WELCOME TO LPCDREISSUES
Harvey Mandel – The Snake is a remarkable showcase for the adventurous guitar style that earned Mandel his famous nickname. Originally released in 1972, the album finds him moving freely between blues rock, jazz, funk and psychedelic textures, using sustain, feedback and fluid lead guitar to give the largely instrumental music its distinctive identity.
Mandel had already established himself through his work with Charlie Musselwhite and Canned Heat and would also play with John Mayall and later appear on The Rolling Stones' Black And Blue. On The Snake, however, the focus is firmly on his own musical language, supported by a strong cast of musicians and arrangements that leave plenty of room for improvisation.
From the melodic guitar lines of “The Divining Rod” and “Pegasus” to the atmospheric “Levitation” and the title track, the album combines groove-heavy rhythm sections with unusual instrumental colours. The result is a particularly inventive example of early-'70s American guitar rock, with elements of blues, jazz and funk continually crossing into one another.
This Culture Factory USA Record Store Day 2025 edition is presented as a blue vinyl-replica CD and is strictly limited to 1,000 copies.
Listen:
Track Listing
1. The Divining Rod
2. Pegasus
3. Lynda Love
4. Peruvian Flake
5. The Snake
6. Uno Ino
7. Ode To The Owl
8. Levitation
9. Bite The Electric Eel
