LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

• Edition: First official remastered reissue
• Packaging: Gatefold sleeve
• Extras: Four-panel colour insert with detailed liner notes, photographs and memorabilia

Fifth Pipe Dream – Volume I is a celebrated document of the San Francisco psychedelic underground at the height of the late-1960s counterculture. Originally released in 1968, it brings together rare recordings by It’s A Beautiful Day, Tripsichord Music Box, West Coast Natural Gas, Black Swan and the studio-based San Francisco Sound House Band.

Conceived by producer and manager Matthew Katz, the record was designed as more than a conventional various-artists compilation. Its changing performers, contrasting styles and carefully arranged sequence form a continuous psychedelic journey through fuzz guitar, garage-rock energy, dreamy folk-rock melodies and extended acid-rock improvisation.

The album begins with It’s A Beautiful Day’s atmospheric “Bulgaria,” followed by the mysterious San Francisco Sound House Band instrumental “Aquarian Dream.” Tripsichord Music Box contribute three of the record’s strongest performances, moving from the melodic psych-pop of “You’re the Woman” and “It’s Not Good” to the expansive eight-minute “Family Song.”

West Coast Natural Gas provide four outstanding examples of West Coast garage psychedelia. “Two’s a Pair,” “Beyond This Place,” “Hashish” and “Water or Wine” combine fuzz guitar, vocal harmonies and a darker, more forceful sound. On the original release, these recordings were incorrectly credited to Indian Puddin’ & Pipe; this authorised reissue restores the correct West Coast Natural Gas name.

The album closes with two concise songs by the obscure Black Swan, whose melodic approach adds a lighter psychedelic-pop character to the final section. Despite the different groups involved, the record maintains a unified and deeply atmospheric sound throughout.

The distinctive gatefold artwork was created by Donna Wallace-Cohen. The original design appeared in greyscale before a colourised version was produced without her involvement. At the artist’s request, Guerssen has used the authentic greyscale design for this first official reissue.

Carefully remastered and supplemented by extensive archival material, Fifth Pipe Dream – Volume I is essential for collectors of original San Francisco psychedelia, acid rock, garage psych and late-1960s West Coast sounds.

Track listing:

Side A
1. It’s A Beautiful Day – Bulgaria – 2:39
2. San Francisco Sound House Band – Aquarian Dream – 2:47
3. Tripsichord Music Box – You’re the Woman – 3:38
4. Tripsichord Music Box – It’s Not Good – 3:12
5. West Coast Natural Gas – Two’s a Pair – 4:14
6. West Coast Natural Gas – Beyond This Place – 2:34

Side B
1. West Coast Natural Gas – Hashish – 3:02
2. West Coast Natural Gas – Water or Wine – 3:38
3. Tripsichord Music Box – Family Song – 8:24
4. Black Swan – Lady Blonde – 2:08
5. Black Swan – She Encircles Me – 2:09