- For "acid rock" as a geologic term, see Igneous rock.
Acid rock is a form of psychedelic rock and was the first form of it to achieve popular acclaim. Tom Wolfe describes the LSD-influenced music of the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead as "acid rock" in his book about Ken Kesey and the Acid Tests, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.[1] "Acid rock" also refers to the subset of psychedelic rock bands that were part of, or were influenced by, the San Francisco Sound, and which played loud, "heavy" music featuring long improvised solos.[2]
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History and use of the term
The term acid rock was much used in its heyday of the late 1960s and early 1970s, but has fallen into disuse except for putting this music into its historical perspective. When hard rock and heavy metal became prominent in the late 1970s, the phrase "acid rock" was sometimes generically and erroneously applied to these genres. This use of the term was often negative in nature, and was generally attributed the heaviest forms of rock; often perceived as abrasive or un-listenable to the individual using the phrase. Over time, the common use of the term "heavy metal" replaced "acid rock" for these styles of music.
Genre description
Historically and more accurately, the term refers to the relationship between music and LSD, commonly called "acid". "Acid rock" can connote music recorded under the influence of LSD, or intended to be experienced in conjunction with LSD. These associations can be a matter of the musician's intention, the listener's intention, or even just a general perception on the part of the person using the term. Often the lyrics deal with drug-induced psychological themes as well as references to mind-altering techniques. Characterized by an off-beat style, vivid imagery, and sometimes strange sound/musical effects( e.g. backward recorded music), acid rock often settles into a hypnotic groove wherein a listener (and possibly even the band) can "get lost" within a song. Acid rock is characterized by long solos and its influence from Indian Ragas and the use of Wah-Wah pedals. Acid rock was influenced by Chicago blues and the use of a strange fuzz tone with melodies appearing in unexpected places.
Notable acid rock tracks and singles
1966
- Psychotic Reaction (Count Five)
- Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles)
- Rain (The Beatles)
- Eight Miles High (The Byrds)
- Happenings Ten Years Time Ago (The Yardbirds)
- Paint It, Black (The Rolling Stones)
- Roller Coaster (The 13th Floor Elevators)
- Reverberation (Doubt) (The 13th Floor Elevators)
- Fire Engine (The 13th Floor Elevators)
1967
- Slip Inside This House (The 13th Floor Elevators)
- Section 43 (Country Joe And The Fish)
- Bass Strings (Country Joe And The Fish)
- White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane)
- Spare Chaynge (Jefferson Airplane)
- Purple Haze (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- Third Stone From The Sun (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- Down on Me (Big Brother and the Holding Company)
- Baby You're a Rich Man (The Beatles)
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (The Beatles)
- I Am the Walrus (The Beatles)
- Light My Fire (The Doors)
- The End (The Doors)
- Moonlight Drive (The Doors)
- Interstellar Overdrive (Pink Floyd)
- Astronomy Domine (Pink Floyd)
- Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk (Pink Floyd)
- Sing This Song All Together (See What Happens) (Rolling Stones)
- Swlabr (Cream)
- Sunshine Of Your Love (Cream)
1968
- That's It for the Other One (Grateful Dead)
- New Potato Caboose (Grateful Dead)
- Born Cross-Eyed (Grateful Dead)
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Iron Butterfly)
- EXP (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- If 6 Was 9 (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- White Room (Cream)
- Piece of My Heart (Big Brother and the Holding Company)
- All Along the Watchtower (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- 1983...(A Merman I Should Turn To Be) (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- Crown of Creation (Jefferson Airplane)
- Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun (Pink Floyd)
- Careful with That Axe, Eugene (Pink Floyd)
- Pictures of Matchstick Men (Status Quo)
- Magic Carpet Ride (Steppenwolf)
- Revolution (The Beatles)
- Summertime Blues (Blue Cheer)
1969
- Dazed and Confused (Led Zeppelin)
- Acid Queen (The Who)
- Hot Smoke and Sasafrass (Bubble Puppy)
- Dark Star (Grateful Dead)
1970
- Mommy, What*'s a Funkadelic? (Funkadelic)
- Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath)
References
- ^ Wolfe, Tom (1968). The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Black Swan, 223. ISBN 0-552-99366-2.
- ^ Lucky, Jerry (2003). The Psychedelic Rock Files. Collector's Guide Publishing Inc., 262. ISBN 1-896522-97-1.
