Are You Ready

Anchored by 's sole hit the album of the same name -- actually their third LP -- treads a thin line between eclecticism and confusion, and is actually weaker on the whole than its predecessor, 1969's . Certainly the ominous yet inspirational gospel-funk-psychedelia of was the strongest track, and to this day the only one that most casual rock fans remember. Yet other cuts on the album indicated they couldn't decide whether to be a heavy blues-rock group ( ), a more soul-dipped version of ( ), a swampy soul-rock outfit (a cover of ' ), or, least convincingly, cry-in-your-beer honky tonk balladeers ( ). This wouldn't have been such a handicap if the material wasn't as mediocre as it was, and any song titled is a warning that lyrical imagination wasn't in abundance on the day it was composed. They do play the -psychedelic rock-fusion card with some gusto on and 's vocals are pretty soulful, though it's only on a cover of 's that they come to the fore in a no-nonsense manner. ~ Richie Unterberger