Browse by Artist: SERPENT POWER/TINA & DAVID MELTZER

Artist:	SERPENT POWER/TINA & DAVID MELTZER
Title:	The Serpent Power/Poet Song
Label:	AKARMA (ITALY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	AK 053/54CD

Repressed, now at mid-line price; reissue of two Vanguard albums on one CD. "The Serpent Power's sole album (self titled, from 1967) is one of those lesser known gems from the San Francisco flower scene. Discovered and planted on Vanguard by ED Denson (Country Joe & the Fish and Fahey manager), their brand of psychedelic folk rock strongly resembles the intoxicating vibes of the Fish: a similar wheezing Farfisa, the occasional harmonica, and exquisite mellow guitar leads (not quite in the Barry Melton league, but that would be asking for too much). Great songs here too, with the epic 13-minute-long 'Endless Tunnel,' an Eastern-tinged acid jam spiced up with an electric banjo, being worth the price of admission alone. After the Serpent Power dissolved, David and Tina Meltzer, the creative force behind the band, recorded one further album for Vanguard. The resulting Poet Song LP from 1969 contains a mix of David's poems backed by music and folk songs sung by his angelic-voiced wife. The intricate arrangements on this grower are by Ed Bogas -- a service this forgotten soundtrack composer and the Bay Area's equivalent to Jack Nitzsche performed for many a SF legend." -- Frank van den Elzen.

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