Cover illustration of The Book of Philip Jose Farmer by Jack Gaughan, 1973
The Bubble Puppy formed in south Texas in the mid-'60s - the idea, I think, was to have a rock band with four vocalists and two lead guitars. And, based on their one and only album, 1969's A Gathering of Promises, you can hear that they clearly deliver on what they promised. Starting with their minor hit "Hot Smoke and Sasafrass", the album is all about harmonies and guitar hooks. The sound isn't as similar to the band's better known Texan contemporaries, the 13th Floor Elevators, as you might expect, especially since the vocal sound is very Crosby Stills Nash & Young. Several of the numbers lean in that group's folk-rock direction, but the album also features a epic guitar workout called "I've Got to Reach You", and it's surprisingly engaging, even though it's not really my thing.
Some of the tracks on A Gathering of Promises a little too noodly, and the shared songwriting in the group results in some uneven material, but there are seven or eight really solid, tuneful psych-rock songs on here. The gentle title track has the album's best use of harmonies, and "Hot Smoke and Sasafrass" is a real barn-burner of a single, but my favorite track on the record may be "Hurry Sundown". Built on a squiggly guitar hook, it's a Byrds-y song with a two nice solo sections and a pleasant (if unadventurous) folk-rock melody. There's nothing new going on there, but for people who like late-'60s rock, Bubble Puppy offer a great mix of heavenly harmonies and guitar heroics.
"Hurry Sundown" by the Bubble Puppy
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