One-off solo album from Boston guitarist Steve Cataldo, then just out of psych band Front Page Review. Though often put down by critics over the years it's still sought after and held high by many psych lovers and collectors. Have to admit I don't get the division between side one "Over The Hill" and side two "The Bastich", but guess "The Bastich" (a combo of the words bastard and bitch) could be a reference to the biblical monster Leviathan. That would explain the Doré image on front sleeve, here with a picture of Cataldo covering the original God figure on top. Rear sleeve is also Doréic with images of the band woven in. So the package shows on a scriptural postulate - good vs. evil with him as Saint representing the benign. That's taking on a lot and I'm not entirely sure how the music relates. A blend of pop and hard rock spiced with assorted sound effects, obviously following some kind of plan that at least I'm having a hard time to follow. Still when I put the religious position aside and just listen to it as a regular psych effort I hear a very good album. Maybe not overly psychedelic but with well written and performed songs including a couple of really good guitar drenched rockers. So even if I don't fully understand the trip (you didn't always back then) it's an entertaining journey with enough catchy stops to make you wanna continue all the way. 1969 US and Canadian vinyl issues on Probe (CPLP 4506). Also released on CD in Germany (Buy Or Die Records BOD 102) and UK (Eclectic Discs ECLCD 1031). First UK had labels as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (CÖLÖ*)
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