Genre: psych
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Are You Experienced
Company: Custom
Catalog: CS 1115
Year: 1967
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM Catalog ID: not yet listed
Price: $75.00
I'll readily admit that I have a thing for exploito psych. There's something fascinating in many of these quickie collections that were meant to part the consumer from his hard earned dollar.
This outfit's a complete mystery to me (and
apparently everyone else as well). Their sole album was released by the
small L.A. based Custom label which was responsible for a number of other
expolito releases. In typical exploito fashion, 1967's "Are
You Experienced" contained no writing credits, no
performance credits and no production credits (although the back panel
carried a ton of technical data on the way the record was cut). That said,
the result was a wonderful slice of period psychedelia ... Clearly a
throwaway collection, the set offered up a mixture of surprisingly
impressive originals and popular covers such as the Hendrix title track
and a cover of the The Box Tops' 'The Letter' (mis-titled as 'A Jet').
Elsewhere they lock, stock and barrel appropriated The Classic IV's
'Spooky', re-titling it 'Take It Easy Baby'. Won't appeal to everyone, but
for those of you into this weird subgenre, it's an undiscovered underground
pseudo-classic !
"Are You Experienced" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Are You Experienced (Jimi Hendrix) -
2.) As I Grow Into a Man
3.) Red Eyes (Instrumental)
4.) A Jet (instrumental)
5.) Take It Easy Baby
(side
2)
1.) What's Your Bag (instrumental)
2.) Free From In 6 (instrumental)
3.) The Stinger (instrumental)
4.) The Strut (instrumental)
5.) Expo In Sound (instrumental)