LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

J D Blackfoot's Ultimate Prophecy, originally released on the Mercury label(SR 61288) in 1970, is widely regarded as one of the top US psych albumsof all time.The band, which was from Columbus, Ohio, began as a combination of twolocal groups, The Ebb Tide and Tree, the latter winning a recordingcontract with Mercury as a prize in a local band competition. Craig Fuller,later a founding member of Pure Prairie League, joined the band, which bythis time had changed its name to J D Blackfoot, after some of thematerial for Ultimate Prophecy had been written. Shortly after the releaseof the album Blackfoot left the group which continued to perform as Osiris,while J D himself assembled a new outfit which delivered two wellreceivedalbums for Fantasy.Ultimate Prophecy with its killer psych guitar sound, combined a strongBritish sound with the distinctive song-orientated California sound ofGrateful Dead and Neil Young, two of the main inspirations for many anaspiring rock musician of the time. However, despite the laid back ruralWest Coast sound that the band effortlessly cultivates, shades of UKprogsters such as Jethro Tull and the Moody Blues often come to the forerevealing what is, in essence the group's true musical intentions.Nevertheless, this is a fine album, beautifully played (drummer DanWaldron is in many ways the hero of the hour) and extremely wellrecorded. Highly recommendedTrack Listing1. One Time Woman2. Angel3. We Can Try4. Good Day5. Extending Company6. I've Never Seen You7. The Ultimate Prophecy8. Death's Finale9. Cycles10. Waiting To Be Born11. Pink Sun