Prior to signing with Vanguard Records in 1967, Country Joe McDonald and his group, the Fish, had already recorded two low-budget EPs as "talking versions" of McDonald's self-realized magazine Rag Baby -- a Bay Area adaptation of the folk magazine Broadside. Collectors Items: The First Three EP's is a single CD that compiles the highly collectable 7" records that allowed Country Joe & the Fish national attention via the underground "head shops" that stocked Rag Baby. Performing on the first of these extended-play singles ...
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Prior to signing with Vanguard Records in 1967, Country Joe McDonald and his group, the Fish, had already recorded two low-budget EPs as "talking versions" of McDonald's self-realized magazine Rag Baby -- a Bay Area adaptation of the folk magazine Broadside. Collectors Items: The First Three EP's is a single CD that compiles the highly collectable 7" records that allowed Country Joe & the Fish national attention via the underground "head shops" that stocked Rag Baby. Performing on the first of these extended-play singles was a primordial version of Country Joe & the Fish. McDonald (vocals/guitar) and his close musical associate, Barry Melton (vocals/guitars), are augmented by Carl Shrager (washboard), Bill Steel (bass), and Mike Beardslee (vocals/guitar). Their decidedly jug band instrumentation and delivery is a clear indicator of the folky roots that were strikingly similar to that of other burgeoning bands in the Bay Area, such as Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, who would soon morph into the Grateful Dead. The A-side of the disc included two Country Joe & the Fish tunes: "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" and "Superbird." In addition to the released version of "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag," which is listed here as take one and includes some fairly disconcerting machine-gun and mortar sound effects, are alternates that contain the infamous "F-U-C-K" Woodstock chant -- listed as take two -- as well as the more familiar version that would be included as the title track of their Vanguard debut. On the B-side of this first extended-play 7" single was a folksinger/songwriter named Peter Krug whose contributions to the disc were equally as apocalyptic as Country Joe & the Fish in content. Krug's compositions include "Fire in the City," which was also covered by jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks and a then-virtually unknown backup band who had just changed their name from the Warlocks to the Grateful Dead, as well as the more conventional "Johnny's Gone to War." In contrast to the band featured on the Country Joe & the Fish sides, Krug's tracks are much more traditionally arranged and feature a simple acoustic guitar accompaniment. The second EP debuts the electric incarnation of the band and solidified the existence of Rag Baby magazine as well as Country Joe & the Fish the amplified psychedelic rock band. Side A is composed of "(Thing Called) Love" and "Bass Strings," two relatively short performances at under four minutes apiece. Allowing themselves the freedom to stretch out in a style and delivery more akin to their public performances, "Section 43" clocks in at nearly seven minutes. It would be another two years before the Beatles would release a longer single with "Hey Jude." All three of these tunes would be reworked on their second long-player, Electric Music for the Mind and Body. The final EP was cut by McDonald and a band credited as "Groonta." It is mix of acoustic ("Kiss My Ass"/"Tricky Dicky") and electric ("Free Some Day") tunes and was recorded for the express purpose of being sold for a dollar and 50 cents at the infamous Free the Army political and musical review that included such notables as Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland. The show toured underground coffee houses in 1971 and McDonald cut this disc in support of and for sale at these performances. ~ Lindsay Planer, Rovi
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Add this copy of Collectors Items: the First Three Eps to cart. $13.22, fair condition, Sold by Goodwill of Colorado rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES, published 1994 by One Way Records.
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Fair. All our items come in the original case with artwork, though manuals and slipcovers are not always guaranteed to be included as these items are donated goods and will show some wear and tear from normal use. Jewel cases will be included but may be damaged and/or cracked. We typically resurface discs that are visibly scratched prior to shipping, but we do not test disc(s). Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. Thank you for shopping with Goodwill Colorado! Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Safe and Secure Bubble Mailer! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
