United States Of America CD

Originally released on Columbia (9614).
The United States of America: Joseph Byrd (electric harpsichord); Rand Forbes (bass guitar); Craig Woodson (electronic drums); Dorothy Moskowitz, Gordon Marron Strings.
Personnel: Gordon Marron Strings (vocals, electric violin, ring modulator); Joseph Byrd (vocals, piano, harpsichord, organ, calliope, electronics); Rand Forbes (vocals, electric bass); Dorothy Moskowitz (vocals); Jeff Marinell (guitar); Edward Bogas (piano, organ, calliope); Mike Agnello (organ); Richard Grayson (keyboards); Dennis Wood (drums); Craig Woodson (percussion).
Additional personnel: Edward Bogas.
Liner Note Author: Joseph Byrd.
Recording information: 09/01/1967-07/30/1968.
Arranger: Joseph Byrd.
Originally released on Columbia in 1968, The United States of America is one of the legendary pure psychedelic space records. Some of the harder-rocking tunes have a fun house recklessness that recalls aspects of early Pink Floyd and the Velvet Underground at their freakiest; the sedate, exquisitely orchestrated ballads, especially "Cloud Song" and the wonderfully titled "Love Song for the Dead Che," are among the best relics of dreamy psychedelia. Occasionally things get too excessive and self-conscious, and the attempts at comedy are a bit flat, but otherwise this is a near classic. ~ Richie Unterberger
In its original form, the United States of America's self-titled (and sole album) was one of the most exciting and experimental psychedelic albums of the late '60s, blending searingly imaginative electronics with equally unusual songs that were both piercing and dreamy. Although a Sony Music Special Products CD with two added previously unreleased outtakes was briefly available in the early '90s, Sundazed's reissue is the definitive one for those who want even more than the original album offered. While the two somewhat half-baked outtakes from the previous CD reissue ("Osamu's Birthday" and "No Love to Give") are here, this disc adds a further eight tracks that were never released before, including yet more outtakes and some substantially different alternate versions of songs that did make it onto the final album. While none of the alternates are as good as the versions that ended up being used, it's fascinating to hear the cuts in cruder but equally trippy arrangements, particularly the three from their September 1, 1967, Columbia Records audition session (for which original organist Mike Agnello and original bassist Stu Brotman were still in the lineup). Less exciting, but also intriguing to behold, are three tracks done in July 1968 by a later version of the band, in which singer Dorothy Moskowitz was the only remaining member from the group who played on the album. Those three tracks are far more folk-rock-oriented than anyone would have suspected, two of them penned by Moskowitz and the third by Kenny Edwards of the Stone Poneys. Add detailed commentaries in the liner notes by Joseph Byrd and Moskowitz, and you have an expansion well worth picking up, even for those who've owned the original album for quite a while. ~ Richie Unterberger

1968 Reissue W/ Bonus Tracks

Rolling Stone (5/11/68, p.21) - "...a challengingly complex brand of art-rock....The tunes are infectious, the harmonies adventurous yet eminently satisfying. And the lyrics are the best thing of all..."
Rolling Stone (p.111) - "[I]t remains a bold marvel: truly electronic rock, made entirely without guitars, with riffing ring modulators and distorted lead violin chasing the mercury alto of singer Dorothy Moskowitz."
Uncut (p.112) - 5 stars out of 5 - "[W]ith a delirious Technicolor naivete that couldn't date from any other period. At once thrillingly futuristic, and whimsically arcane."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.106) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[With] a vein of chaotic psych-pop that had a palpable hint of insurrection."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.52) - Ranked #9 in Mojo's "The 50 Most Out There Albums Of All Time" - "Joe Byrd's exhilarating, disorienting psychedelic funhouse, fusing the electronic avant-garde with fierce rock'n'roll."