13th Floor Elevators

by Richie Unterberger
 
Featuring the yelping vocals and visionary, occasionally demented lyrics of Roky Erickson, the 13th Floor Elevators were one of the original acid rock bands. Formed in Texas in the mid-60s, the Elevators started as a garage rock outfit, scoring their one and only modest national hit with Youre Gonna Miss Me. While Ericksons loopy persona and Tommy Halls odd jug percussion were the bands most distinguishing features, several members of the groups original lineup contributed strong material to their albums. Although these inconsistent efforts sometimes wander off into a cloudy haze, they also include sturdy folk-rock tunes and driving psychedelic rockers. Trips to San Francisco established the group as an up-and-coming underground favorite, but Ericksons problems with drugs and the police led to the singers commission to a state mental hospital in the late 60s, an ordeal from which he has never fully recovered. The band was really only at full power for a couple of albums, although all of their releases for the legendary International Artists label — produced by, of all people, Kenny Rogers brother Leland — are revered among psychedelic collectors. Live recordings and outtakes of the Elevators continue to surface, though a cogent domestic compilation of the best of these erratic pioneers work remains overdue.