The Cosmic Travelers – Soul (1972)

Ultra-rare album originally released in very limited quantities on the Volcano label in 1972. Recorded live on April 1st, 1972 at the Spring Crater Celebration Diamond Head in Oahu, Hawaii…a Los Angeles based combo of psychedelic blues featuring Joel Christie.
The Cosmic Travelers were a group of veteran studio musicians that decided to get together to join the seventh major festival that was held over a four-year period (at the time) in the Diamond Head crater in Hawaii. Live! At The Spring Crater Celebration was recorded originally in 1972, during the advent of a major shift to heavy metal with groups like Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.
This entire recording is live and uncut with the exception of two minutes when the tape was turned over at the original recording. What we would consider today as an archaic method of recording a live gig becomes quite good under the careful eyes and ears of experienced engineers and producers. With the help of technological advancements and Akarma Records’ precise care with the remastering process, and the colorful informative packaging, what you get is history given a chance to become reborn and relived.
This was a good album when it was recorded, and it stands as an above average album now due to the previously mentioned enhancements. The last two songs “Soul” and “Soul Reprise” are real kickers. There are only six tracks, but keep in mind the first track “Farther Up The Road,” a blues classic, runs for more than nine minutes and Dave Mason’s “Look At You Look At Me” for more than ten minutes. So you get more than your share of quantity, quality and consistency on this release.
Drake Levin (ex- Paul Revere & The Raiders, Brotherhood e Lee Michaels Band), do guitarrista Jimmy McGhee, do baixista e aqui vocalista Joel Christie (ex-Lee Michaels Band) e do baterista Dale Loyola (ex-The Hook) cranked out some high-octane psych-blues.