In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida 1968 Album

Iron Butterfly

Even the weird world of psychedelic music needed its lowest common denominator, something that would appeal to the innocent tastes of pre-teens. Iron Butterfly filled that role. On the surface, seemingly a random bunch of stoned hippie amateurs who wanted to make records with universal appeal. Never mind that there actually was quite a history behind the band's formation, involving two groups, a move from San Diego to Los Angeles, and a moderate overhaul of the lineup from the debut album to the follow-up. And this follow-up only happened to turn out to be one of the biggest selling records in pop music history - at least it was, for a long time, for Atlantic Records. The title track was a 17-minute and five-second paean to free love 60's excess (taking up the entire second side), featuring endless solos, and much of the "heavy" atmosphere the band's name promised. Some of the five tracks on the first side are more pop ("Most Anything You Want", "Flowers and Beads"), but as things move on the mood gets darker ("Termination"). Doug Ingle's Vox organ and faux-Elvis vocals are out-front, but the real virtuoso here may be Lee Dorman and his thick bass lines, and anyway, the fuzz-emphasized sound they achieve throughout is dated but fun to revisit.