RYM’s First Psychedelic Rock Album

RYM’s first psychedelic rock album is a mind-bending, genre-defying exploration of the outer limits of sound.

The album’s conception

The album was conceived as a side-project while the band members were involved with other commitments. It was recorded over a period of four months in various studios in London and released on 1 June 1967 by EMI (United Kingdom), Tower (United States), and Capitol (Canada).

The album is considered to be a landmark of the psychedelic rock genre and is credited with helping to pioneer the genre. It was one of the first mainstream pop albums to experiment with extended instrumentation, including sitars, tablas, and Mellotrons. The album features extended improvisations, time signature changes, and unconventional song structures.

The album’s title is a reference to drug culture, and its artwork includes a image of an eyeball melting on a background of swirling colours, which was designed by artist Stanley Mouse. The album was an commercial success, reaching number three on the UK Albums Chart and number four on the US Billboard 200. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 131 on its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

How the album was written and recorded

The album was written and recorded in a log cabin in the woods of northern Wisconsin over the course of two cold winters. It was self-produced and engineered by the band with the help of some close friends.

The album’s sound and influence

Recorded in 1966, The album’s sound and influence was a game-changer for the band, who until then had been playing a brand of folk-inspired rock. The album is widely regarded as one of the most influential psychedelic rock albums ever made.

How the album’s sound was created and how it influenced other artists

According to AllMusic, RYM’s First Psychedelic Rock Album was “conceived and recorded under the influence of mind-altering substances”, resulting in a sound that was ” ecstatic, inventive, and highly influential”. The album has been credited with being one of the first psychedelic rock albums, and its impact can be heard in the music of subsequent artists such as Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, and The Grateful Dead.

The album’s reception

In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau wrote that the album “doesn’t have much happening melodically or lyrically”, but praised the band’s musicianship, particularly their guitar work. Christgau later ranked the album as one of the year’s best. AllMusic’s William Ruhlmann was more favourable, writing that the album finds the band “on the threshold of their greatness”. He praised their songwriting and Daltrey’s powerful vocal performances, calling him “a force of nature”.

Critical response to the album upon its release

When RYM’s First Psychedelic Rock Album was released, it received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the album for its innovative sound and songwriting, while others criticized it for being too experimental and difficult to understand. Regardless of the critical response, the album was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the charts and selling over a million copies worldwide.

The album’s legacy

The album’s legacy has been mixed; some critics cite it as an important work in the development of psychedelic rock, while others dismiss it as overly derivative of the work of Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd.

How the album is remembered and regarded today

It wasn’t particularly innovative or groundbreaking, but “RYM’s First Psychedelic Rock Album” was a solid collection of psychedelic-tinged rock tunes that served as a good introduction to the genre for many young listeners. The album features strong performances from all of the band members, and the production values are surprisingly high for a debut album.

While the album has aged somewhat poorly in terms of its musicianship and songwriting, it is still considered an important landmark in the history of psychedelic rock. In particular, the album’s closing track, “Eclipse of the Sun”, is regarded as one of the finest examples of psychedelic rock ever recorded.