howling, headshaking frontman of the th floor elevators, then released a slew of haunting solo records amid a long battle. The band was formed in 1966, centered around guitaristvocalist roky erickson, guitarist stacy sutherland and electric jug player tommy hall both of whom performed backing vocals, with a variety of drummers and bassists coming and going for the duration of their short career. Business owners, builders and developers tend to omit the th floor from office buildings and apartment complexes because they may lose out on tenants who refuse to live or work on the th floor. The band was together from 1965 to 1969, and during that period released four albums and seven singles for the international artists record label. Sep 29, 2011 the bands debut album, the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators was recorded in texas and released in late 1966. Released 17 october 1966 on international artists catalog no. They have also been catagorized as psychedelic or garage rock. Hailing from austin, texas, the members of th floor elevators were quite possibly the first artists to describe their music as psychedelic. Ericksons wildman vocals create an atmosphere where.
The psychedelic sounds of the thirteenth floor elevators, produced by lelan rogers, was released on the international artists label in 1965. Feb 14, 2017 business owners, builders and developers tend to omit the th floor from office buildings and apartment complexes because they may lose out on tenants who refuse to live or work on the th floor. The psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators discogs. Program notes by john collis and original liner notes by lelan rogers 4 p. Here is a great collection of live recordings from various performances held between 1966 and 1967, the bands golden era which gave birth to their first two studio masterpieces. Dick clark seemed befuddled by the grungy band standing before him. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. The psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators, followed by easter everywhere. Julian cope presents head heritage unsung th floor elevators. The holy grail of recordings for th floor elevator fans. Although its practically the same notes he always utilises throughout the album, somehow this. The saga of roky erickson and the th floor elevators, the pioneers of psychedelic sound, along with copious discographical.
The eight perfect minutes of slip inside the house manage to stretch out the sound without a whiff of selfindulgence. We love a good story here at mowrey elevators, but superstitions dont keep us from doing our jobs. It was one of only three albums the others being the deeps psychedelic moods and blues magoos. This compilation stems from 1995 and attempts to capture the highlights of th floor elevators career. The th floor elevators the psychedelic sounds of the th. The use of psychedelic substances was essential to their songwriting process and to their. Jul 10, 2005 and in case you miss it, tommy hall explains it all in his original liner notes. Quote from the liner notes of the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators. Easter everywhere is the second studio album by the american psychedelic rock band the th floor elevators. Find the th floor elevators credit information on allmusic. And while lsd was not yet illegal when the group began using it, the marijuana they habitually smoked certainly was, and around the. It is regarded by many critics to be one of the finest psychedelic albums ever released.
The saga of roky erickson and the th floor elevators, the pioneers of psychedelic sound, along with copious discographical minutiae and reproductions of the original album art, posters, rare photos, charts, etc. Tommy halls sleeve notes for the album, which advocated chemical agents such as lsd as a gateway. Nov 20, 2016 the th floor elevators are the best kept secret in the history of 1960s rock music. The psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators wikipedia. Original recording produced by lelan rogers except for youre gonna miss me, produced by gordon synum. With a good, raw and powerful sound, a kick ass set composed of elevators classics and some great covers you really got me, before you accuse, roll over beethoven, and a band absolutely on fire, one can safely say this is the.
Mind blowing recording by the amazing th floor elevators at their peak, live at san franciscos avalon ballroom, in 1966. I might add that i had a fever while deciding to do this postmaking itwriting the text. When the band released their debut album, the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators, in the fall of 1966, hall insisted on including bizarre liner notes charting mans efforts to alter his consciousness. In fact, his already nebulous mental state was going from bad to worse, as illustrated in the documentary youre gonna miss me. As erickson said, the music makes you see things if you want to, and the sounds and song structures viscerally evoke the lyrical topics at hand. But one didnt have to drop the needle on this record to enter the presence of a rich, kaleidoscopic, and altered state. The th floor elevators debut album, the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators, was a landmark lp, a pioneering moment in garage rockpsychedeliapunk history.
The th floor elevators were trailblazers in the psychedelic rock scene, and in time theyd pay a heavy price for exploring the outer edges of musical and psychological possibility, but along the way they left behind a few fine albums, and the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators remains a potent delight. The th floor elevators live at the houston music theatre is the first ever release of the complete performance of the bands legendary show in houston on 18th february 1967. The texas bands second album, 1967s easter everywhere, continued the groups streak. Released in 2000 on international artists catalog no. In his liner notes, he rejected aristotelian reasoning, arguing in favor of. Based in rhythm and blues, but with a heavier throbbing, driving guitar sound that is simultaneously hypnotic and exhilirating. He followed that with the platinum album slowhand, which included wonderful. The liner notes for the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators feature a text promoting the use of lsd and other psychedelics for mind expansion.
Like their first album, the psychedelic sounds of the th floor. Their 1966 debut album was called the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators, and the liner notes featured a treatise on the use of psychedelic substances written by hall, claiming that they were an integral part of a quest for pure sanity. Tsha th floor elevators texas state historical association. The story of the former singer of texas th floor elevators was well known to rock fans, whod given him up for lost prior to his miraculous comeback of the past few years. The psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators went the title of the th floor elevators 1966 debut albumheralding the austin, texas groups sound and entrance, and marking one of the earliest instances that the word psychedelic was used in the context of popular music. Nov 29, 2018 when the band released their debut album, the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators, in the fall of 1966, hall insisted on including bizarre liner notes charting mans efforts to. And while lsd was not yet illegal when the group began using it. In 1967 the elevators released their second album, easter everywhere. An elevators site maintained by danny thomas, former drummer for the band. The th floor elevators were trailblazers in the psychedelic rock scene, and in time theyd pay a heavy price for exploring the outer edges of musical and psychological possibility, but along the way they left behind a few fine albums, and the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators remains a. The th floor elevators the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators 1966.
The documentary youre gonna miss me helped to fill in some of the history but there was still much to know. Its utter lack of liner notes or recording information hurts, but to its credit, it includes what appears to be the original take of youre gonna miss me. Formed in austin, texas in 1965 and disbanded in 1968, the th floor elevators were one of the original acid rock bands. The th floor elevators were a band from austin, texas, who served as one of the trope codifiers and the trope namer for the genre of psychedelic rock back in the 60s.
Another single from the album, reverberation doubt, reached number 129 on the billboards bubbling under chart. Eye mindthe saga of roky erickson and the th floor elevators, written by paul drummond. This station also introduced me to the who, eric burdon, the stooges, black sabbath, king crimson, and many other acts that i soon became obsessed with. Since most buildings do not have a thirteenth floor, the appellation. May 16, 2000 while its lofi quality actually enhances some of the tracks, this is a long way from being the set you start your th floor elevators collection with. Eye mind roky erickson and the th floor elevators paul drummond. Willie nelson texas willie extended liner notes by bill dahl. Roky erickson vocals, guitar, stacy sutherland guitar, benny thurman bass. The band was together from 1965 to 1969, and during that period released four albums and seven singles for the international artists record label the elevators were the first band to refer to their. It was released on 25 october 1967, through record label international artists. A double cd mediabook edition mastered by spacemen 3s sonic boom and put together by band expert paul drummond who also contributes extensive. Easter everywhere is the same release with no pressing ring.
A very nice picture of the elevators bass drum an elevators site maintained by danny thomas, former drummer for the band. The elevators second album, easter everywhere showed the bands progression light years. Here we have the first acid rock album, featuring liner notes promoting the benefits of hallucinogenics. On their groundbreaking debut album, the th floor elevators sometimes sounded as if. Their lyrics and sleeve notes openly and religiously endorsed the use of drugs particularly lsd to alter human consciousness for the better. Jul 14, 2020 the th floor elevators the psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators 1966. The band found some commercial and artistic success in 196667, before dissolving amid legal troubles due to heavy drug use and unabashed vocal advocacy for the practice. Psychedelic sounds of th floor elevators classic rock. Pity about the liner notes by ben thompson, who slags off julian cope whose cover of levitation on the world shut yr mouth single was where i first heard an elevators song and cope has written eloquently on the elevators in both an article. Includes you re gonna miss me, i ve got levitation, roller coaster and more. The psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators, an album by the th floor elevators.
My first encounter with the elevators happened on a primitive version of streaming radio. The psychedelic sounds of the th floor elevators is the debut album of the th floor elevators. A visionary mixture of primitive riffs and lysergic melodies played with an uncommon level of intensity. The th floor elevators story began in kerrville, tx, where in 1963, stacy sutherland born 1946 was hanging out in the parking lot of a diner and met john ike walton born 1942. The year was 1966, and the freaky quintet from austin, texas, had just appeared on american bandstand performing their top 40 hit, youre gonna miss me, a stinging slice of lysergically fueled. Feb 01, 2007 like many fans of roky erickson and the thirteenth floor elevators, i love the music but know next to nothing about them except what was written in the mysterious liner notes on various releases.
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