Acid Test

Supposedly, Ken Kesey, Ken Babbs, and other members of the Merry Pranksters, high on LSD, spent 14 hours at the Sound City recording studio in San Francisco, probably on January 1, 1966, and emerged with the half-hour's worth of foolishness heard on this album. The most coherent section of the record is its opening, as Kesey is interviewed by Frank Frey, who plays straight man, allowing Kesey to indulge in amusing, if sophomoric, philosophy. Kesey also provides the most musical moment on the album, contributing "Peggy the Pistol," a parody of "Minnie the Moocher." But most of the album consists of rambling remarks by Babbs spoken over sound effects and snatches of harmonica, flute, and percussion playing. At "The End," Kesey says it's time for the Grateful Dead to sing, but Jerry Garcia demurs, declaring his voice to be shot. This is the audio residue of a drug trip that no doubt was more of an experience for the participants than for later listeners. It is, however, certainly an artifact of the psychedelic `60s. ~ William Ruhlmann