Bubble Puppy - Hot Smoke & Sassafras (1968)

Rod Prince (lead guitar) and Roy Cox (bass) put together this band in San Antonio, Texas, 1966, after their previous band, the Bad Seeds, had disbanded. Although they were beat to the punch by The 13th Floor Elevators and The Golden Dawn, they’re regarded as one of the first psychedelic rock bands out of the state of Texas. Their name was inspired by a children's game played in Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley. They were also one of the first psychedelic bands anywhere to use dual lead guitars- featuring the technique as early as 1967- a full two years before Wishbone Ash and the Allman brothers, who popularized the technique. Rounding out the band was Todd Potter (second lead guitar) and David “Fuzzy” Fore (drums).

The band had their first and most prominent taste of success in the spring of 1969, when their song heard below (and recorded in 1968) made it to number fourteen on the Billboard 100. The title of the song came about when somebody in the band misheard a line on an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies. The song’s success led them to recording their first album, A Gathering of Promises, in 1969, which unfortunately sold poorly.

A falling out with the band’s label, International Artists (who had also signed The 13th Floor Elevators and The Golden Dawn) led the band to hire Nick St. Nicholas of Steppenwolf as their manager and move out to Los Angeles. They changed their name to Demian to avoid any contractual issues, and to erase any connection to the bubblegum pop genre. As Demian, they released one self-titled album in 1971 and split up in 1972 after the album’s lack of success. Since, the group has gotten back together at various times, reuniting under their Bubble Puppy name. They released an album, Wheels Go Round, in 1987 and have performed live as recently as 2012.



Bubble Puppy - Hot Smoke & Sassafras (1968)

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Lyrics:

In the mist of sassafras
Many things will come to pass
And the smoke shall rise again
To the place above where it began

Time will bring the fire and flame
Surely as it brought the rain
But in the gardens of the moon
Time is held within the silver spoon

If you're happy where you are
Then you need not look too far
If you've found your place at last
Then you need not use the looking glass

The Golden Dawn - My Time (1968)

Formed in 1966 in Austin, Texas, this psychedelic group only released one album in 1968 before splitting up. They were signed by International Artists in Houston, Texas, who had also signed the 13th Floor Elevators, one of the world’s first psychedelic bands. In 1967, The Golden Dawn began work on their first album, Power Plant, and had it finished that summer. Despite having the album ready for distribution, International Artists kept it from being shipped out because they wanted to released the 13th Floor Elevators’ second album, Easter Everywhere, first. They seemingly didn’t want their prize band, the Elevators, to be in direct competition with a fresh psychedelic band on their label. As it turned out, Easter Everywhere was released in November 1967 and Power Plant was held until 1968. Unfortunately for this group, holding Power Plant until 1968 led to critics panning the album as a knock-off to Easter Everywhere. Is it true? Was The Golden Dawn accurately painted as a knock-off to their neighboring Elevators? Or did they create their album, Power Plant, without borrowing from the Elevators? I suppose the answer depends on who you ask.

This song was featured as the sixth track on the band’s first (and last) album, Power Plant. Members of the band included George Kinney on vocals and guitar, Tom Ramsey on lead guitar, Jimmy Bird on rhythm guitar, Bill Hallmark on bass, and Bobby Rector on drums.



The Golden Dawn - My Time (1968)

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Lyrics:

It has been running through my mind
That you're not my kind, but I don't mind
It's just that I'm feeling fine inside my mind
It's my time

My time
My time
My time

I have known you for quite some time
I haven't seen a sign
You even know the place I live
You can't receive the love I give
But it doesn't matter anyway
Anyhow, any day now
I'll be leaving here to stay
It's my time

My time
My time
My time

My time
My time
My time

I haven't seen the light
Shining from your eyes
That signifies that your disguise
Has not been lifted from your face
You're just the past to me
My place is not around you and
Your lace is only taking up my space
It's my time

My time
My time
My time

13th Floor Elevators - I Had To Tell You (1967)

Tommy Hall, one of the two founders of this group, got the idea to play an electric jug after years of living in an area in Texas that thrived on jug-bands. Roky Erickson, the other group’s co-founder, had already written the group’s biggest hit, “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” before the two came together to form the group. They met at a show where Erickson had been performing with a band called The Spades. Hall managed to steal Erickson and took him under his wing, having their first jam session in November 1965.

This song was written by Hall and fellow bandmate Stacy Sutherland, who had been plucked from his previous group, The Lingsmen, by Hall in a similar manner to the way he stole Erickson. Released on their now critically acclaimed album, Easter Everywhere, the album had been considered a moderate failure when upon its initial release it only sold ten thousand copies.



13^th Floor Elevators - I Had To Tell You (1967)

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Lyrics:

Chaos all around me
With its fever clinging
But I can hear you singing
In the corners of my brain

Every doubt around me
Every sound of riot
Everything is quiet
But the song that keeps me sane

I can hear your voice
Echoing my voice softly
I can feel your strength
Reinforcing mine

If you fear I'll lose my spirit
Like a drunkard's wasted wine
Don't you even think about it
I'm feelin' fine

I can hear your voice
Echoing my voice softly
I can feel your strength
Reinforcing mine

If you fear I'll lose my spirits
Like a drunkard's wasted wine
Don't you even think about it
I'm feelin' fine

13th Floor Elevators - Slide Machine (1967)

Formed in 1965 and lasting until 1968, this group is considered one of the first psychedelic bands. ZZ Top, as well as Big Brother and the Holding Company, claim to be largely inspired by their work. Related to this, their work has been said to be paramount to the development of garage and punk rock, distinctly in their first single, “You’re Gonna Miss Me”. Quite uniquely (even by ‘60s standards), the band recorded each album and played each live performance under the influence of LSD.

This song is taken from the group’s most celebrated album, Easter Everywhere, which features their eight-minute fan-favorite “Slip Inside This House” and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Baby Blue”. If you listen closely, you can hear the group’s famous electric jug, which sounds a bit like a UFO sound effect from an old science fiction movie.



13^th Floor Elevators - Slide Machine (1967)

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Lyrics:

Been down south where they use the slide machine
Where the gods of old are heard but seldom seen
And here I been just stuck up in between
Trying to- trying to- trying to get back to you
Trying to- trying to- trying to get back to you

Well, the slide machine, it sweeps bones right off the road
For the tandem trucks and the moats that they towed
And me, I've just been looking for one going slow
Trying to- trying to- trying to get back to you
Trying to- trying to- trying to get back to you

My woman here, she's got a dozen names
She's sought by soldiers and they try to keep her tame
And her rewards will leave them just the same
Trying to- trying to- trying to get back to you
Trying to- trying to- trying to get back to you

Well I’ve been down south where they use the slide machine
Where the gods of old are heard but seldom seen
And here I been just stuck up in between
Trying to- trying to- trying to get back to you
Trying to- trying to- trying to get back to you