Strange Hippies Make The Best Music

Despite releasing only one LP, the United States of America was among the most revolutionary bands of the late '60s. Led by composer and keyboardist Joseph Byrd they were one of the first rock albums (with perhaps the exception of Gershon Kingsly) to effectivly make use of the synthesizer as a lead instrument (Thats Byrd top left with the flag in the backround btw).

The standout track of the self titled 1967 album is definitely 'Hard Coming Love'. This showcases Byrd's effortless yet aggressively avant-garde composition. After a prolonged instrumental opening, we are introduced to the beauty and restrained power of vocalist Dorothy Moskowitz. The remainder of the song is broken up by three noise builds, each getting progressively longer and more intense. Damn, I still get chills when I hear this track and its prolly my personal favourite psych track.

Although it was the subject of much critical acclaim, the United States of America disbanded soon after, with Byrd resurfacing in 1969 with The American Metaphysical Circus, credited to Joe Byrd and the Field Hippies. Both a critical and commercial failure, the LP was his last until 1975, at which time he released Yankee Transcendoodle, a collection of various synthesizer pieces. I got no idea what happened to Dorothy.

The USA were thanked by Portishead in the liner notes of their self titled 1997 album for the song Half Day Closing which bears a more than superficial resemblance to the opening track of the USA album, 'American Metaphysical Circus'.


Hard Coming Love


Get the Hard Coming Love 7"