Given the influence Roky Erickson has had throughout a career dating back to his work with the psychedelic garage rockers The 13th Floor Elevators, it is amazing that it took until 2005 for an anthology as comprehensive as I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE BEFORE to appear. Kicking off with "We Sell Soul," a 1965 lo-fi nugget Erickson cut with his pre-Elevators band The Spades, this wild ride spans over three decades. In addition to the seminal Elevators classic "You're Gonna Miss Me" (with its gravelly vocals and rubbery twang), there's his mid-'70s solo comeback featuring the Doug Sahm-produced, wah-wah-drenched dirge "Red Temple Prayer (Two Headed Dog)" and its hook-filled sibling "Starry Eyes." Marred by frequent bouts with mental illness throughout his career, it is frightening to hear the enormous talent that Erickson displayed during moments of clarity. His raw, mercurial skills shine throughout, whether on the late '70s sessions with the Aliens (including the faux skinny-tie twang of "I Think Up Demons" and "Don't Shake Me Lucifer") or the forlorn, autobiographical chamber pop of "Please Judge" from 1995's ALL THAT MAY DO MY RHYME.
Roky Erickson: Benny Thurman, John Shropshire, Ronnie Leatherman (bass guitar); John Kearney (drums); Stacy Sutherland, Tommy Hall, Danny Thomas , Clementine Hall.
Personnel: Roky Erickson (vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar, harmonica, tambourine); Roky Erickson; Tommy Hall (vocals, guitar); Clementine Hall (vocals, background vocals); Bill T. Miller (vocals); John Shropshire (guitar, background vocals); Mike Hinton, Jack Johnson, Stacy Sutherland, John X Reed, Mike Hinton (guitar); Speedy Sparks (acoustic guitar, bass guitar); Paul Leary (electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar, 12-string guitar); Billy Angel (autoharp); John Hogan, John Hagen (cello); Hugh Patton (keyboards, synthesizer, drums); Jack Casady, Stu Cook, Mike Ritchey, Bob Gorman, Steven Morgan Burgess (bass guitar); Joe Kearney (drums, background vocals); Scott Matthews, Fuzzy John Oxendine, Barry "Frosty" Smith , Scott Matthews, B.E. "Frosty" Smith, Danny Thomas , Fuzzy John Oxendine (drums); Brian Marnell (background vocals); Sumner Erickson (vocals, tuba); Harry Hess (guitar, harmonica); Ernie Cull, Johnny Eli, Duane Aslaksen (guitar, background vocals); Doug Sahm (guitar); Charlie Sexton (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dobro, organ); Andre Lewis (keyboards, synthesizer, vocoder); Ernie Durawa, John Ike Walton, Jeff Sutton, Paul Zahl (drums).
Audio Remasterer: Dan Hersch.
Audio Remixer: Karl Derfler.
Liner Note Author: Bill Bentley.
Recording information: 91 Studios, Terra Linda, CA (11/1965-04/1994); Arlyn Studios, Austin, TX (11/1965-04/1994); Austin Cablevision, Austin, TX (11/1965-04/1994); Earth & Sky Studios, Austin, TX (11/1965-04/1994); Jones Sound Studios, Houston, TX (11/1965-04/1994); KKSF Studio, San Francisco, CA (11/1965-04/1994); Music Lane Studios, Austin, TX (11/1965-04/1994); Odyssey Sound Studios, Austin, TX (11/1965-04/1994); Summit Sound Studio, Dallas, TX (11/1965-04/1994); Texas Sound Studios, San Antonio, TX (11/1965-04/1994); The Automatt (11/1965-04/1994); The Church, San Anselmo, CA (11/1965-04/1994); The Ritz, Austin, TX (11/1965-04/1994); The Site Studio, San Rafael, CA (11/1965-04/1994); Wally Heider's, San Francisco, CA (11/1965-04/1994); Walter Andrus Studios, Houston, TX (11/1965-04/1994).
Ensemble: The 13th Floor Elevators.
Illustrator: Clinton Golden.
Photographers: Betty Shumate; Jean Constant Gindreau; Jerry Lightfoot; Stephanie Chernikowski; Craig Luckin.Rolling Stone (No. 967, p.86) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A] spectacular two-CD survey of Erickson's third-eye visions..."
Uncut (p.120) - 5 stars out of 5 - "Bringing Erickson's work under one umbrella, this is a staggering testament to many things, not least the perseverance of the creative spirit."
Magnet (p.88) - "It includes wailing highlights from the first two Elevators Lps, which were cornerstones of '60s psychedelia."
Dirty Linen (p.48) - "[With] melodies that sound surf-drenched with fuzzy distortion and with lyrics that most likely will blow your mind into a thousand multi-colored pieces."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.114) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Comprehensive....It offers 11 13th Floor Elevators classics..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.118) - 4 stars out of 5 - "As proved here, Rory's best, rawest solo recordings have been buried on obscure 45s all along..."
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