Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
How did the album get its name?
The Elevators were a pioneer in the music genre of psychedelic music, and the name of their first album clearly reflects that. They have even been awarded a proclamation by the Governor of the State of Texas, honoring them for their achievements on their 50th Anniversary: “Congratulations! Over the last five decades, the 13th Floor Elevators has entertained countless listeners with their groundbreaking psychedelic sound and risen from the Austin music scene to national and even global success.”
The liner notes on the back of the album provide more detail on the quest for pure sanity and how that relates to the Elevators music.
Easter Everywhere
How did the album get its name?
Tommy Hall wrote most of the lyrics for Easter Everywhere and named the album to represent his vision. Easter fundamentally symbolizes rebirth, renewal, and new life, and in the counterculture of 1967, rebirth was happening everywhere. Easter Everywhere is a celebration of the liberation and freedom that the Elevators were part of, as the initial explosion of psychedelia was happening across the Unites States, in England and beyond.
Bull of the Woods
How did the album get its name?
Tommy had just liberated Roky from incarceration at Hedgecroft, a private mental institution, (this is a story in and of itself!). The band met up and were trying to decide the best path forward, given all of the legal pressure that Roky was under, based upon his arrest for possession of marijuana (Texas had severe penalties for possession of marijuana in the 1960s).
Tommy said that he was going to take Roky to California. Stacy objected, as this would mean that Roky had crossed the Texas State border, and he would be a fugitive from justice, as that would be a parole violation. Tommy insisted. Stacy said that if they left, he would continue with the band, to which, Tommy replied “That’s a lot of bull”.
Stacy named the band’s last album Bull of the Woods. His idea for the album cover was a lone longhorn steer atop a hill. This would have been a fitting allegory, as Stacy was the last founding member of the band, and he wrote many of the songs on the album.
The owners of their record company, International Artists, swiped a menu from a local steak restaurant and used that artwork instead.
