Tuesday, April 5, 2016

IOWA BLUES PSYCHEDELIC HAIGHT



Linn County formed around 1966 in Linn County, Iowa, USA as the Prophets". In 1968, the band signed with Mercury Records, moved to San Francisco, California, and changed its name to Linn County. They released their first album Proud Flesh Soothseer in 1968 and toured, performing with bands and people 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 Steve 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 rock festivals. When Linn County signed with Mercury, they were given the (then) unheard of sum of $50,000.00 as a signing bonus plus funds to move the group from Chicago to San Francisco   


Tracks are as following;

1-5    Fever Shot 

6-9    Proud Flesh Soothsayer

10-17  Till The Break Of Dawn

18-21  Stephen Miller solo

22-24  Flying Bear Medicine Show
       Linn County and Friends

The solo lp Stephen Miller included the members of Linn County on the
selected tracks 


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks! Great almost forgotten band. Got to meet Stephen Miller a few years later when he was touring with Grinderswitch. He was pleasantly surprised that I liked his work with Linn Cty. Larry

nihil said...

I had never heard of these guys (I think..). Pleasant music.
Thank you Bill.

Unknown said...

Love these guys, have their three albums, but looking forward to listening to the solo Miller and band with friends. Many thanks . Pete

Anonymous said...

Just saw a quick mention that April 18th would have been Skip Spence's 70th Birthday. Happy Birthday Skip wherever you are! Larry

eugeniotomich said...

Hi Bill, hope you are taking care of yourself! Wish you a quick recovery!

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