The period from 1967 to 1973 saw rock music moving from psychedelic to progressive and related genres. Cherry Red Records’ David Wells has compiled a three disc box set comprising fifty seven tracks, single sides and album cuts alike, released in Europe during the timespan, issued on the Grapefruit Records imprint.

The set opens with the track from which the collection takes its name, fully titled “So High I’ve Been, So Down I Must Fall” a 1967 a-side from Dutch rock ensemble Q65 which is a guitar driven ode to substance ingestion. Disc one spanning 1967 to 1969 has numerous highlights including the hard rocking single side “Mother No-Head” by Groep 1850 from the Netherlands, the dreamy garage rock 45 “Lady Greengrass” by Germany’s The Ones and pop psych album cut “Answer To Life” issued by Finland’s Blues Section. Also of note are the Eastern influenced fuzz drenched “Celestial Empire” and the Ronnie Splinter guitar driven “Daddy Died On Saturday” from Netherlands based groups Dragonfly and The Outsiders respectively. The first disc closes with space rock tracks from French based Gong and Germany’s Tangerine Dream before ending with a wah wah aided fuzz guitar driven tune by French band Ame Son.

The second disc features tracks issued between 1969 and 1971. “Next Time See You At The Dalai Lama” is a six minute instrumental album cut featuring slashing lead guitar work by Germany’s Guru Guru. Spain’s Evolution contributes a guitar and organ driven cover of King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man” while Italy’s Circus 2000 delivers a Jefferson Airplane influenced fuzzed out take on “I Am The Witch” and Danish rockers Culpeper’s Orchard add the red hot guitar driven “Mountain Music Part One” whereas “Krishna’s Golden Dope Shop” is an acoustic guitar and flute tune with eccentric vocals by Germany’s Siloah. Denmark’s Burnin’ Red Ivanhoe is featured on the CCR like “All About All” with vocals reminiscent of Dan Fogelberg. “Weather Brightly” by Sweden’s Tasavallan Presidentti includes a horn section which brings Chicago to mind while “Across Your Life” by Norway’s Oriental Sunshine is dreamy Eastern influenced rock with sitar and flute.

Disc three includes releases from 1971 to 1973. “Sylvia” by Dutch band Focus features restrained guitar work by Jan Akkerman and signature yodeling courtesy of Thijs Van Leer while the equally commercially accessible “Rosiland” from Norway’s Aunt Mary has a hot lead guitar line complimenting its Kinks like melody. The disc includes extended, seven minute and longer, tracks from German bands Necronomicon and Faust along with Italian groups Il Balletto Di Bronzo and Analogy. “Zombie” by Denmark’s Day Of Phoenix is guitar driven with piano accompaniment while featuring gorgeous vocals and a melody with a commercial hook. “What’s Hidden There” is a delicate pop psych piece with flute, acoustic guitar and vocals, and a melody bringing to mind Donovan or mellow Led Zeppelin. “Celebration” by UK band PFM is reminiscent of Emerson, Lake & Palmer with flute joining organ and guitar in its melody. The set closes with the full album take on Golden Earring’s smash hit “Radar Love” which filled the radio airwaves internationally in 1973.

The three discs of ‘So High I’ve Been’ come in cardboard mini-LP sleeves which fit neatly in a clamshell box. The set comes with a lavishly illustrated forty eight page booklet which includes full track annotations, band, album and single artwork photos, and sleeve notes by David Wells. The music sounds luscious thanks to the mastering job of Simon Murphy. This set will appeal to psychedelic and progressive rock fans as well as classic rock fans and comes highly recommended.

Kevin Rathert

Various Artists – ‘So High I’ve Been: A European Rock Anthology 1967-1973’ (2026)