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THE REVIEW
The album I'm about to review is the first live album by Iron Butterfly, which was released in 1970, produced by Richard Polodor who had already produced "Born To Be Wild" by the Steppenwolf and Three Dog Night, and was recorded in San Diego between May 25 and 30, 1969.
The album opens with In Time of Our Lives, taken from Ball from 1969. The song has a heart-pounding intro made of distortions and a slow, obsessive rhythm that makes it ''heavy'', Bushy’s drums close this fantastic track.
With the second piece, Filled With Fear, also from Ball, the intro of the song is a battle between distortions and Ingle's voice, then it all becomes a semi-ballad with Ingle's voice providing an interlude.
Next comes the song Soul Experience, also from Ball, after a fantastic intro, the whole piece is led by Dorman's bass, and with Ingle, transports us directly into '60s psychedelia which is occasionally interrupted by Bushy’s drums and ends in a struggle between musical instruments and Ingle's voice.
The following song, You Can't Win from the group's first album of 1968, Heavy, features a brief speech by Ingle for the return of soldiers from Vietnam, then Brann’s guitar and the Hammond organ provide an intro, leading the song to rock shores with Bushy’s almost tribal drumming.
With Are You Happy from In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, the audience is truly ecstatic with the song being one of the group's most famous. The song is perfect and remains another gem of the album, but the album's apotheosis comes with the finale, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, which unlike the CD edition, has a Hammond intro and Dorman's bass remains pulsating throughout the song. Moreover, the piece is faster than on the CD version. Bushy’s tribal interlude makes the song fantastic.
Giving a final judgment of the album, I consider it one of the best of the '60s and '70s... a must-have with your eyes closed...
TRACKLIST:
1-IN THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
2-FILLED WITH FEAR
3-SOUL EXPERIENCE
4-YOU CAN'T WIN
5-ARE YOU HAPPY
6-IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA
LINEUP:
DOUG INGLE - vocals / Hammond organ
ERIK BRANN - guitar / vocals
LEE DORMAN - bass / vocals
RON BUSHY - drums
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Summary by Bot
Iron Butterfly's first live album, recorded in 1969 and released in 1970, delivers a powerful psychedelic rock experience. With standout tracks like In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida and strong performances from all band members, especially Ron Bushy's dynamic drumming, the album is a quintessential 60s classic. It highlights the band's intense energy and intricate instrumentation, making it a must-have for fans of the era.
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is an American psychedelic/acid rock band formed in San Diego, California, in 1966. Best known for the 1968 blockbuster In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, their classic lineup featured Doug Ingle, Ron Bushy, Lee Dorman, and Erik Brann. Their Hammond-driven sound and sprawling drum breaks helped define late-’60s heavy psychedelia.05 Reviews
