TCCDM Pulls One Out..."In Frustration I Hear Singing" - Mephistopheles (1969)

"In Frustration I Hear Singing" - Mephistopheles (1969)

     Mephistopheles was a blind buy.  I'd seen it shown in the vinyl community, but I couldn't remember what cred it had or what was said about it.  I based my purchase solely on the trippy front cover and the fish-eye photo on the back.  I'm a sucker for the fish-eye.  It had a $13 price tag, it looked clean, and I didn't know when I would ever see another in the wild.  So I went ahead and pulled the trigger.

     "In Frustration I Hear Singing" was Mephistopheles' only album, and after spinning it a couple of times, I knew I didn't love it.  However, I did enjoy a few of the songs.  Side one was definitely the better play for me.  Mainly because the album just can't seem to find the sweet spot.  First, the band has multiple lead singers, none really taking it to the house.  Second, the tempos and attitudes are all over the map.  Third, although not exactly a horn band, some brass does jump in from time to time, and it doesn't always work.  Plus, one of the singers has a David Clayton Thomas vibe, whom I've never, ever, been a fan of.  There is some nice flute play, though, that I dig, but it often seems to fight for purchase.  

"In Frustration I Hear Singing" - Mephistopheles (back)

     It sounds like I'm really casting aspersions, but I sometimes do that with a blind purchase that somewhat disappoints.  Now that I've expelled the effluvia...the music ain't all bad.  As I mentioned before, side one is a pretty good spin once you accept what you are in for.  And yes, there are some psych flourishes throughout, which is what I was counting on.  And the fuzz guitar that sweeps in from time to time has beautiful tones.  Really nice, and I wish they had allowed that to be more dominant.   Overall, not a great album, but there are nuggets.  And for the price, I'm not too disappointed.  Adding another psych album to my collection is always a cool thing, so I'm gonna hang on to it for now.

"In Frustration I Hear Singing" - Mephistopheles
(inside gatefold unipak)

Favorites include:
*"Take A Jet" 
*"Vagabond Queen"
*"In Frustration I Hear Singing"

Mephistopheles was an L.A. band via Oklahoma.  "In Frustration I Hear Singing" (1969) comes in a gatefold unipak on the two-tone steamboat Reprise label.  Guitarist Fred Tackett would later become a member of Little Feat. 

Reprise Records

Cat #
RS 6355
SIDE A  DEADWAX
o 30924  RS-6355  A  1C  A3
SIDE B  DEADWAX
o 30925  RS-6355  B  1C  A2

"In Frustration I Hear Singing" - Mephistopheles / "In Frustration I Hear Singing" (1969)

TRACKS:
A1  "Take A Jet" 2:37
A2  "Collections" 2:18
A3  "Dead Ringer" 3:17
A4  "Vagabond Queen" 2:48
A5  "Do Not Expect A Garden" 3:46
A6  "In Frustration I Hear Singing" 2:39
B1  "Make Up Your Mind" 3:08
B2  "Searching In The Night" 2:08
B3  "The Cricket Song" 3:01
B4  "Sleeping Deeply" 3:20
B5  "The Girl Who Self-Destroyed" 3:27
B6  "Elizabeth" 4:00
  
PERSONNEL:
Fred Tackett - vocals, guitar, piano, trumpet
Steve Simone - vocals, guitar
Bob Siller - vocals, guitar
Skip Mosher - bass, flute
Gordon Grant - organ, piano
Daryl Burch - drums

Good stuff.

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