Hunger-Strickly From Hunger (1968)

Hunger were an excellent psychedelic rock band, reminiscent of The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, and Strawberry Alarm O'Clock, who had their moment of glory in the Californian scene of the late 1960s. They originated in Portland, Oregon, in the mid-sixties and moved to Los Angeles towards the end of the decade, where they began to gain a strong reputation within the burgeoning West Coast hippie psychedelic scene. During this time, they opened for Cream, Frank Zappa, and The Byrds. In 1968, they released their only album, "Strictly From Hunger", where their long instrumental breaks, driven by organ sounds and penetrating guitar lines, gave them a style very similar to Jim Morrison's band. Good examples of this influence are tracks like "She Let Him Continue", a psychedelic rock song with various sound effects, the instrumental "Portland", and the sinister "Colors". In "Strictly From Hunger", you can hear elements of almost every genre (jazz, blues, pop, rhythm & blues), interwoven in each song, though you should listen closely to savor the nuances of each one. Every song serves as an excellent example of the cross-pollination of genres. Hunger were much more than just a psychedelic rock band; they were destined for stardom had fate not intervened with a series of unfortunate events, such as the theft of all their equipment on several occasions, among other unfortunate incidents that might have made them a major band, as respected and influential as their West Coast contemporaries.