the sacred mushroom

The sole album by Cincinnati’s The Sacred Mushroom is a highly regarded piece of late-1960s American blues rock, combining tough electric guitar work, soulful vocals and touches of psychedelia. Originally released by the underground Parallax label in 1969, the record captures a talented regional group whose reputation was built through energetic live appearances but whose recorded output remained frustratingly small.

Led by guitarist and principal songwriter Larry Goshorn, The Sacred Mushroom developed a muscular sound rooted firmly in electric blues. The concise opening tracks deliver sharp guitar lines, strong vocal harmonies and memorable hooks, while the longer second side gives the musicians more room to stretch out. “I Take Care” and the extended closing track “Lifeline” are particular highlights, displaying the group’s heavier and more exploratory side.

Most of the material was written by the band, joined by distinctive interpretations of Ray Davies’ “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” and the blues standard “Mean Old World.” Despite the psychedelic imagery associated with the group, the music remains direct, earthy and blues-driven, making the album equally appealing to collectors of American psychedelia, heavy blues rock and late-sixties underground sounds.

This Charly Records vinyl edition makes the band’s rare and only full-length album available once again, preserving one of the more enduring cult recordings to emerge from the Cincinnati rock scene.

Track listing:

Side A

1. I Don’t Like You – 2:50
2. You Won’t Be Sorry – 2:15
3. Catatonic Lover – 3:00
4. All Good Things Must Have An End – 4:40
5. I’m Not Like Everybody Else – 4:34

Side B

1. I Take Care – 4:57
2. Mean Old World – 4:38
3. Lifeline – 6:34