Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: The Inner Sounds of the Id
Company: RCA Victor
Catalog: LPM-3805
Year: 1967
Country/State: San Diego, California
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: mono pressing; minor ring wear on front cover; small punch out hole lower right side
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4532
Price: $80.00
Cost: $1.00
Not to be confused with a similarly named mid-1970s Texan band (yes we have
a review of that album as well), here's an
outfit we wish we knew more about. The brainchild of Paul Arnold (the scarce
liner notes credit him as creator and producer), the band (apparently a
quintet) were reportedly from San Diego, California.
Musically 1967's Arnold produced "The Inner
Sounds of the Id" offers up a first rate mix of top-40
pop ('Baby Eyes'), blue-eyed soul ('Don't Think Twice'), pop ('Baby Eyes'),
crazed folk ('Butterfly Kiss'), hyperactive rock ('The Rake') and
psychedelic touches. Interestingly, when I first heard the album it
didn't strike me as
the year's most original package. That was before I realized when this
thing was recorded - 1967 !!! Upbeat,
varied and enthusiastic, the album contains more than its share of
successes, particularly where the different genres collided - check out the
blue-eyed soul-meets Eastern sitar freak out 'Wild Times'.
The ten minute title track, complete with extended sitar, marshal drumming
and earnest chanting is must-hear hysterical, while the fuzz guitar
propelled 'Boil the Kettle, Mother')' is one of my favorite slices of psychedelia. Naturally, the set vanished without a
trace and today stands as a minor collectable. Curiously, one of the major
psych reference books describes the set as "Beatles influenced".
There are some nice group harmonies scattered throughout the set, but
otherwise I just don't hear the comparison. For what it's worth, this
is one of the few albums in my collection that I'd give a four star rating.
"The Inner Sounds of the Id" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) The Rake (Paul Arnold) - 2:03
2.) Wild Times (Paul Arnold - Cole - Elijah) - 3:02
3.) Don't Think Twice (Cole) - 2:41
4.) Stone and Steel (Paul Arnold) - 3:30
5.) Baby Eyes (Paul Arnold) - 2:47
6.) Boil the Kettle, Mother (The Id - Elijah) - 2:55
(side 2)
1.) Butterfly Kiss
(Paul Arnold) - 2:29
2.) Short Circuit (Paul Arnold) - 2:56
3.) Just Who (Cole) - 2:36
4. The Inner Sound of the Id (Paul Arnold) - 10:29