The First Edition, later known as Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, were psychedelic pop and country rock band. The group began in 1967 with mostly former members of a group known as the New Christy Minstrels. The group’s initial run together lasted until 1976, but the group reunited briefly in 2010, 2014, and 2015 for special events related to Kenny Rogers. This album, The First Edition (1967), was the group’s first album together, and is in a psychedelic pop/rock style. I’m pretty stoked to give this album a listen, so with that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“I Found a Reason” begins with a bit of studio chatter alongside what sounds to be a typewriter, stock ticker, roller coaster, and then some traffic. Oh wow, the track drops into place suddenly with a super groovy mixture of twangy country and bright, upbeat psychedelic pop flavors. Wow, this is super groovy. I really dig the vocals in this track. Oh wow, the twangy guitar keeps pulling me in further, and then the horns launch the track into some bright psychedelic pop territory. This combination of flavors is super groovy, and is presented in a totally unique manner compared to anything I can remember listening to since starting this website. Wow, great track, and I’m excited to hear more.
Oh wow, “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” starts out with some reversed guitar that brings in a really groovy raga sound. Holy smokes, the acoustic guitar plays, electric guitar, deep bass line, and groovy drums play off of the darkness in the vocals to make a moody psychedelic rock track that has hooked me even further into the listening experience of the album. The tone almost reminds me of a gritty version of The Doors mixed with some country flavors. Wow, awesome track.
“Shadow In the Corner of Your Mind” begins with some electric guitar that has a sort of twinkling psychedelic flavor in a sort of garage rock style that feels as though it’s sending you off on some journey. The track gets grooving along with gradually more and more bright, psychedelic pop flavors, but still keeps a bit of darkness as the track continues along. Wow, I’m really digging this album so far. Great tune.
“If Wishes Were Horses” starts out with some gentle acoustic guitar and some bright bass notes, almost in a bit of a folksy inflection. The vocals seem to momentarily pick up country flavors as they slowly wrap you up. Oh wow, some pleasant violin comes in, and somehow sweetens the track up even more. Super sweet track.
“Ticket To Nowhere” starts out with a groovy beat, and slowly gets moving into a bit of a twangy country and western sounding track with the particular style of the backbeat and the twangy vocals. Oh wow, the track continues along and again becomes a sort of bright and upbeat psychedelic pop track. I really dig the twang in the female vocalist’s voice. Wow, I’m really digging the listening experience of this album so far. Great tune.
“I Get a Funny Feeling” starts out with a gentle swing, some warm and delicate acoustic guitar, and some super sweet accentuations from an electric guitar. Oh wow, some orchestral strings come in and further sweeten the track even more. I really dig the female vocalist in this track, which have a nearly sweet, smooth crooning style that gives the track a sort of sweet, psychedelic soft pop/rock sound, especially as the beat tightens a bit and bright accentuations from the guitar and background vocals are added to the track. Super sweet tune.
“I Was the Loser” begins with some light and sweet acoustic guitar, and is soon joined by a really groovy foray of psychedelic pop sounds in the bright, uplifting vocals, and the smooth horns. Oh wow, the track gets into a really groovy jam that includes a really sweet drum fill. I really dig that the track seems to keep building on itself and coming to a symphonic crescendo of psychedelic pop flavors near the end of the track. Super sweet tune.
Oh wow, “Dream On” starts out with some really flavorful, twangy electric guitar licks. I’m really digging this track a lot so far. I’m reminded a lot of Gene Clark’s solo albums from around this time period with the use of twangy flavors and far out psychedelic rock sounds. I really dig the piano in this track, which bring a certain lightness to the background of the song. Great track.
“Home Made Lies” begins with some bouncy bass notes, which are soon joined by a combination of bright electric guitar and horns in a psychedelic pop style. Oh wow, this instrumental break down is super groovy; I really dig the twangy guitar licks combined with the lightness in the percussion of the track, which are both elevated by the horns and grooving bass line. The track almost has a bit of a New Orleans flavor. Great tune.
“Marcia 2 A.M.” starts out with a chorus of psychedelic pop vocals and some light acoustic guitar work, which get the track into an upbeat groove. Oh wow, I really dig the vocals in this track, which seem to fade from one bright harmony to the next in a really groovy manner. Super sweet tune.
“Hurry Up Love” gets grooving with some bright psychedelic pop flavors in the vocals, bouncing bass line, and the lightness of the acoustic guitar, with a sort of laid-back feel compared to some of the previous tracks. Super sweet track.
Oh wow, “Church Without a Name” starts out with some super groovy swirling organs, that sound as though a sermon is about to begin. Holy smokes, the mellow acoustic guitar and sweet vocals come in with a style reminiscent of country tunes from the likes of Kris Kristofferson or possibly even Gram Parsons. Oh wow, the bass, horns, and drums all come in with some tight, bright psychedelic pop flavors, and the vocals intensify with tons of passion reminiscent of New Orleans. Wow, awesome track, and an awesome way to finish this listening experience.
Wow, this album is awesome. The mixture of psychedelic pop and country rock is one that I don’t think I’d really listened to up until this point. The closest thing I can think would be Gene Clark, but even that comparison falls short of the unique style in this album. If you enjoy psychedelic pop and country rock from the mid-to-late 1960s, you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this album a listen, I sincerely do hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A