Search - Floating Opera :: Floating Opera

Classic Acid-Rock

Lance Bifoss | Ketchikan, AK USA | 04/11/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The LP for "The Floating Opera" was originally released in 1971 and was produced, oddly enough, by jazz flautist Herbie Mann. I first discovered it in a used record bin for a dollar in 1981, ten years after its debut. It is one of the real treasures of my LP collection, a lost gem of the psych-rock, acid-garage era. A very creative and diverse album solidly anchored in psych but touching on country, folk, jazz, prog and boogie. While they have an original and distinctive sound, the best way to describe this album is to make comparisons and reference points to other musicians. Obvious influences include IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY, IRON BUTTERFLY, early STEVE MILLER BAND, early JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN, and particularly FEVER TREE. It is also reminiscent of many of the acid-rock psych comps out there.



1. Song of the Suicides/ A dark, gothy, moody piece, piano and organ driven but with a killer guitar solo

2. The Vision/ Almost Grand Funk-ish, particularly the bass being very Mel Schacher heavy boogie, with Jon Lord-ish organ and a Spencer Davis party feel

3. Midnight/ Philosophical, thoughtful, sincere, pretty and slightly country

4. Buckwheat Gal/ The only song I have never cared for on this album...old-timey, jazzy, Association-type harmonies...I should like it but don't

5. Fever Day/ Vaguely King Crimson-ish or early Argent

6. Age of Onan/ Weird biblical narrative alternating between goofy, upbeat jazz/music hall, acid rock and early Genesis prog

7. Crack On the Wall/ Kinda folky, slightly reminiscent of Fairport Convention/Steeleye Span/Strawbs etc.

8. Back on the Street Again/ A martial beat, Dr. Hook type fun to start and then a bluesy workout

9. Angelfood Cake Song/ Heavy Hammond B-3 workout, a little IABD mixed with Caravan and the first Argent album

10. Soulful Feeling/ OK folks, this is the track worth the price of admission. Simply one of the great, lost, acid-rock freakouts of all time. Wailing guitars, throbbing bass, heavy-riffing organ, solid backbeat and raw, impassioned vocals....what more could you want? Seriously, I put this song up against anything on the Nuggets boxes, the Pebbles series or any of the recent psych comps such as the excellent "Ah Feel Like Ahcid". THIS SONG RAWKS!!!



I've worn out my LP, and until recently had been enjoying a CD-R sent to me by one of the band members (thanks again John!) but I am completely psyched (no pun intended) to have this on official CD. Wounded Bird is doing a real service to us music geeks with their reissue program. I would have paid any price for this if only for "Soulful Feeling", so $10-$15 is a steal. Enjoy."