When I was asked by the fine folks at the 11th Hour to submit a paragraph about an album that moved or influenced me in some way, I was completely torn. How can I pick just one? Well, after a couple of months of going back and forth in my mind, I chose the self-titled album by the band Relatively Clean Rivers (RCR).
This album would be the only release by RCR. The album was the brainchild of Phil Pearlman, a staple of the American ’60s rock community. RCR was released in 1975 but by then, this type of music had faded away. Disco and punk were dominating the market. It was a brave move to make this album during that period. It was a very “punk rock” thing for Phil to do– to stand up for himself and against the modern trend.
The album is a full-on acid trip! One last glimpse into the realm of psychedelic rock… It has beautiful melodies, great electric and acoustic guitars, and most importantly, great songs! The nine tracks represent total artistic freedom and creativity– and that’s why this record influenced me so much. RCR has been a big influence on many in the jam band community. Wilco has them on steady rotation in their house music.
And for all you vinyl collectors, RCR is a very rare record. If you are lucky enough to own a first pressing of this record, it is worth thousands! But if not, then you can find it on YouTube. Enjoy and cheers!