Label: Rhino Records (Europe), 8122-72196-2
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Classic Rock
Country: San Diego, California, U.S.
Time: 58:09
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 389 Mb
The
album kicks off with the garage-rocking "Most Anything You Want," which
really sounds like the Music Machine in full bloom. A killer hook and
riff plus a nasty fuzz guitar solo push the song, as Ingle's organ runs
fit in perfectly. "Flowers And Beads" quickly follows in a bouncy pop
style not unlike the Doors' lighter moments. "My Mirage" is a heady
psychedelic romp, with ominous organ setting the tone. Guitarist Erik
Brann dishes out some sharp playing throughout, and the vocal harmonies
elevate the song nicely.
"Termination" is a fuzzed-out rocker with a
hard-edged riff, with more ace playing from Brann, who also handles the
lead vocal. Side one ends with the organ-dominated "Are You Happy?" Its
swing-like rhythm rolls along until a mid-song tempo change takes the
song into full-on hard rock mode, as guitar and bass duel it out. A
snarling guitar then takes off in full flight.
On side one, all the
songs are mostly straight-ahead rockers, clocking in between three and
five minutes each. Side two, however, was an animal all its own. The
title song takes up the whole of the second side of the original LP, and
is where the album's legend was made and still stands.
For just over
17 minutes, the listener is delivered a relentless riff that builds and
builds as the organ, bass and drums weave in and around. An unbreakable
mood is created as the song travels on. There is no true virtuosity
going on here, but all the players have a distinct feel for what each
other are doing, and it all blends perfectly. Perfectly, that is, until
somewhere around minute seven, when it's drum solo time.
Here's where
we find fault with "In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida": The solo goes nowhere and
takes a fair amount of time getting there. Finally, the other players
start to creep back in, and the tension builds as the players all go at
it, as if fighting for supremacy. More nasty guitar work bellows out and
the riff eventually takes over again. At around minute 15, it's time
for another verse and chorus, bringing the song to its conclusion.
Iron
Butterfly were not the first to take a stab at a side-long track. In
1966, Bob Dylan issued the far-more-lyrical "Sad-Eyed Lady of the
Lowlands," which took up a side of Blonde on Blonde, though it was a
mere 11 minutes. On side two of their 1967 album Da Capo, Love dished
out "Revelation" which was nearly 19 minutes of relentless blues
riffing. The Seeds had the 14-plus minutes of "Up in Her Room," and the
Rolling Stones had given the world the 11-minute blues romp of "Goin'
Home" on Aftermath.
None, however, became the cultural phenomenon that "In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida" did.
Iron
Butterfly found commercial success as In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida quickly went
gold and then – over the years – sold millions and millions more. Call
it pretentious or overblown, but the album captured a specific moment in
rock 'n' roll's culture. Even today, it still makes for great
late-night listening.
(ultimateclassicrock.com/iron-butterfly-in-a-gadda-da-vida/)
01. Most Anything You Want (03:45)
02. Flowers And Beads (03:09)
03. My Mirage (04:54)
04. Termination (02:53)
05. Are You Happy (04:31)
06. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (17:10)
07. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Live Version) (18:51)
08. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Single Version) (02:53)
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