Ripple
POOBAH - Let Me In 2LP
$47.95
Double LP housed in gatefold sleeve.
Highly recommended.
The legendary guitar antics of Jim Gustafson on full display in a collector’s edition gatefold vinyl 12″ format, complete with never before heard bonus tracks, and photos from the recording sessions.
All this would have been enough to warrant reissue. But Gustafson — who still fronts Poobah, albeit with different supporting musicians – is intent on giving value for money. So the reissue serves up no less than twelve – count ‘em – twelve bonus tracks dating from 1972 and 1973. And with few exceptions, these tracks are the equal of the original album’s quality.
Highlights of the bonus portion include the lo-fi droner-stoner instro track “Upside Down Highway” (Poobah at their most Sabbath-like, recorded live in Gustafson’s living room) and a single edit of “Bowleen.” And while “Going to Rock City” is little more than a more tuneful rewrite of “Rock ‘N’ Roll,” it’s arguably a better tune, especially with its exhortation to audience participation. The comic-book-horror lyrics of “Walk of the Bug” are good for a chuckle, and the riffage isn’t bad, either.
The booklet includes lyrics to all the songs, plus black-and-white photos of the ’72 band. They look exactly like you’d expect them too, all hairy, bearded and slightly menacing. But the album is “dedicated with love and peace to the world,” so there’s nothing to fear. Trust us.
While we can’t speak to the content or quality of subsequent Poobah releases – and there have been many, none of which we’ve heard – we can attest to this: on this reissue of Let Me In, Poobah is indeed grand.
Highly recommended.
The legendary guitar antics of Jim Gustafson on full display in a collector’s edition gatefold vinyl 12″ format, complete with never before heard bonus tracks, and photos from the recording sessions.
All this would have been enough to warrant reissue. But Gustafson — who still fronts Poobah, albeit with different supporting musicians – is intent on giving value for money. So the reissue serves up no less than twelve – count ‘em – twelve bonus tracks dating from 1972 and 1973. And with few exceptions, these tracks are the equal of the original album’s quality.
Highlights of the bonus portion include the lo-fi droner-stoner instro track “Upside Down Highway” (Poobah at their most Sabbath-like, recorded live in Gustafson’s living room) and a single edit of “Bowleen.” And while “Going to Rock City” is little more than a more tuneful rewrite of “Rock ‘N’ Roll,” it’s arguably a better tune, especially with its exhortation to audience participation. The comic-book-horror lyrics of “Walk of the Bug” are good for a chuckle, and the riffage isn’t bad, either.
The booklet includes lyrics to all the songs, plus black-and-white photos of the ’72 band. They look exactly like you’d expect them too, all hairy, bearded and slightly menacing. But the album is “dedicated with love and peace to the world,” so there’s nothing to fear. Trust us.
While we can’t speak to the content or quality of subsequent Poobah releases – and there have been many, none of which we’ve heard – we can attest to this: on this reissue of Let Me In, Poobah is indeed grand.
