Pete Bailey's banshee vocals, Dave Mitchell's howling guitar and Doug Tull's cosmic thud made Josefus the uncontested Lone Star state hi-decibel heavyweight champ. Deadman, their hideously rare first longplayer-joined here by the previously unreleased original version of the album-is a bare-knuckled slugfest with the devastating wallop of a Texas tornado. Never before seen photos, new liner notes and 14 killer tracks all taken from the original masters complete this definitive Josefus package!
There are two sides of good music on this Josefus LP Dead Man. The one song really makes having this album worthwhile is the seventeen minute and twenty-nine second title track.
I went to the bands website briefly and they stated on the homepage how they were surprised with the continuing popularity of their music. I am not. They played with a lot of energy and sweat. Cranking out good vibes with hard rocking fuzz and psychedelic tunes was part of their makeup and design as a well-known Texas rock band.
The sound on the album is quite good, and considering all the different formats available in CD, it stands up quite well. I can only imagine what one of their concerts was like picture a sea of hippies tripping out and guys in jeans and t-shirts guzzling down beers while women danced, bumped and grinded their way through the night. This kind of music probably worked people into a state of frenetic energy. They reminded me fondly of hard rocking and hard working bands like Grand Funk.
Music this good always has a place in my collection; it does not pull any punches. This is rockin music that barrels in straight attcha like a speeding bullet now, that is my kind of band.
1. Crazy Man (1970)
2. I Need a Woman (1970)
3. Gimme Shelter (1970)
4. Country Boy (1970)
5. Proposition (1970)
6. Situation (1970)
7. Dead Man (1970)
8. Crazy Man (Original Dead Man Album 1969)
9. Country Boy (Original Dead Man Album 1969)
10. Get off My (Original Dead Man Album 1969)
11. Social Song (Original Dead Man Album 1969)
12. Feelin' Good (Original Dead Man Album 1969)
13. Situation (Original Dead Man Album 1969)
14. Dead Man (Original Dead Man Album 1969)