Artist	Song
The Holy Modal Rounders	Bird Song
The Holy Modal Rounders	Euphoria
The Holy Modal Rounders	Bound To Lose
The Holy Modal Rounders	Blues In The Bottle
The Holy Modal Rounders	Mr. Spaceman
The Holy Modal Rounders	Junko Partner
The Holy Modal Rounders	Indian War Whoop
The Holy Modal Rounders	Cocaine Blues
The Holy Modal Rounders	One Will Do For Now
The Holy Modal Rounders	Take Off Artist
The Holy Modal Rounders	Werewolf
The Holy Modal Rounders	Dame Fortune
The Holy Modal Rounders	Mobile Line
The Holy Modal Rounders	The STP Song
The Holy Modal Rounders	My Mind Capsized
The Holy Modal Rounders	Hesitation Blues
The Holy Modal Rounders	Hey, Hey Baby
The Holy Modal Rounders	Fishing Blues
The Holy Modal Rounders	Same Old Man
The Holy Modal Rounders	Mole In The Ground
The Holy Modal Rounders	Bully Of The Town
The Holy Modal Rounders	The Cuckoo
The Holy Modal Rounders	Long John
The Holy Modal Rounders	Soldiers Joy
The Holy Modal Rounders	Black Eyed Suzie
The Holy Modal Rounders	Statesboro Blues
The Holy Modal Rounders	Half A Mind
The Holy Modal Rounders	The Pledge

Comment:

The Holy Modal Rounders were one of rock's most diverse and experimental bands. They were in essence Steve Weber and Peter Stampfel. Stampfel and Weber met in New York in March 1963 and they started to gig as a duo at places like The Cafe Flamenco and The Playhouse Theatre under a series of bizarre names like the Total Quintessence Stomach Pumpers before choosing The Holy Modal Rounders. Their gigs were crazy and interesting. Their music, which included some original material, was a diverse collection of traditional and ethnic styles. They chose to record for Prestige in preference to Vanguard or Elektra (who were also interested) because Prestige's producer Paul Rothchild smoked dope!
Their first two albums for Prestige, which were later reissued by Fantasy, were a fine collection of their material at that time. Stampfel and Weber also appeared on the first Fugs albums. Weber was a speed freak and numerous other drugs lubricated the groups. Weber's refusal to rehearse and erratic stage performance added to the duo being viewed as nutcases.

In 1967 Stampfel put together a new band The Moray Eels which included Sam Shepard (arguably one of America's best post-war playwrites). Stampfel also united with Weber and reformed the group to record Indian War Whoop and The Moray Eels eat The Holy Modal Rounders. Both are wonderful weird acid-folk albums that get unfair criticism. Stampfel and Weber still gig occasionally, mainly in NYC. On a personal note, I had the opportunity to spend a good hour (after viewing a Shaggs reunion gig) with both Stampfel and Weber. They are quite charming and funny individuals. Stampfel is the shy brilliant professor type and Weber...well things haven't change all that much over the years. He is still the strange madcap he always was.

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