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Editorial Reviews

In its original form, the United States of America's self-titled (and sole album) was one of the most exciting and experimental psychedelic albums of the late '60s, blending searingly imaginative electronics with equally unusual songs that were both piercing and dreamy. Although a Sony Music Special Products CD with two added previously unreleased outtakes was briefly available in the early '90s, Sundazed's reissue is the definitive one for those who want even more than the original album offered. While the two somewhat half-baked outtakes from the previous CD reissue ("Osamu's Birthday" and "No Love to Give") are here, this disc adds a further eight tracks that were never released before, including yet more outtakes and some substantially different alternate versions of songs that did make it onto the final album. While none of the alternates are as good as the versions that ended up being used, it's fascinating to hear the cuts in cruder but equally trippy arrangements, particularly the three from their September 1, 1967, Columbia Records audition session (for which original organist Mike Agnello and original bassist Stu Brotman were still in the lineup). Less exciting, but also intriguing to behold, are three tracks done in July 1968 by a later version of the band, in which singer Dorothy Moskowitz was the only remaining member from the group who played on the album. Those three tracks are far more folk-rock-oriented than anyone would have suspected, two of them penned by Moskowitz and the third by Kenny Edwards of the Stone Poneys. Add detailed commentaries in the liner notes by Joseph Byrd and Moskowitz, and you have an expansion well worth picking up, even for those who've owned the original album for quite a while. Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

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