Bay Area 1969
J.L. Smith | Detroit | 01/01/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having heard about the Charlatans, but never really hearing them, I was pleasantly surprised at not only the music, but the quaility of the recording. Thanks to the good people at ACADIA this Groovy ride back into the hot bed of the bay area circa 1969 is a fun trip indeed.
The Charlatans by all accounts were in the vanguard of musical exploration developing in Frisco in the mid to late sixties. And boy does this release confirm that. From Trippy Folk/psychedelia to wonderful horn drenched psych/soul, to an absolute killer sendup of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison" This band deserves a special place in every fan of that era's music collection. Again kudos to the ACADIA label for finally caring enought to clean up this minor masterpiece and giving it the respect it deserves, including extensive liner notes.This release stands up well in the company of it's contemporaries of the time, ala Quicksilver Messenger Sevice, Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead.
Make hast and snatch this up, as you never know how long these little known gems may be available."