Asphalt Mother

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"Asphalt Mother"
Song by Mind Garage
from the album Early Years
Released1968
StudioBell Sound (New York City)
GenrePsychedelic rock, hard rock
Length5:05
LabelMorning Glori Music
Songwriter(s)Larry McClurg
Producer(s)Mind Garage
Audio sample

"Asphalt Mother" was released as a 45 single in 1968. In 2006, it was included along with its flip side on the Mind Garage Early Years "Reach Out" CD which was a collection of seven demos recorded by the band in 1968.

Background[edit]

The Mind Garage traveled from Morgantown, WV to Bell Sound Studios in New York to record Asphalt Mother and made only 1000 vinyl copies.

Norris Lytton uses an 8 string Hagstrom bass guitar for a sharp, crisp sound. John Vaughan's Gibson Firebird employs a gutsy fuzz tone, and Jack Bond's Hammond B-3 and Leslie hold the composition together. Syncopation with the other instruments is achieved by Ted Smith's precision drumming. After a fade out and a four-second pause when the song appears to be over, the music comes back in full force for another 30 seconds.

Personnel[edit]

  • Larry McClurg - Lead vocal, lyrics
  • John Vaughan - Lead guitar
  • Jack Bond - Keyboard
  • Ted Smith - Percussion
  • Norris Lytton - Bass guitar
  • Glenn Cambell - Sound engineer
  • Tom Cossie - Assistant producer

Reception[edit]

"Asphalt Mother" continues to survive on its own more than four decades after it was recorded, despite never having been promoted. It is played on FM radio,[1] and appears on 60s compilation CDs, pirated discs, internet radio,[2] and BitTorrents.[3][4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ KDHX FM Time Warp Radio St. Louis
  2. ^ "Rocket 88 FM and Internet Radio". Archived from the original on 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  3. ^ "ChrisGoesRock's Nuggets 60s Torrent". Archived from the original on 2009-04-21. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  4. ^ Anazitisi Records re-released Asphalt Mother in Europe in 2009