Salem Mass - Witch Burning (1971 Idaho) | Heavy Psych | Full Vinyl Rip

Witch Burning is the only album from Salem Mass, released 1971 on their own imprint, catalog SM 101. US private press, stereo. The band was based out of Caldwell, Idaho - the Treasure Valley - and recorded this in a beer bar called The Red Barn. They worked the Pacific Northwest and Canada circuit for most of the decade but only left behind this one record. The lineup is Jim Klahr on keyboards, Mike Snead on guitar and vocals, Steve Towery on drums and vocals, and Matt Wilson on bass. The title track opens things with whoever is on vocals absolutely losing it - abrasive, screeching, the kind of performance that splits listeners right down the middle. The vocals shift across the album, which keeps it from getting predictable. Instrumentally the keyboards carry most of the melodic weight, with a long instrumental stretch in the title track that's some of the best guitar work on the record. What really separates this from the pile is Klahr's Moog - reportedly serial number 023, one of the early units. In 1971 everyone else was reaching for the Hammond. The Moog here is genuinely eerie, especially on "My Sweet Jane." It runs under the whole record like something is wrong. Which fits. 🎧 This is a full vinyl rip from my original private press copy. 🔥 Standout tracks include Witch Burning, My Sweet Jane, and Bare Tree. 🎸 Sounds like: Cactus Josefus Iron Butterfly Lucifer's Friend 💿 Tracklist 00:00 Witch Burning 10:33 My Sweet Jane 15:13 Why 18:03 You Can't Run My Life 21:58 You're Just A Dream 25:45 Bare Tree 32:45 The Drifter 🎧 Vinyl Finds Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj0yF7-9YQ9oSXuMGglp1N8SlbZUEtCJ7 🎧 Full Vinyl Rips Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj0yF7-9YQ9pEOi1yCUyAZikNmWVdz8Hn 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinyl_piper/ I sell my doubles and extras here: https://vinylpipershop.com/ #SalemMass #PrivatePress #HeavyPsych #HardRock #VinylRip #VinylCommunity #VinylPiper