Ant Trip Ceremony – Four In The Morning

US psych/prog rock from 1968.

This band was started by Oberlin College student Steve Detray (lead guitar). While he was out in Logan, UT visiting his brother, the band was named by a local college professor from a term in a novel. Detray returned to Ohio with the moniker and formed the group with other members George Galt (guitar, vocals, harmonica, bass), Roger Goodman (vocals), Gary Rosen (bass, guitar, vocals), Mark Stein (lead guitar, flute, bass), and Jeff Williams (drums).

The band played mostly local gigs and was known for its long, improvisational jams. Their self titled LP was recorded in two sessions, the first in February, 1968 and the second several months later when Detray had already left the band. Contrary to rock and roll legend, the album’s producer, David Crosby, was a fellow Oberlin student and NOT the David Crosby of Byrds/CSN&Y fame. Only 300 copies of the LP were pressed and sold around the campus. Despite a low budget and the recording sessions being plagued by technical difficulties, the band was able to put together a very nice and highly original piece of work. Highlights on the album include ‘Pale Shades Of Gray’, a loony cover of ‘Hey Joe’ and a great, mellowed out version of the Youngblood’s ‘Four In The Morning’.