Psych-out (1968)

Composer(s):
Ronald Stein

Released in:
1968

Reviews

Can You Pass The Acid Test?
by filmfactsman (April 7, 2006)
Another great pre-"Easy Rider" psychedelic soundtrack, possibly the best of the Sidewalk/Tower releases, "Psych-Out is a surprisingly realistic slice of counter-cultural life, Haight-Ashbury style. Like the better American International films of the period ("The Wild Angels", "The Trip", "Devil's Angels", "The Glory Stompers"), it was made quickly with little time for screenwriting, yet it shows authenticity and sincerity in its treatment of the hippie lifestyle. This was no doubt due to the care taken by the young, hip (and well-connected) cast and crew (Jack Nicholson, Dean Stockwell, Bruce Dern, Susan Strasberg, Richard Rush and Dick Clark), almost all of whom would graduate to bigger things. The fuzzed out instrumental that Stony (Jack Nicholson) and company 'pretended' to play at a club is "Ashbury Wednesday," which according to the credits (and the Sidewalk soundtrack album) was recorded by Boenzee Cryque and written by FIVE people. Actually, the song is a thinly disguised rewrite of Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze."

Older, shorter-haired hippie: "The message is beads."
Younger, fuzzy-haired hippie: "Beads."
O.S.H.: "The message is...music. The message is staring at crystal."
Y.F.H.: "You mean like, searching for the truth, wherever you may find it?"
O.S.H.: "No, maahnn!"

If you're listening, Mike Curb ("The Wild Angels", "The Trip"), it's time for a CD release of this Acid Rock milestone. Like right now, man! In the meantime, everyone please go and rent the DVD (which also includes the film "The Trip"). Far out!

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