Customer Reviews

The Psychedelic World of the 13th Floor Elevators

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The 13th Floor Elevators were one of America's greatest rock bands, and their first two albums, "psychedelic sounds" and "Easter everywhere" are both essential. So, I was understandably excited to come across this box set, but unfortunately it's not as good as the band deserves. One, the albums all have terrible sound quality. The set claims to be "remastered" and it does sound slightly better than what previously came out on Spalax, but it still basically sucks. I don't think anyone who isn't already an Elevators fan will be impressed by these recordings. I have read that the original masters have been lost, but there are still ways to improve the sound quality and make these albums shine. Anybody who loves the Elevators is anxious for the definitive CD reissues, but these fall way short. Two, there isn't the song "I don't ever want to come down" Considering every other Elevator song is included, one wonders why this was left out.I would much rather have had this song on the set then the edited single version of "Slip inside this house." Three, the four original albums are not represented in their original packaging; instead they come in lame "psychedelic" scribbling. The original liner notes to "Psychedelic Sounds" are perhaps just as important as the music itself, and it should have been reproduced. Finally, the 20 page booklet is satisfactory, but not the stellar piece of rock journalism it should have been. Hopefully one day a good box set of the elevators will come out. Until then, this is probably the best available, and that's a shame.

Should you choose to take the 13th Floor Elevators "trip," hep cat, this is the full six sugar cubes. Three CDs include almost all of the band's recorded output: nearly 4 hours of music, with very good audio quality. The price works out to about two individually packaged CDs. Better value than most other Elevators compilations, which are typically one disc (~60 minutes/20 tracks of music), but cost almost a much.

You get the full contents of the Elevators' four official LPs: "Psychedelic Sounds of," "Easter Everywhere," the fake "Live" album (really studio outtakes with dubbed applause), and "Bull of the Woods." Plus two genuine live sets that have floated around for years as hard-to-find bootlegs: a 1966 performance from San Francisco, and a 1967 show from somewhere in Texas. Plus various bonus tracks/alternate takes by the Elevators, their precursors (the Spades), and their most prominent survivor (Roky Erickson).

If you already like the Elevators, then drop ~$27, turn on, and tune in. If you're just discovering the Elevators: think middle-period Jefferson Airplane (Roky sings a lot like Marty Balin), with more of the Texas blues groove that influenced Jorma Kaukonen. These guys were real Texans -- some hailing from Janis Joplin's hometown of Port Arthur.

This has the complete "Psychedelic Sounds of", "Easter Everywhere", "Live" and "Bull of the Woods" plus a ton of rarities and live tracks. All the Elevators you want/need without buying the first four albums and a bunch of bootlegs. Sound quality is very good (even the extra tracks).

The 13th Floor Elevators made two brilliant rock/psych albums in the mid-60's. What happened later is the stuff of great stories, lore, and legal oppression. This set includes their four released albums, though only the 1st two (Psychedelic Sounds of & Easter Everywhere) were true releases fully sanctioned by the band. They were extremely creative both musicially and lyrically. Through studies in Eastern philosophy (Tommy Hall), mind-expanding indulgences and innate intelligence and curiosity, they were able to write and play such songs as "Splash 1", Slip Inside This House", "She Sells Soul", "Dust", "Levitation" and more. Roky's voice was to become one of legend. This set did little to improve the sound quality of previous issues, though that is possible, but expensive. Also, the packaging of the box and esp. the discs is inept and fails to live up to the quality of the music. And do not believe what one reviewer wrote when describing Roky's voice. Though at times the two do sound a bit alike on the slower, melodic tunes, Roky does not "sound a lot like Marty Balin". He sounds like Roky.

Rather than go through the motions of restating what is on this box set again (as other reviewers have already done well), I wanted to note that this box-set is still an essential part of the Elevators catalog, even for the owners of the new 10cd set "Sign Of The 3 Eyed Men". Why? Because the stereo mixes featured on the studio albums Psychedelic Sounds and Easter Everywhere featured on the excellent set "Sign Of The 3 Eyed Men" are from different sources. Besides, the truly limited number nature of "Sign Of The 3 Eyed Men" (even tho they printed 4000 instead of 3000) mean that the 10cd set will be difficult to get in any case.

"The Psychedelic World of the 13th Floor Elevators" still works for newbies and collectors alike. I am holding onto mine, especially as it also has the 'fake' live album which isn't on "Sign Of The 3 Eyed Men".

Alternatively, you can buy both (if you can) and then you have all bases covered.

the same psychedelic instrument and same sound on each song after you hear one bad song you've heard them all

it's nice to know you are still together. there are lots of good songs on this cd and anyone who wants to track your history should add it to their collection. i am looking for robert duplissey. if you receive this message please e-mail me at thmazur@hotmail . com. back in 1974-5 we spent time together in arkansas. we wrote some material for an album entitled retrospect-the story of jesus jones. if you remember me let me know as i still have that material. thanks. tom