Fresh Blueberry Pancake | The Legendary Underground Heavy Psych Classic Gets an Official Reissue

Words can’t describe the excitement when Ancient Grease Records announced the official release of one of the heaviest and definitely Pittsburgh’s heaviest underground bands.

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Fresh Blueberry Pancake is a story that goes back as far as I remember collecting rare psychedelic rock records, although an original copy of their 1971 properly titled ‘Heavy’ would be near impossible to get unless you have way too much to spend. The album (although not entirely confirmed as members can’t remember exactly) was issued in a quantity of 54 copies. The first 11 copies were edited without covers and stickers, the next 43 copies had white outer with the orange sticker.

“H-E-A-V-Y”

It all began in Pittsburgh in the psychedelic sixties when bassist and vocalist Tony Impavido got in touch with guitarist John Behrens and drummer Geoff Reidell. Around that time most of the bands that got interested in the heavier sound spectrum were listening to what Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience and other worldwide known groups at the time were doing. These three guys were no exception and they got together with the intention to record some of their own ideas in the style of the heaviest bands around. Even in a sea of local bands, power trios were practically non-existent in Pittsburgh at the time.

When these three guys jammed together there someone got the idea that it would be fantastic to have a name for the band. The band name came about as they brainstormed in their practice space and someone opened a cookbook on the table. They joked about calling the band Fresh Blueberry Pancakes but then realized that with the “s” dropped, they actually really liked it, even though the name embarrassed Tony’s girlfriend.

The band quickly cemented their status as something special. Everyone was in a band back then, but Fresh Blueberry Pancake stood out because they played so loudly with huge stacks. Their electrifying performances were very different from the garage stuff that dominated the scene at the time. Their first gig was in the basement of a Methodist church. ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ was definitely played. After that, they gigged around town in more church basements, school gyms and ballfields, public parks, youth clubs, shopping center parking lots, and college frat houses. One of their most memorable gigs was during a Battle of the Bands. As they played, hard and loud and frenzied, the stage couldn’t handle it and cracked under Geoff’s drums. While he sank, the amps slid toward him and boxed him in, but he continued drumming furiously and the rest of the band followed suit. They didn’t skip a beat and, of course, they won. 

While some people didn’t understand the music (squares), the band had enough of a positive response that they thought they should record a demo and try their luck in the recording industry at large. They played a successful concert to raise money for the project and then were ready to record.

“Almost the entire thing was recorded in one take” 

In 1971, they entered G&C Recording studio, managed by Glen Campbell (not that one) who usually recorded polka bands. The band chose 9 songs that they thought best represented their range and versatility. The recording process was pretty simple, as almost the entire thing was recorded in one take, with no overdubs except some harmonica. The tightness of the bandmade the demo come together as essentially a very well-recorded live performance. There was no post-production and Campbell pressed 54 copies. Some were sent to radio stations and the rest were given to friends and fans. On some of the plain white cardboard sleeves were bright orange promotional stickers emblazoned with “Fresh Blueberry Pancake – HEAVY.”

In 1972, a producer from New York City approached the band with the intention to record a single from the demo (‘Clown on a Rope’) and release it on a major label. The producer spent time with the boys in Pittsburgh and they spent time in Manhattan as well. Tragedy struck when, on the same day that they returned from a visit with the producer, John Behrens got into a major motorcycle accident and was unable to play music for almost a year. By the time he was healed, the producer had moved on, citing changing musical trends and rising prices as the reason for not producing this innovative and fiery trio. Though this was a blow to the band, they kept gigging and writing new songs, eventually shortening their name to Pancake. 1974 saw the dissolution of Pancake but the demo would resurface and circulate among collectors many years later. 

Ancient Grease Records released the first official reissue of ‘Heavy,’ made in collaboration with Tony, Geoff, and John.

These kinds of recordings make you wish that a time machine would exist as they probably represented the epitome of what hippies with its counterculture represent. Thanks to this wonderful reissue we are able to catch a small particle of something very special. That particle represents freedom with its long hair, beards. attitude and especially with its music. It was all about the music, man.

Liner notes were fantastically written by Sam Swig. It’s a great honour to be a little part of this release with my name appearing next to Adam Bennati’s, founder of one of the most hard working and exciting reissue labels around. It makes you wonder what will follow and I’m among them that knows and it’s KILLER! That’s for sure.

‘Heavy’ was mastered by Michael Fossenkemper, lacquer cut by Carl Saff, tape archivist Dan Johnson. Oh, and did I mention it’s sourced from the original master tape?!

Klemen Breznikar

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