Country Joe & the Fish - Electric Music for the Mind and Body

Given their origins, both geographically (San Francisco) and stylistically (founder Joe McDonald and lead guitarist Barry Melton first hooked up in a jug band), it wasn't surprising that the ragtag Fish sounded like an acid-soaked, plugged-in folk band when they debuted in '67. Simultaneously the most political and funniest of all the Northern California bands, the Fish's yippie-hippie philosophy was reflected in songs like "Superbird" (about Lyndon Johnson), "Flying High" (about getting you-know-what), and the bluesy free love saga, "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine." That they could periodically wax serious as well (the wide-angled instrumental "Section Forty Three" and the moody "Bass Strings") only added more bite to their satiric pungency. --Billy Altman Amazon.com

nothing fishy about this one... or maybe QUITE fishy? either way it's a compliment!

While not as memorable as the live album I heard last year, I'm really happy with this Country Joe and the Fish album. The psychedelic/country rock/guitar jam style the band had going on at the time is quite a good one.

This album does have some questionable songwriting moments, such as on "Grace", where the vocals almost sound childish at times, but then we hear really spectacular tunes such as "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine" which makes me feel REALLY good hearing a great song like that.

I also love the eerie guitar jam called "Section 43". This kind of guitar playing is very dreamy and makes me feel like I'm floating miles and miles above the skyline, haha.

While some of the vocal melodies aren't interesting to me personally, I still really like the album, and the guitar playing makes up for any minor disappointments I may have with the album. November 15, 2008

Mellow Psychedelic

They are at their best when doing the mellow stuff, it did put me to sleep but that is not always a bad thing. Country Joe's voice is a little grating as I knew it would be but the psychedelic sounds more than offset it. Experimental, pioneering, trippy with cool tremelo guitars and organ sounds. Essential if you want to understand influences of the era, another good example is Paul Butterfield's second album though this one is way out there. April 28, 2008

Man What a Trip

I loved Country Joe and the Fish then and now. I was a young teen and I had just ran into an old friend whom I hadn't seen in a while. I had a new album entitled "Doors" that had blown my mind and I offered to let him borrow it. He had one for me.."Electric Music for the Mind and Body". I had never heard of Country Joe, but man I immediately knew that I loved this sound. My buddy and I got high to this one until the grooves were flat. Every track IS the 60s summer of love. A true work of art, like the other reviews said...a Masterpiece! February 5, 2008

Sounds Really Harsh...Too Bad!

I absolutely love this music. It is the perfect representative of 60's psychedelic rock.
But regretfully,the harsh sound of this CD will cause me to very rarely listen to it. It is quite possibly the worst sound quality I have ever heard from a compact disc. It is so disgusting in fact, that I cannot recommend this CD.
The organ sounds totally unnatural...grading on my ears. The fantastic lead guitar is so shrill that it constantly reminds me that I am listening to a compromised product. Some of the sixties sound effects come across as just plain annoying.
Sure wish I could go back to the good old days of vinyl. October 21, 2007

Psychedelia and Vista- Yes!

This album by Country Joe is pure psychedelia at its early best- these were pathfinders, love em or hate em. Try playing this maybe along with early Byrds recordings, and load your cd into a new PC with Microsoft Vista. You'll be amazed at the way the light show reacts to the music. You will find it some experience, straight or otherwise. August 13, 2007

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