D.R. Hooker is the man presented on the cover of this album. To call him weird would be an understatement. Apparently he enjoyed rocking the ‘Jesus Freak’ look, and listening to the lyrics, he tried preaching it as well. Collectors drool over the vinyl for this. Unlike most of collector’s desperate longings, the music on here actually backs up the reputation.
Recorded during the beginning of the end of hippie culture, it is a fairly strange recording. Including a lounge-y track “Forge your own Chains” which warns against taking drugs and alcohol (can’t dig what you’re doing/I won’t know you pretty soon), it embodies odd. One of the hardest rocking songs is called “The Bible” and perhaps Creed should’ve listen to this, so they could’ve avoided that lame watered-down sound while still trying to earn converts. Shoot, it is fantastic with heavy guitars and an unrelenting organ.
Vocals aren’t half bad either. He knows what his strengths are, and we’re thankfully able to avoid any attempt to strain his voice too terribly. The backing band does what it is supposed to, and there’s a decent amount of noise/distortion to flesh out the song.
According to the linear notes, this was recorded in New Haven, Connecticut. D.R. just walked in, recorded it, and left. Whatever he wanted to do, he knew it way before he ever recorded it. The arrangements are clever, inventive, and surprisingly sophisticated for a guy who looks like a smelly hippie. The songs flow together quite nicely and it is a shame we never saw more from him after this.