“Now A Man”
by The Seeds
1967 song
"Now A Man", a buzzing acid-tinged rock song on The Seeds’ standout 1967 album Future, began life as “Contact High”. It was recorded on April 24, 1967 during a session that also produced the similar-sounding "Chocolate River". It’s appealingly melodic but with odd touches here and there, especially from Jan Savage’s guitar. "Now A Man" isn’t pop, exactly, but it’s something more (or at least to the left of) simple garage rock.
“Now A Man” vs. “Contact High”
Never one to shy away from controversial lyrics (see "Mr. Farmer", "Rollin' Machine", and the original version of "The Wind Blows Your Hair") Sky Saxon wrote “Contact High” and sang these original lyrics for take 1 that day. From take 2 onward the new set of lyrics ("Now A Man", with the same music and melody) were used. Except, that is, until the final take 8, when he tried the original version again. Despite the alternating lyrics, take numbers weren’t reset for any of these.
Take 4 was chosen for Future and had piano and vocals added to it to sweeten it up a little. Take 1, as “Contact High”, was finally released on the Big Beat expanded 2-CD version of Future. It’s fun to hear it and makes a good case for having used the original: “I’m contact hiiiiigh,” sings Sky, giving insight into an opportunity perhaps wasted: instead of of Sky Sunlight Saxon he could have become Sky Contact High Saxon!
