UNITED STATES OF EXISTENCE: Psychedelic Yesterdays of Tomorrow LP

Description

Presented on a stunning vinyl compilation are 16 tracks by the ’80s psych revivalists from Baltimore, Maryland, who were influenced by a.o. The Blues Magoos, The Association, The Electric Prunes, Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Seeds. This collection features all the tracks from the band’s highly regarded 1986 ‘Introducing’ album (issued on Bam Caruso) and adds some non-LP single and demo cuts. Members of The Association(!) sing backings on the included A-side ‘Anything Goes!’.

Sixteen roller coaster rides of authentic neo-psychedelic pop! The Psychedelic Yesterdays of Tomorrow is the first ever vinyl retrospective of pioneering ’80s psych band United States of Existence. Includes their fab Introducing: the United States of Existence LP from 1986 (originally on Bam Caruso), plus essential single/compilation-only tracks and fantastic previously unreleased ones. United Sates of Existence were one of earliest neo-psychedelic groups from the US. Born in Baltimore in 1978 out of the ashes of prog-rock outfit Klangfarb, their goal was to reproduce the sound of their favorite ’60s psych bands: Strawberry Alarm Clock, Electric Prunes, Blues Magoos, Nazz, The Association… They consisted of Paul Rieger (guitar, bass, electric sitar), Bob Tiefenwerth (organ, electric harpsichord. piano), Dennis Davison of Jigsaw Seen fame (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, Theremin), and Gary Schwartz on drums and harmony vocals. The group used vintage instruments and antiquated recording techniques to fully embrace the sounds of the first psychedelic era (1967-68). They never got to play live, preferring to spend their time recording in their basement studio or going on record-buying binges at all the discount stores, searching for obscure psychedelic albums with weird names like Harumi, Phulph, Bohemian Vendetta… They were championed by Greg Shaw (Bomp!) who chose one of their first recordings, the killer Return To The Psychedelic, as the opening track for the seminal Battle Of The Garages LP compilation (1981). They also appeared in another famous compilation, The Rebel Kind (1983). “Anything Goes!”, their first 45, saw the light in 1984, self-released on the band’s own label, U.S. Fidelity Sounds, and featuring members of the Association on backing vocals. In 1986, they caught the attention of the Bam Caruso label from the UK, where they released their only album, Introducing: the United States of Existence, in 1986. The Psychedelic Yesterdays of Tomorrow compiles all the material released by United States of Existence, including their Bam Caruso album along with various single / compilation tracks, as well as a few previously unreleased tracks and alternate mixes. Includes color insert with detailed liner notes and rare photos. RIYL: Blues Magoos, Electric Prunes, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Association, The Seeds, Dukes Of Stratosphear…

Tracking:
A1 Return To The Psychedelic
A2 Shadows Of Rainbows
A3 Love To The 44th Power
A4 Makin’ My Scene
A5 A Scandal In Bohemia
A6 Welcome Tomorrow, Goodbye Today
A7 When I Was Young
A8 Gone
B1 Bad Roads At Midnight
B2 Volunteer Fireman
B3 In Classic Play
B4 Baroque Hi-Fi
B5 Somethin’ ‘Bout The Way
B6 Anything Goes!
B7 It’s A Drag
B8 L.S.E. 3