International Artists’ second biggest act in terms of chart action, behind the Elevators, enjoyed chart success with their distinct high-energy hippie-rock-pop sound and look. Their singles hit Hot Smoke & Sassafras is a superb slab of psych rock that was even covered by English acts of the time.
The name The Bubble Puppy came to them whilst witnessing a seminal Hendrix gig whilst high on some particulary potent acid. Flicking through the pages of a copy of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World they stumbled – or should that be tripped – across the name. Once signed by International Artists, their first 45 waxing, the brilliant Hendrix-inspired Hot Smoke & Sassafras, combined hard rock with fresh vocal harmonies and reached #14 in the U.S. charts in March 1969. The resultant album, which only scraped the lower reaches of the album chart, was more of the same sound and equally strong.
Bubble Puppy's sole International Artists album may be far removed from the deep acid psych of the Elevator’s Easter Everywhere or The Golden Dawn’s ‘Power Plant’, but it still remains highly enjoyable, being a lot more instant and easy to like and one of the label’s most refined rock efforts.
TRACKLIST: Hot Smoke And Sasafrass; Todd's Tune; I've Got To Reach You; Lonely; A Gathering Of Promises; Hurry Sundown; Elizabeth; It's Safe To Say; Road To St. Stephen's; Beginning
Bonus tracks: If I Had A Reason; Days Of Our Time; Thinkin' About Thinkin'; What Do You See; Hot Smoke And Sasafrass; Lonely; Hurry Sundown (Remix); Beginning (Remix)
