Linn County was an American blues-based band based in Iowa, and later in San Francisco, California. Linn County released three albums from 1968 to 1970. Over the course of their existence, they had seven band members.
Linn County formed around 1966 in Linn County, Iowa, United States as the Prophets. In 1968, the band signed with Mercury Records, moved to San Francisco, and changed its name to Linn County. They released their first album Proud Flesh Soothseer in 1968, and toured performing with bands and musicians such as Albert King, Led Zeppelin, Sly & the Family Stone, Eric Burdon & the Animals and Ten Years After. They were becoming more well known when the group broke up shortly after Clark Pierson left to join Janis Joplin and Stephen Miller left to join Elvin Bishop. Fred Walk kept the band together with different personnel for a time then disbanded the group in 1973. Linn County also headlined or played with Ike & Tina Turner, Earl Hooker, John Lee Hooker, Paul Butterfield, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Steve Miller, Albert Collins and a host of others during music festivals.
Proud Flesh Soothseer is a 1968 album by Linn County. The album predominantly features lengthy blues rock and psychedelic rock jams typical of its era. It barely sold and didn’t chart. Cave Song was co-written by the band’s previous bassist Bob Miskimen, despite him not being featured on the album.
In October 2011, the album was given its first reissue on CD, and remains the only album by Linn County that is currently in print.(wikipedia)
And here´s their debut album.
If you’re looking for some off-the-beaten-path psych that’s affordable, this record is a great option. Recorded in ’68, it has that early psych feeling of Mercury labelmates like Blues Magoos, but hints at something deeper on the horizon. Recommended. (ParchmentFarm)
Indeed: this album is a splendid example of the creativity and energy of the San Francisco scene at that time … I too can only recommend this album and very strongly !
Personnel:
Larry Easter (saxophone, flute)
Dino Long (bass)
Jerry ‘Snake’ McAndrew (drums, percussion)
Stephen Miller (organ, vocals)
Fred Walk (guitar, sitar)
Tracklist:
01. Think (Pauling) 3.30
02. Lower Lemons (Miller/Easter/Walk) 4.06
03. Moon Food (Miller/Easter/Walk/Long) 6.30
04. Cave Song (Miller/Miskimen) 4.28
05. Protect & Serve/Bad Things (Miller/Easter/Walk) 14.12
06. Fast Days (Miller/Walk) 6.46
ManyFantasticColors 