TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Journey To The Center Of The Mind" - The Amboy Dukes (1968)

"Journey To The Center Of The Mind" - The Amboy Dukes (1968)

     The album sounds like a group effort, with each one trying to hold the fort.  Nugent provides some wonderful guitar tones and riffs as one might expect, but Steve Farmer's lyrics and J.B. Drake's vocals help keep the mind in cool flux.  As does the steady bottom push.  A few of the tracks shoulder-rub the acid psych realm heavily, while others splash into a more trippy, melodic psychedelia.  And it's this variety that keeps the mind on tippy-toes.  

      Especially side two, where the opening song, the psych-flag title track, fiercely sends the listener off into the unknown, with a string of songs following, very much of the time.  No concept that I could point a finger at, but they're done well.  By needle-lift, the "journey" eventually returns us, full circle, in and out of our minds, in a pleasing, satisfying way.  You can tick The Amboy Dukes as another lil ol' band drinkin' the water outta Detroit.

"Journey To The Center Of The Mind" - The Amboy Dukes (back)

Favorites include:
(The title track, of course, but there's plenty of good stuff.)
"Surrender To Your Kings"
"Flight Of The Byrd"
"Scottish Tea"
"I'll Prove I'm Right" / "Conclusion" 

     I'd passed over the Amboys a few times, mostly because something else was pulling at my billfold, but I knew I'd snag a copy for my psych collection sooner or later.  I found "Journey..." at The Record Ship for $30.  Not a steal of a deal, but a fair price just the same.  The cover is clean and bright, and the vinyl looks and plays a strong VG+.  I used what was left on my gift card and $7 outta pocket to grab this, plus a couple of records I found in the bargain bin.  The "Journey..." album is on the beautiful Mainstream Records label, pressed at the Columbia Pressing Plant in Santa Maria.  This was the band's second studio album.  Still looking for the "Migration" square.

Mainstream Records label

Cat #
S 6112
SIDE A  DEADWAX
KY-556 - S  S  ΓL  0  1  
SIDE B  DEADWAX
KY-557 - S  S  ΓL  A3  S 0

"Flight Of The Byrd" - The Amboy Dukes / "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" (1968)

TRACKS:
A1  "Mississippi Murderer" 5:08
A2  "Surrender To Your Kings" 2:51
A3  "Flight Of The Byrd" 2:50
A4  "Scottish Tea" 3:57
A5  "Dr. Slingshot" 3:01
B1  "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" 3:32
B2  "Ivory Castles" 3:23
B3  "Why Is A Carrot More Orange Than An Orange" 2:20
B4  "Missionary Mary" 2:35
B5  "Death Is Life" 2:09
B6  "Saint Phillip's Friend" 3:32
B7  "I'll Prove I'm Right" 1:45
B8  "Conclusion" 1:43

PERSONNEL: 
John (J.B.) Drake - vocals
Ted Nugent - lead guitar, vocals
Steve Farmer - guitar, vocals
Greg Arama - bass
Dave Palmer - drums
Andy Solomon - organ, piano, vocals

Good stuff.

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