Country Joe and the Fish

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Country Joe and the Fish
Country Joe and the Fish in 1967
Country Joe and the Fish in 1967
Background information
OriginBerkeley, California, United States
Genres
Years active1965– 1970, 1977, 2004– 2006 (as Country Joe Band), sporadically thereafter
Labels
Past members
Gary "Chicken" Hirsh
David Bennett Cohen
Bruce Barthol
David Getz
Peter Albin
John Francis Gunning
Paul Armstrong
Mark Ryan
Gregory Leroy Dewey
Mark Kapner
Doug Metzner
Websitewell.com/~cjfish

Country Joe and the Fish was an American

San Francisco music scene during the mid- to late 1960s. Much of the band's music was written by founding members Country Joe McDonald and Barry "The Fish" Melton, with lyrics pointedly addressing issues of importance to the counterculture, such as anti-war protests, free love, and recreational drug use. Through a combination of psychedelia and electronic music, the band's sound was marked by innovative guitar melodies and distorted organ-driven instrumentals which were significant to the development of acid rock
.

The band self-produced two

dark humor and satire, became their signature tune and is among the era's most recognizable protest songs. Further success followed, including McDonald's appearance at Woodstock
, but the group's lineup underwent changes until its disbandment in 1970. Members of the band continue in the music industry as solo recording artists and sporadically reconvene.

History

Formation (1965)

The first lineup of Country Joe and the Fish formed in mid-1965, when

left-wing underground magazine Et Tu Brute, which later became Rag Baby, containing poetry, drawings, and political messages.[4] By early 1965, McDonald had become involved in the burgeoning folk scene in Berkeley, and the Free Speech Movement that was organizing demonstrations in University of California, Berkeley, which opposed the war in Vietnam. Not long afterwards, McDonald was inspired to record a "talking issue" of his magazine, and organized Country Joe and the Fish with Melton and fellow musicians Carl Schrager (washboard, kazoo), Bill Steele (bass guitar), and Mike Beardslee (vocals), out of both necessity of a recording alias and political device, to self-produce an extended play.[5][6]

dark commentary on the US's involvement in the Vietnam War.[9] In October 1965, 100 copies of the EP, titled Rag Baby Talking Issue No. 1, were distributed on McDonald's independent label at a Teach-in in UC Berkeley and underground shops selling Rag Baby magazine.[10]

For a brief period, McDonald and Melton performed together as a duo at college campuses in the Northwest on behalf of

bass player Bruce Barthol and guitarist Paul Armstrong, and blues guitarist David Bennett Cohen, with whom Melton played in another jug band. The addition of drummer John Francis-Gunning rounded out the six-piece ensemble.[12] It was during their residency at the Jabberwock that Country Joe and the Fish learned to play as a group and expand their repertoire. Within months, based on McDonald and Melton's interest in the live performances of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the recordings on Bob Dylan's album, Highway 61 Revisited, and their use of the mind-altering drug LSD, the group began equipping themselves with electric instruments and delving more into psychedelia.[13] As a result, Cohen was moved over to the organ. Cohen's experience with keyboards was limited to having played piano at a semiprofessional capacity at the Jabberwock, but, nonetheless, he quickly adapted to the qualities of the instrument.[14] Melton describes the change of the group: "Once we hit into the electric medium and into the rock medium, we were pandering to the public taste. We became extraordinarily popular. The little folk club where we used to play once every two weeks, we played every single night for a month, or something like that, and filled it. And after a while we filled two shows every single night".[13]

Incidentally, the song "Who Am I" was written by McDonald for a play called Change Over, written by Fred Hayden. Each of the three verses was to be considered as sung by a different character.

Electric music (1966–1968)

As Country Joe and the Fish's popularity grew, the band relocated to San Francisco in early 1966 and became popular fixtures at the

A-side and the six-minute "Section 43" on the B-side.[16] Music historian Richie Unterberger praised "Section 43", saying its "Asiatic guitar, tribal maracas, devious organ, floating harmonica, and ethereal mid-sections of delicate koto-like guitar picking rivaled the Paul Butterfield Blues Band's East West as the finest psychedelic instrumental ever".[13] Within three months, airplay of the EP spread across the new so-called progressive radio stations, reaching as far as New York City, and establishing Country Joe and the Fish as a nationally relevant musical act.[17]

Through connections that Cohen had with

free-love and the use of illicit drugs.[18]

In February 1967, Country Joe and the Fish entered Sierra Sound Laboratories to record their debut album,

music critic Bruce Eder praised as "some of the best drumming on a psychedelic record this side of the late Spencer Dryden".[20]

An April 1967 ad for Electric Music for the Mind and Body in the Seattle underground paper Helix.

Electric Music for the Mind and Body was released on May 11, 1967. Much of the album's material continued to expand upon the band's new psychedelic medium, with it embracing all facets of the members' influences, which ranged from their folk roots,

overdubbed after the instrumentals were completed.[23]

Electric Music for the Mind and Body was a success upon release, charting at number 39 on the

light show.[27]

The band returned to the studio, this time at Vanguard Studios in New York City, between July and September 1967. When "Superbird", a tune mocking

Lyndon Johnson, was not banned from radio promotion, the band was given the go-ahead to record "The Fish Cheer", which saw the group moving away from the original folk composition toward electric instrumentals more synthesized toward psychedelia. The song became the title track of the band's second album, I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die, released in November 1967. The album was not as successful as its predecessor, but still charted at number 67.[28] The composition represented growing anti-war sentiment expressed by those opposing the Vietnam War, and is often considered one of the most recognized and celebrated protest songs of the era.[29][30] "The Fish Cheer" was also pivotal in communicating the attitude against the war, but was set apart from other anti-war songs for its use of sarcastic humor and satire on the controversial conflict.[31] Writer Lee Andresen reflects on the song's meaning, saying, "the happy beat and insouciance of the vocalist are in odd juxtaposition to the lyrics that reinforce the sad fact that the American public was being forced into realizing that Vietnam was no longer a remote place on the other side of the world, and the damage it was doing to the country could no longer be considered collateral, involving someone else."[32]

The song met unprecedented exposure among the band's young audience after a performance at the

free speech.[29] The recorded version of "The Fish Cheer" received airplay, even on mainstream radio stations, which contributed to the success of the band's third album, Together, its most commercially successful. The album, released in August 1968, featured songwriting by all of the band members and charted at number 23 nationally.[33]

Lineup changes and Woodstock (1969–1970)

In September 1968, Barthol left the band, just prior to their fourth album. His departure was due to the rest of the band's unwillingness to partake in the Festival for Life, an event established by the Youth International Party in Chicago that was intended to have the participation of several well-known musicians attract thousands of spectators for the 1968 Democratic National Convention.[12] However, the city refused to issue any permits, and the band members, by majority vote, decided to withdraw out of fear that their equipment would be damaged.[34] After the festival resulted in riots and violent clashes between demonstrators and the police, Barthol's conviction that Country Joe and the Fish should have held a larger role precipitated his departure from the group and move to England.[12]

Between January 9 and 11, 1969, the band performed at the

Here We Are Again, and a new lineup was configured with Casady and David Getz, who formerly played drums with Big Brother and the Holding Company. The group released Here We Are Again in July 1969. It charted at number 48, and saw Country Joe and the Fish moving to a pop-oriented approach. Country Joe and the Fish's personnel remained relatively stable for the next six months, though Peter S. Albin, also an alumnus of Big Brother and the Holding Company, replaced Casady at bass.[2]

However, when McDonald reassembled the band for a last-minute scheduling at the

cover versions of Guthrie-penned songs on Thinking of Woody Guthrie, and country standards on Tonight I'm Singing Just For You.[38] All the while, the group looked to capitalize on the momentum from Woodstock and their appearance in the film, Zachariah, by releasing their fifth album, CJ Fish, in May 1970. The album was a moderate success, reaching number 111 nationally. However the band members lacked the motivation for touring and recording, which led to their disbandment in mid-1970.[17]

Aftermath and reunions

McDonald pursued his solo recording career, which spans over 30 albums, and remains an active anti-war campaigner. He has also appeared in every Woodstock reunion festival since

Public Defender of Yolo County, California until his retirement in June 2009.[40] Country Joe and the Fish members sporadically reconvene, most notably when the classic 1967 lineup recorded Reunion in 1977.[41] The lineup, except Melton, came together again as the Country Joe Band in 2004. In the same year, the group resumed touring, released the Barthol-penned single, "Cakewalk to Baghdad", and the live album Live in Berkeley. Though the Country Joe Band disbanded in 2006, some of the members still occasionally tour together.[42]

Hirsh died on August 17, 2021, at age 81.[43] Barthol died on February 20, 2023, at age 75.[44]

Discography

Singles

  • "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine" b/w "Masked Marauder" (1967) – #98 Billboard Hot 100
  • "Janis" b/w "Janis (instrumental)" (1967)
  • "Who Am I" b/w "Thursday" (1968)
  • "Rock and Soul Music (Part 1)" b/w "Rock and Soul Music (Part 2)" (1968)
  • "Here I Go Again" b/w "Baby You're Driving Me Crazy" (1969)
  • "
    I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" b/w "Janis" (1969) - AUS #60[45]
    : 184 
  • "Hang On" b/w "Hand of Man" (1971)

EPs

  • Talking Issue #1: Songs of Opposition, Rag Baby (1965)
  • Country Joe and the Fish, Rag Baby (1966)

Studio albums

Live album

  • Live! Fillmore West 1969 (1994)
  • Flyin' Back Home Again (San Francisco '68) (2020)

Compilations

References

  1. ^
    I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die (CD booklet). Country Joe and the Fish. Ace Vanguard Masters. 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  2. ^ a b c Eder, Bruce. "Country Joe and the Fish – Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "The Berkeley String Quartet". countryjoe.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  4. ^ James, Gary. "Gary James' Interview With "Country" Joe McDonald". classicbands.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Collectors Items: The First Three EP's (CD booklet). Country Joe and the Fish. One Way Records. 1994.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ "Interview with Country Joe McDonald". cincygroove.com. 24 July 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  7. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "ED Denson – Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  8. ^ Harris, Craig. "Country Joe McDonald – Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  9. ^ "How I Wrote the Rag". countryjoe.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Rag Baby EP 1: Talking Issue". deaddisc.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "Country Joe Shows". chickenonaunicycle.com. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  12. ^
    ISBN 9781937317027
    .
  13. ^
    ISBN 0879307439
    . country joe and the fish i feel like i'm fixin to die.
  14. ^
    Breznikar, Klemen (October 14, 2012). "Country Joe & The Fish interview with David Bennett Cohen". It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine. Archived
    from the original on July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  15. ^ Planer, Lindsay. "Collector's Items: The First Three EPs – Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  16. ISBN 1-41076-537-7
    .
  17. ^ a b "Country Joe McDonald, Biography". countryjoe.com. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  18. ^ "Country Joe McDonald: No Ordinary Joe". The Independent. 21 January 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  19. ISBN 9780789320896. Archived from the original
    on 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  20. ^ a b c Eder, Bruce. "Gary "Chicken" Hirsh – Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  21. ^ a b c Palao, Alec (2013). Electric Music for the Mind and Body (CD booklet). Country Joe and the Fish. Ace Vanguard Masters.
  22. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Electric Music for the Mind and Body – Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  23. Breznikar, Klemen (February 15, 2015). "Country Joe and the Fish interview with Joe McDonald". It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine. Archived
    from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  24. ^ Belmount, Bill. "A History". well.com. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  25. ^ a b "The Notorious Cheer". countryjoe.com. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  26. ^ Torn, Luke. "Country Joe & The Fish – Electric Music For The Mind And Body". uncut.co.uk. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  27. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Barry Melton Interview for Turn! Turn! Turn!/Eight Miles High". cjfishlegacy.com. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  28. ^ "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die". acerecords.co.uk. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  29. ^
    ISBN 0313315280
    .
  30. ^ "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Protest Songs of All Time". rollingstone.com. 3 December 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  31. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die – Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  32. ISBN 1886028605
    .
  33. ^ Ruhlmamn, William. "Together – Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  34. ISBN 9780226238005
    .
  35. ISBN 9780684814025
    .
  36. ^ Johnson, Phil (23 October 2011). "Feel Like I'm Fixin' for a Comeback". independent.co.uk. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  37. ^ "Country Joe and the Fish, the Greatest Song of the '60s? (Interview)". rockcellarmagazine.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  38. ^ "Country Joe McDonald's Tribute to Woody Guthrie". countryjoe.com. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  39. ^ "Country Joe McDonald, Woodstock XXX". countryjoe.com. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  40. ^ "Barry "The Fish" Melton". counterculture.net. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  41. ^ "Singular Fish". cjfishlegacy.com. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  42. ^ "The Original Country Joe Band". countryjoe.com. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  43. ^ Tamarkin, Jeff (August 21, 2021). "Gary 'Chicken' Hirsh, Country Joe & the Fish Drummer, Dead at 81". Best Classic Bands. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  44. ^ Tamarkin, Jeff (February 21, 2023). "Bruce Barthol, Country Joe & the Fish Bassist, Dies at 75". Best Classic Bands. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  45. ^
    ISBN 0-646-11917-6
    .
  46. AllMusic
    : Discography

External links
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