The Texas-based International Artists label recorded some intriguing, slightly off-the-wall psychedelic-garage-pop in the 1960s, their most famous act being the
13th Floor Elevators. This is an erratic but extremely interesting double-LP compilation of IA oddities and rarities, much of it previously unreleased. The five
Red Krayola demos (some of which would be re-recorded for their first LP) are prime acid folk, especially "Hurricane Fighter Plane," one of the closest American approximations of
Syd Barrett-era
Pink Floyd. The
Chapparrals' "I Tried So Hard" is gutsy punk-pop, Thursday's Children's "A Part of You" is reminiscent of the mid-period
Zombies, and the
Emperors' "I Want My Woman" is growling garage punk. Side four is devoted entirely to
13th Floor Elevators/
Roky Erickson rarities, including a beautiful acoustic version of "Splash I" and the rare single by
Roky's pre-
Elevators group the
Spades. In this company, side three -- which has unexceptional straight blues material, including a song by
Lightnin' Hopkins -- is a misfit, but psychedelic collectors will want the record for the rock material.