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