St John Green - The Four Best Songs from ST JOHN GREEN

St John Green, as the back cover of this album explains, were part of the "Canyon scene," a loose association of musicians and hippies based in and around Topanga Canyon in California in the late 60s. Spirit, featuring Randy California and Ed Cassidy, were the best known Canyon group.

Although too patchy to be considered a "classic" (some songs, in my opinion, are downright awful), this album by St John Green is a genuinely interesting period piece nevertheless, and it does include a handful of good songs (and these are them). Interestingly—and unexpectedly—much of the music on the album contains explicit Christian themes and imagery; the band seems particularly preoccupied with the concept of damnation.

Here are the best songs from St John Green's self-titled 1968 album for the Flick Disc label, a subsidiary of MGM Records that also released the eponymous album by the Boston Tea Party:

1) "Canyon Women"
2) "Devil and the Sea"
3) "Spirit of Now"
4) "St John Green"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 60s
• rock
• pop
• psychedelic
• garage
• nuggets
• vinyl
• records
• albums
• LPs

[Friskus22]

hi usually my intrest go more to hardrock/heavy psych

but when i heared some of the songs you posted i was amazed

now i want to improve my collection with some obscure psych bands

do you have any recommendations wich record i must certainly buy?

i hope that you understand my english

[myrecordcollection]

I usually suggest that people begin with Rhino's Nuggets box sets. They're great and will introduce you to dozens of good psych and garage-rock groups.

[Friskus22]

@myrecordcollection

okay, but do you have a recommondation for some specific psych albums?

Because i'm not very into compilations, i'd rather spend my money on whole albums

from bands. But i will certainly take your advice and look for some names of bands that are on the nuggets box.

[myrecordcollection]

A few years ago I wrote two lists of recommendations: one for UK psychedelic albums and one for UK psych albums. You can find them on Fufkin dot com.

[Syntox]

So...should I buy the $150 copy of this sitting in my local psych record shop?

[myrecordcollection]

I'd say no. In my opinion the album as a whole isn't so hot, and although it's sort of rare, it's not rare enough to warrant a $150 price tag. The Boston Tea Party album came out on the same label, is just about as rare, and is a better album, and you can pick it up on Ebay for probably, like, thirty bucks.

[Larry1951]

I was browsing YouTube for a live performance of Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys, when I noticed St John Green in the Related Videos column. Couldn't believe it. I had "discovered" them in high school back in Omaha, Nebraska in the late 60s in a pile of cast-off cut-outs from KOIL radio station. We worked up covers for "Canyon Women" and "St. John Green". I have no idea what happened to that vinyl and I never thought I'd hear of them again. Thanks for posting. Great memories!

[tilefono200]

"Devil and the Sea'' rules what a great melody driven by this magic organ,thanks mate for it

[woodburnD]

@Friskus22 i have or had 2 copies of this record

[yosemitemtb]

I can't believe I've found this. I bought a copy of this album in 1986 at a thrift store in Cedar Falls Iowa. I've searched in the past for it and found nothing, but on a lark I typed St. John Green into Google tonight. An old favorite that gets regular turntable play here!

[equallyeasilyfuqyou]

i love this album.

[stjohngreen1]

Dude hand me that pipe..

[betaultragroove]

myrecordcollection you did a great job!!! thanx from México City

[stjohngreen1]

i like this song

[michaeljwrann]

I have a copy that I'm posting on ebay for $25.00. It's in good shape and plays as well as the songs on youtube by myrecordcollection

[polycyx]

these are great tracks, but i disagree that st. john green is a "patchy" album. i might only play these songs if i'm djing, but that doesn't take anything away from the rest of this classic american psych release.

[TheMamaCat54]

The whole album is great. You just "had to be there" in the late 60's.

[dxmlsd]

The song goddess of death is a good one i posted it up just now if u want to watch it enjoy

[blarsen1]

What about 7th Generation Mutation? THAT ROCKS!!

[rickheilman]

I want to hear One Room Cemetery? I thought I was the only person who knew of this group. Did they evolve into the group that did Green Eyed lady?  Sure sounds like them!

[lomaspez]

colega qye liada con estos triperones!!

[staw0005]

WOWIE ZOWIE!

The Title track is SOOOO good.

Like eerily classic. .

[brianrkrt]

loved it years ago - bargain basement vinyl in stereo. still love it now. Help Me Close The Door has got to be the cheekiest protest song ever!

[GerardJasperse]

Is this a rare record?