Ultimate Spinach

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Ultimate Spinach was a psychedelic/ hard rock/ blues band originally from Boston. In their '60's heyday they specialized in lengthy songs such as "Ballad of the Hip Death Goddess", from Ultimate Spinach (1968) and "Genesis of Beauty", from Behold And See (1968). Since 1970 the band have largely abandoned the psychedelic sounds and have (since at least 1975) dropped all of the '60's songs from their setlists (with the exception of 'Ballad Of The Hip Death Goddess' and a few from the third album).

The Ultimate Spinach, comprised of keyboardist/guitarist Ian Bruce-Douglas and singer Barbara Hudson was a band of Boston's alternative scene in the second half of the 1960s. The phenomenon of a "Boston Sound" was more a publicity stunt than a legitimate artistic movement, and the Bruce-Douglas version of the band tends to be remembered for its name. The music is largely forgotten. Despite suffering claims of dishonesty, they published quite technically sophisticated but also musically dull albums. On Ultimate Spinach (MGM, 1968) the standout cuts are the suite "Ballad of the Hip Death Goddess", with an instrumental interval for theremin (an early electronic instrument), feedback and reverberation, and the psychoanalytic folk-blues "Ego Trip". They were taken to court by Country Joe McDonald for having copied "Section 43" in their "Sacrifice of the Moon". Also "Pamela" is reminiscent of Country Joe's "Grace".

More complex compositions, such as the suite in four movements "Genesis of Beauty" and "Fragmentary March of Green", two pieces soaked in mysticism, enliven the second album Behold And See (MGM, 1968). Jazz Thing and Mind Flowers experimented with even more unusual tempos and atmosphere, while the graceful "Gilded Lamp Of The Cosmos" exemplifies the best of their psychedelic folk ballads. (Note: Big Beat's re-release of Behold And See omits "Visions of your Reality". In addition, it liberally edits other cuts, and thus should not be considered a true re-release, if anyone cares). A third album was recorded, but the only original member was Barbara Hudson. One of the musicians who played on the album was guitarist Jeff Baxter, future session man for Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers. This album is superior to the two before it, largely leaving behind the dated psychedelic effects that characterised the Bruce-Douglas period and developing a sound reminiscent of such acts as The Byrds, The Monkees and the '68-era Beach Boys.

Upon release of the 2nd album, Ian Bruce Douglas was fired by his own management and members of his band. The reason being two fold. First, none of the band members who played on that album were given a credit. Second, Ian was becoming more and more beligerent, insanely egotistical, and unreliable with psychotic and violent episodes. A new band was formed with only Russ Levine and Barbara Hudson as standing original members. Tony Scheuan, Ted Myers, Mike Levine and Jeff Baxter were also added.

In 1970 the band reformed with no original members and have continued to this day, performing (generally in the Oregon area) and releasing several independent albums. This band, while arguably superior to the '60's outfits, has always remained underground and in recent years Bruce-Douglas has derided their existence.

Years later Bruce-Douglas joined the Azlbrax, with whom he released In The Valley Of The Shadow (Intergalactic, 1988).