LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Originally released in 1967, No Way Out is the debut album by The Chocolate Watch Band and a key release from the American garage-psych underground. Raw, loud and full of attitude, the record mixes fuzz-driven rock, bluesy swagger, psychedelic atmosphere and the kind of sharp-edged energy that would later be recognised as an early proto-punk influence.

Produced by Ed Cobb, the album includes some of the band’s best-known recordings, including Let’s Talk About Girls, Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love-In), Gone And Passes By and the title track No Way Out. Its blend of hard garage rock and trippy studio textures helped make it a cult favourite among collectors of 1960s psychedelia.

Although it was not a major commercial success on release, No Way Out has since earned a strong reputation as one of the essential albums of the original garage rock and psychedelic era.

1. Let’s Talk About Girls
2. Midnight Hour
3. Come On
4. Dark Side Of The Mushroom
5. Hot Dusty Road

1. Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love-In)
2. Gone And Passes By
3. No Way Out
4. Expo 2000
5. Gossamer Wings