M- 1970 Soul Funk SWAMP DOGG TOTAL MIND DESTRUCTION

$

81

 1970 RARE AND SOUGHT AFTER FIRST PRESSING CANYON RECORDS

                  SWAMP DOGG

TOTAL DESTRUCTION TO YOUR MIND

\                                               USA - CANYON RECORDS - LP 7706 

RARE and sought....Original 1970 first pressing vinyl in top minty clean condition with thick gategold cover...so hard to find so clean as most surviving originals are well beat up some 40 years later...

Here's the scoup:

One of the best underground/unsung soul albums we know of.  Prior to Total Destruction To Your Mind, Swamp Dogg had been recording music and releasing 45s since the 50s, under the name Jerry Williams (or Little Jerry Williams).  Frustrated by the lack of commercial success, Williams changed his name and persona and in 1970, unleashed Total Destruction To Your Mind on an unsuspecting world.  While those early Calico 45s are a fine musical legacy, the above album saw Swamp Dogg hit on something totally new: a very original brew of R&B, funk and rock n roll that still sounds fresh today. Without doubt he delivered a true soul classic.

Total Destruction To Your Mind is the rare 1970 original release by Canyon Records.  Swamp Dogg’s eccentric nature, blunt lyrics, and gruff vocals make it stand out from the commercial soul of the day.  His style is really individual and authentic, which makes drawing comparisons so difficult.  Think of a more eccentric Curtis Mayfield or a less lysergic Sly Stone with the occasional Stax arrangements – but even this description does the man no favors.  The title cut ("Total Destruction To Your Mind") is a classic, probably one of Dogg’s best known numbers.  This track opens the LP and is best described as psychedelic soul rock, featuring wah wah, loud backing arrangements, funky guitar riffs, keys, and cryptic lyrics.  Also of note are the fine contributions from guitarist Jesse Carr and drummer Johnny Sandlin; they provide structure and sanity on this great chuggin’ funk rock gem. “Redneck” and the excellent “Sal-A-Faster” are similar funked-up numbers that feature great beats, classic arrangements, and controversial lyrics.  Other goodies are the Bob Dylan influenced “Synthetic World,” notable for its cerebral organ and the soulful, psychedelic worldplay ("Sparkle your insides pink with pleasure ..." ) of “Dust Your Head Color Red.”  The album closes most unusually with “Mama’s Baby, Daddy’s Maybe,” a great blues number that took me us surprise.  Swamp Dogg wrote 9 of the 12 songs featured on this LP.  Regarding the 3 covers; there are two great Joe South numbers which Swamp Dogg interprets brilliantly and then there’s ”The World Beyond,” a killer soul ballad with nostalgic lyrics.

Again, Total Destruction to Your Mind never gained any commmercial notoriety or widespread acceptance and that note should put you on to this LP, as went the way of the great lost psychedelic albums that were overlooked back in the day ...Swamp Dogg always did things his own way and thats what makes Total Destruction to Your Mind such a special release.

In an era where everything is hyped to the point of being meaningless, this is one of those rare exceptions where the hype is justified.  A true overlooked stone soul classic.  Well worth doing what it takes to get it.

Total Destruction to Your Mind

3:24

Synthetic World

3:23

Dust Your Head Color Red

2:48

Redneck

2:47

If I Die Tomorrow (I've Lived Tonight)

2:50

I Was Born Blue

2:58

B:

Sal-a-Faster

2:48

The World Beyond

3:39

These Are Not My People

2:36

Everything You'll Ever Need

2:51

The Baby Is Mine

2:48

Mama's Baby, Daddy's Maybe

4:08

- One of soul's lost classic performances, Swamp seldom sounded as possessed as on 'Total Destruction To Your Mind', turning in a crazed, propelled rocker.  The lyric somehow managed to be thought provoking and completely nonsensical (kind of like his recording career) in the span of  two and a half minutes.  Always loved the last section where he apparently ran out of lyrics and steam and just started scatting.  Even though it was a strange song, Canyon Records tapped it as the lead-off (and instantly obscure) single. 

- Kicked along by an instantly mesmerizing keyboard figure, 'Synthetic World' was a beautiful, breezy little number with some great lyrics that were half love story and half ecological warning.  The performance was even more amazing when you recognize the song was recorded in 1970 ...  

- We don't have a clue what the clumsily titled 'Dust Your Head Color Red' was about ( "Sparkle your insides pink with pleasure ..." ) course Swamp Dogg may not have known either.  

- As much as we might love the Joe South original, hearing Swamp Dogg cover 'Redneck' was a major treat.  South's performance was great, but he just couldn't compete with someone on the receiving end of such treatment.  If you're looking for a cutting edge commentary on racial intolerance, good luck finding a better performance.  Shame the song faded out so early.   

- Sporting a great Steve Cropper-styled guitar figure, 'If I Die Tomorrow (I've Lived Tonight)' found Swamp trying to channel Otis Redding.  Swamp's getting rowdy here and he gets it right when he sings 'feeling twisted' !   

- Perhaps not the subtlest commentary on prejudicial attitudes, but you may crack a smile very time you hear 'I Was Born Blue'.  You can literally hear the pain and frustration flowing out of the guy ...

- Side two started out with a wild slice of funk in 'Sal-a-Faster'.  Great example of Dogg's nonsensical lyrics which managed to combine rabbits, getting trashed and self-promotion in under three minutes.   

- Set to an old school, blues vibe, 'The World Beyond' was one of the weirdest anti-nuclear Armageddon songs you've ever heard.  Hard to believe it was written by Bobby Goldsboro.  

- The album's second Joe South cover, his version of 'There Are Not My People'  was serviceable, but wasn't a major improvement on the original - though it was funny to hear him sing 'naked' as 'neekid'.  Canyon tapped this track as the second single.   

- Co-written with Gary US Bonds, 'Everything You'll Ever Need' was probably the album's weakest track.  A plodding mid-tempo number, there just wasn't much to this one.

- Today a song like 'The Baby Is Mine' in 1970 the story of an illegitimate father trying to retain access to his offspring was startling.  Musically it was a nice, old school soul effort that faded out just as Swamp was starting to get steamed up.  

- The second collaboration with Gary Bonds and one of Swamp's better known tracks, 'Mama's Baby, Daddy's Maybe' was a tasty Chicago-styled blues vamp.  What saved the song from being forgettable were Swamp's hysterical lyrics describing a husband's worries and attempts to explain away potential marital indiscretions. Canyon tapped this one as the album's third single.

CONDITION: The Cover: Thick gatefold is SOLID all over top level M- with no problems...rich original colors, no bends, no writing and tight seams...beautiful for a 40 year old artifact.

The Vinyl: all glossy clean and clear over both sides M- ...play graded clear with no audio problems...clean labels too ...a survivor!

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record