Riches from the rock underground

Music Emporium. Sentinel Records, USA, 1969. £4,000.

Psychedelic rock album Music Emporium has been bootlegged countless times over the years and also legitimately reissued, but nothing can truly compare to the original pressing. It is without doubt one of the most soughtafter US records from the psychedelic era, and with good reason. However, the sleevenotes claiming that “Music Emporium, collectively, comprise the freshest, musically provocative and inventive new sounds to hit the pop music scene since The Beatles” might be an exaggeration.

All of the musicians are of a high calibre; leader Casey Cosby (organ and vocals) won the Frank Sinatra award competition at UCLA in 1967, and other members were either studying for or had already attained Masters degrees in music. The rhythm section of drummer Dora Wahl and bassist Carolyn Lee was nothing less than unique. On opening track Nam Myo Renge Kyo, the musicians introduce themselves one by one; eerie organ sounds are followed by fuzz guitar,

‘One of the most soughtafter US records from the psychedelic era.’

which is followed by booming bass, then pounding drums. The strange narration style of Cosby’s lead vocal works well, and when combined with Lee’s melodic input the hypnotic Nichiren Buddhist chorus chant of the song’s title is mesmerising.

Prelude follows a similar path, with Cosby’s keyboard wizardry colliding with droning guitar chords and the almost tribal attack of Wahl’s drums, and occasional mellow refrains contrasting with the bombast. Times Like This is a little more upbeat musically, with a slight country feel, and bears a similarity to The Doors. The downer vibes and slow tempo of Cage is pretty epic in its moroseness, sounding like an end-time anthem performed by a doomsday cult.