The Brief Yet Underrated Psychedelia of The Everly Brothers’ Later Years

The Everly Brothers were not known for making psychedelic music. On the contrary, they’ve gone down in history as one of the greatest country rock duos of all time, complete with incredible talents that involved steel-string guitars and excellent close harmony vocal abilities. Many would consider the duo to be pioneers of country rock, and their influence can still be heard in country rock and rockabilly bands today. They’re icons, to say the least.

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The Everly Brothers were also active during the 1960s, particularly during the heyday of psychedelia. And like many of their contemporaries, they had a brief experimental period that involved psychedelic music. Even diehard fans of the brothers may not know about it, either.

The Everly Brothers’ Brief and Buried Psychedelic Phase

Let’s look back at The Hit Sound Of The Everly Brothers, an album released by the duo way back in 1967. That year is of obvious significance to anyone who was around to experience it. The year 1967 was the Summer of Love, and the broad mainstream acceptance of psychedelic music as a decade-defining genre. While the above-mentioned album isn’t a wholly psychedelic album, it does hint at a time when The Everly Brothers explored psychedelic music just slightly.

A few songs are of relevance here. Take a listen to the duo’s version of “House Of The Rising Sun”. The background vocals have a psychedelic edge to them, as they do on their cover of “Sticks And Stones” by Ray Charles.

Following The Hit Sound Of The Everly Brothers is The Everly Brothers Sing, released that same year, just a few months after the former album. The record features some interesting psychedelic elements, from fuzzy guitars to bongos to folksy flutes. The most outwardly psychedelic song on the album is the aptly-titled “Mary Jane”. One of their greatest hits from the album, “Bowling Green”, also has psychedelic elements.

To be honest, I would have expected The Everly Brothers to dive further into the psychedelic trend. Yet, they eventually let it go. If anything, their brief dance with psychedelia proved just how talented and dylanic the pair were. But they will always be known for country rock above all else, and that’s not a bad thing.

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