Fallin’ Off The Edge

The 1977 Seeds rarities compilation Fallin' Off The Edge was a great addition to the original band’s catalog, as it collected some non-LP singles, outtakes, and alternate versions/mixes of songs. Although all of its songs have since appeared on better CD compilations over the years (and it has never seen its own CD release), the original Fallin' Off The Edge LP is still a welcome addition to any Seeds collection. It still holds up well as an album in its own right.

Fairly easily available from record dealers on vinyl (and cassette, if that’s your thing), Fallin' Off The Edge is a now-outdated but still admirable addition to The Seeds’ canon. The cover is cool too, showing the band sitting awkwardly in a big piece of concrete with a round hole cut in it. As one does.

About the songs

1. "The Wind Blows Your Hair"
   The non-LP A-side from The Seeds’ great 1967 single. With its spooky descending psych keyboard riff from Daryl Hooper and Sky Saxon’s sneering, effortless mastery of the melody, this is perhaps The Seeds’s greatest song.
2. "The Other Place"
   The obscure B-side to the quickly-withdrawn single of "Try To Understand" from 1966. Famous for its “sleazy sax” parts courtesy of Jimmie Maddin, this was one of only two times The Seeds ever made use of the instrument.
3. "She's Wrong"
   Unreleased track recorded in 1965 during sessions for The Seeds. Great little tune with honking guitar and the immortal chanted line, “she’s wrong as she can be!”
4. "Nobody Spoil My Fun"
   An alternate version of a song from The Seeds. This take has a livelier vocal and pace than the common version but is otherwise similar.
5. "Fallin' Off The Edge Of My Mind"
   From The Seeds’ final GNP Crescendo single, 1969. Manic fake country-psych, like a satirical hippie rodeo song. (Too bad that single’s flip, the equally worthy "Wild Blood", didn’t get chosen for Fallin' Off The Edge.)
6. "Pretty Girl"
   Originally on A Full Spoon Of Seedy Blues but here a remix that lowers (and in some parts totally silences) the harmonica overdub. This version allows the stinging Beach Boys-like guitar to shine through.
7. "Tripmaker"
   From A Web Of Sound but here remixed. This mix is much murkier and thinner, giving the performance some lean power but robbing it of its fearsome bottom end. A curious choice.
8. "Chocolate River"
   An unreleased song from the Future sessions that would after this release become a zonked-out, poppy fan favorite.
9. "Daisy Mae"
   The non-LP B-side from The Seeds’ very first single, 1965’s "Can't Seem To Make You Mine". A dizzy Little Richard rave-up, insane and sweaty and short.
10. "The Wind Blows Your Hair" [reprise]
    An unreleased earlier take of the song. Not actually a “reprise”, this is the band’s second attempt at the song, recorded at a May 1967 session for Future (the actual single would contain their fourth and final attempt). Features the famed and frightening “Prince Satan” lyrics.
11. "Pushin' Too Hard"
    The re-recorded version from 1968’s Raw And Alive album, without overdubbed screams. This was the first time a recording from those sessions was released without fake crowd noises added to it. This take has sometimes erroneously been referred to as a “rehearsal”.

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