The McCoys - The Psychedelic Years (1994)

Some rock & roll acts slid easily into the psychedelic era, and did well with it -- the Beatles, the Pretty Things, the Who, the Rolling Stones (overlooking Satanic Majesties'), even the Rascals (sort of). Unfortunately, the McCoys weren't one of them -- the band that turned "Hang on Sloopy" into a teen anthem just wasn't that good mixing psychedelic rock, blues, country, and jazz, with brass and saxes in their instrumental mix. This CD combines all but two songs off of the 1968 vintage Infinite McCoys and Human Ball albums. There is some good playing by Rick Zehringer (aka Derringer) and keyboard man Robert Peterson, and some interesting jazzy moments too ("Resurrection"), where it is just them, but you've got to be patient to get to them and listen to some really pretentious crap in the meantime, not to mention ignore the trumpets, trombones, and saxes (arranged by Fred Lipsius) that get you there. There is a near-absence of decent tunes ("Open Your Eyes" is an exception), or memorable hooks, and the best piece of blues here ("Stormy Monday Blues") isn't worth the wait to get to. For completists only.