Studio jam recorded at the same time as their second LP "Wow". Issued as two disjointed albums in separate covers, but packaged together and sold for the price of one. Side by side they show the amazing capacity of the band. While "Wow" is heavily produced and inventive, discovering the growing studio possibilities at the time, this is the opposite - improvised and direct. Two cuts with vocals - the ballad "Never" and the hard core psych number "The Lake". The rest long instrumental jams, now and then lacking direction but all the time showing what great instrumentalists they were. There's some really good guitars and backing adaptable to the point. I've seen the album has been called a forerunner due to some of its features. It clearly inspired a number of "studio jam" albums that started to show up following years (one exemple - George Harrison's also fruity "Apple Jam" part of All Things Must Pass). Some also say Led Zeppelin plagiarized the song "Never" for their own "Since I've Been Loving You". There are similarities - parts of the lyrics are the same, pace and cadence coincides - but also differences. In comparison to other LZ "loans" it's not that bleedin' obvious and I'd rather call the connection - strong influence. Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield attended the sessions, contributing piano on one track each. It has been argued they got some of the inspiration to Super Session and later Live Adventures from here. That may be, but it's hard to say who prompted who as they were all part of the same musical movement. Although later reveiws never seem to be 100% positive there's lots of good music on it and as part of a twofer it was a bargain at release. One reason I still fancy it is the stunning audio - strong and natural. Analog at its best. Originally also issued as mono promo (same number). Later vinyl/CD release on Sundazed (LP 5227/SC 11192) and vinyl on San Francisco Sound (SFS 0480). First had label as shown here and matt cover. (LYBÖ*) (YZÄ*) (ÄLCÖ*)
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