Together

Country Joe & The Fish | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 30, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B000000EK1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,104 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rock and Soul Music

2. Susan

3. Mojo Navigator

4. Bright Suburban Mr. & Mrs. Clean Machine

5. Good Guys/Bad Guys Cheer/The Streets of Your Town

6. The Harlem Song

7. Waltzing in the Moonlight

8. Away Bounce My Bubbles

9. Cetacean

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Even more a musical variety show than 'Fixin' to Die', April 24, 2002

By 

Phil Rogers (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Together (Audio CD)

The one thing that Country Joe & the Fish can never be faulted on through their first three releases (this one included) is the quality of the musicianship and the overall production. The only thing that makes this one fall down a bit is in the choice of material, but even that is well executed to a fault, and very inventive to boot. On 'Together', they continue their exploration of multiple styles (which was amply noticeable on 'I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die'), making serious (and humorous) inroads into several areas new to them.

"Rock and Soul Music" [1 star] A blending of frat rock with R & B of the same vintage (and a little bit at Booker T & the MG's), with totally vacuous, pointless lyrics. A ridiculously silly way to start an album. An imitated hillbilly voice (heard with much greater effect on "The Harlem Song") intones "rock and soul music is doggone good!" You get the idea.

"Susan" [5 stars] The only holdout from the dominant style of the first album ['Electric Music for the Mind and Body']. Definitely a diamond in the rough.

"Mojo Navigator" [1 star] Dopey rock similar to the style of the song "Love" from the first album.

"Bright Suburban Mr. & Mrs. Clean Machine" [3 stars] Vaudeville style music, a satire on the middle class lifestyle. Vocals have that 'megaphone' sound.

"Good Guys/Bad Guys Cheer/The Streets of Your Town" [4 stars] Song about Joe's bad impression of a visit to NYC. Biting satire, that arguably shouldn't have been written/recorded, but nevertheless, extremely effective. Still affects the way I feel about the city.
"Number people race through the dawn
With their number people faces on
Well square is not the word for the sucking, squeezing herd . . .
The subway is not the underground!"

"The Fish Moan" [unrated]

"The Harlem Song" [4 stars] More vaudeville, and even better. In the middle is a very long spoken/shouted dialogue between a somewhat egregious country fellow from the South and a Harlem resident, brutally satirizing racial stereotypes, but doing it in the most hilarious and skillful way imaginable.

"Waltzing in the Moonlight" [3 stars] Fish flamenco [sort of}. A little weak compositionally, but well executed. Not the first American flamenco rock of the psychedelic era--that distinction probably belongs to the Doors, who used a traditional guitar introduction to their "Spanish Caravan" from the 'Waiting for the Sun' album. There, Robby Krieger executed, note-for-note, a traditional, lengthy flamenco toque.

"Away Bounce My Bubbles" [3 stars] Watery, happy meditation, mostly instrumental.

"Cetacean" [4 stars] Here the Fish meet the Cetaceans (biological classification for the family of sea mammals which includes, whales, dolphins, porpoises, etc.). Change the settings on the lead guitar so it's not so 'acid' sounding, and you have a surf instrumental as good as anything from the Mar-kets or the Chantays, and better than the more popular Surfaris and Ventures. This one's very playful, with an extremely interesting bridge section. Betcha never heard acid surf before! I hadn't either.

"An Untitled Protest" [5 stars] A very powerful, poetically graphic Vietnam war protest song, sang/wailed by Joe [accompanied only by an organ droning in a minor key]; this one has to be heard to be believed.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect blend of 60's social commentary & psychedelia, January 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Together (Audio CD)

Country Joe and the Fish are my favorite 60's band; maybe even my favorite all time group!! Maybe because I was 16 in 1968, they express the real ambience of the time for me--drug induced ecstacy, civil rights upheavals, the vietnam war, love--all wrapped up in beautiful folds of psychedelia. Nobody, but nobody, can beat Country Joe's pointed and sarcastic social commentaries on white racism (The Harlem Song), Materialism (Bright Suburban Mr. and Mrs. Clean Machine),and the vietnam war (An Untitled Protest) The pure, perfect psychedelic trippings of Mojo Navigator, Away Bounce my Bubbles, and Cetacean just really complete the tour of the 60's. I hope the bass in Rock and Soul Music running up and down your spine will thrill you as much as it does me.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars quintessential, September 27, 2000

By 

Mark R. Dobos (Indian Harbour Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Together (Audio CD)

moreorless a top 5 band of all time, these guys were each one of the best in what they did and the one band that can claim that they were truly at the center of the 60's, given the political element/genesis. this album is essential and all the songs are favorites--i truly bow to this band--i met Country Joe McDonald back in 1992 in Orlando when i was about 19 and was one of the only times i was starstruck--i had him autograph a napkin and told him his music was timeless. this band is actually beloved. from Melton's guitar/singing/writing majic to "Chicken" Hirsh's ultra drumming to Cohen's super-grade organ and piano--this band is what hip is about and they give new meaning to the term "kick tail." This is very much an ensemble album highlighting their many abilities. I cant say enough about them. The true Musike Politicos--not recommended-- Required!