Mad River

They never achieved as much renown as contemporaries like the Grateful Dead or even Moby Grape, but Mad River was one of the most memorable exponents of 1960s West Coast psychedelia. Their first, self-titled album combined intense, psychedelic rock excursions with occasional rootsy, country-tinged flavors that provided the perfect amount of contrast for Laurence Hammond's heavy lyrics and moody vocals. The band lasted for only one more album, but Hammond went on to make a fine, country-folk solo album in the '70s, and to write the Judds' hit "John Deere Tractor" in the '80s.