This hour-long CD is one of the best bodies of British psychedelia ever released. It contains the complete
Mighty Baby album from Head Records, expanded to 13 tracks with the addition of five tracks cut by
the Action during its 1967 transition period. The opening number, "Egyptian Tomb," sets the tone for the entire album -- in terms of content, structure, and beat, it sounds like the early
Allman Brothers, or maybe
the Grateful Dead in one of their harder-rocking moments, jamming with
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on an impromptu version of
CSN's "Pre-Road Downs." The beauty of the original
Mighty Baby album tracks is that they're psychedelia with a solid beat, none of that noodle-rock that drugged-up Brits usually engaged in. "A Friend You Know But Never See" mighthave passed muster on
the Byrds' Notorious Byrd Brothers album. Other songs noodle around too much, but overall this is some of the most energetic psychedelia to come out of England, and anyone who enjoys psychedelic guitar will love
Martin Stone's and Alan King's work on this album. The bonus tracks, all "lost" demos, are even better: highly rhythmic, driving rock (check out "Understanding Love") with lots of spacy guitar and tougher-than-normal flower-power introspective lyrics, with some gorgeous harmonies dressing it all up -- a near perfect meld of garage rock and psychedelic sensibilities. ~ Bruce Eder