"THE MYSTIC TIDE - SOLID SOUND / SOLID GROUND" (SUPERB PSYCHEDELIC 60s GARAGE US 1965-67)

One of the truly great 60s Garage classics, this leaps out of the speakers and grabs you from the word go, then proceeds to turn the heat up yet several more notches with a supercharged guitar break that was unbelievably unhinged and over-the-top by 1966 standards.
Out of the Woodbury suburb of New York City, this band made some outstanding recordings.

The Mystic Tide: "Frustration" / "Psychedelic Journey Part 1" , Solid Sound Records, WB 156 WB 157, US 1967

They started life combining their own compositions with "Them", and Zombies originals.
They went very much against the tide of most Long Island bands, who were heavily into Soul. By early 1966 they were becoming more adventurous.

Joe Docko playing live at a teen club in the Plainview Shopping Center, New York 1966.

For their second 45, (first was "Stay Away" / "Why", Esquire Records AU-4677, US 1965) they covered a Them song, "Mystic Eyes" (a pulsating death wail of Garage Punk oblivion).


Indeed, this slow Punk ballad was party responsible for their name, as their leader "Joe Docko" liked it so much.


Their third 45 was their MAGNUM OPUS.
"Frustration" was a haze of dementia with superb guitar leads from "Joe Docko". They played 10 minute versions of it live and each was different.
The flip, "Psychedelic Journey Part 1" was a stunning Psychedelic instrumental which once again contained some superb guitar playing from "Joe Docko".
The song continued on the flip to their fourth 45, which featured fine discordant clashing guitars and a striking ending.

The Mystic Tide: "Running Through The Night" / "Psychedelic Journey Part 2" , Solid Sound Records WB 158 WB 159, US 1967

After this "Jim Thomas" left and they continued as a trio for one final effort: "Mystery Ship", another Punk ballad - a tale of death and the futility of life, backed by the more optimistic, "You Won't Look Back".
This lacked the fullness of sound of their previous two, now they were only a trio.

Joe Docko at the last recording session (6-9-1967) at Ultra Sonic Recording Studios, Hempstead, N.Y. The songs were "Mystery Ship" and "You Won't Look Back".

The Mystic Tide: "Mystery Ship" / "You Won't Look Back" , Solid Sound Records WB 321 WB 322, US 1967

"The Mystic Tide" released a total of five singles between the years 1965-1967 and they are all nearly impossible to find now.