IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA

This is a very famous album, the band's most well known but not necessarily their best. I think the debut Heavy is both better and more proto-proggy. The first two songs, "Most Anything You Want" and "Flowers & Beads", are pretty much straight forward mid-60s pop/rock. Not very psychedelic at all. In fact, these two songs sound more like something from 1966 rather than 1968.

"My Mirage" has nice rolls on the tom-toms at the beginning. Then it goes into an almost reggae sound during the verses. Then Byrds-like harmony vocals during the chorus. More great tom-tom rolls at the end. "Termination" starts with very fuzzy guitar. Has Turtles-like harmony vocals in the verses. Nice guitar playing in the chorus. Great part at the end with wine glasses(?), organ and guitar arpeggio. The organ at the beginning of "Are You Happy?" sounds Canterburian. The song changes halfway through with some great drumming. Then a good guitar solo.

The title track is one of the first songs to fill one side of vinyl. After this album there seemed to be a never ending supply of songs over 15 minutes long. It's the least dated track here but still clearly anchored to it's era. The riff is a classic of course. It starts out as a basic verse/chorus song then goes into three different solo sections. First an organ solo, then a guitar solo, then a great drum solo. This is one of the better drum solos in an era full of them. Almost Floyd-like organ after 9 minutes. Later goes into Jon Lord/Emerson style organ playing. Some freaky guitar noises. Back to more Lord/Emerson organ playing. Then main riff appears again. After 13 minutes great drums and a bass solo. More Floyd-like organ. After 15 minutes the main riff comes back and vocals return.

The title track is one of the best songs from the 1960s but the whole album has not aged well at all. A very popular album but I don't know how influential this really was, apart from the length of the title track. Nothing essential but still a good album. 3 stars.