There’re alotta good compilations out there. If a disc doesn’t end up just being worthless, it can really attempt one of two things. There’s the possibility that any label is capable of collecting enough of a single off shoot of a music to have enough material to form the scaffolding of a decent compilation disc. The other entrance into good compilations would be through some sort of theoretical backing – like jazz bands that all had Latin percussion from the ‘50s. That’d be good one. Some one needs to get on that pronto. Anyway, when I came across Songs of Faith and Inspiration, which is billed as “‘60s and ‘70s heavy psych hymns for your sacred services, devotions, rituals and ceremonies,” I thought to my self, ‘Self, this looks too good to pass up.” It should have been, except for two problems. First, most of the songs on here don’t really have anything to do with religiosity and two, there’s a great deal of this record that wouldn’t be considered heavy psych by anyone apart from a tone deaf, cave dweller. Other than that, though, it’s not too bad.

After getting past the fact that Druids of Stonehenge actually deliver a cover of “I Put a Spell on You” that matches both the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins version and the CCR re-do, then wondering why there was a version of “Shape of Things to Come” included, I was able to pick out some stone(d) cold winners.

New Mix and its tune “While We Waited,” which is concerned with marriage instead of religion or spirituality, is easily the fastest pace included here. The punky drumming notwithstanding, the expressive lead guitar is able to lead the group through the track with something short of abandon, but beyond rote soloing, which makes it surprising that the band’s name has been floated my way previously.

“Gray Afternoon,” might be full of loving imagery, but still void of religious overtones apart from a brief mention of the bible. Jolliver Arkansaw/Leslie’s track is a radio friendly effort that kinda fits the bill for this Sound Stories release, but still doesn’t really get anywhere near what could be considered heavy psych. It’s just ‘60s rock - not bad, but not too much more than that.

So, yeah, there’re some pleasant efforts here even if most of the tracks aren’t going to generate a newfound interest in any of these folks. But there are some ill advised clunkers here, “What Do You See in My Mind” being the most pedestrian. It’s just all average rock tropes and huge choruses – and again, the track has nothing to do with religion or any ritual that I might perform.

Songs of Faith and Inspiration has probably been misrepresented here to a certain extent. And if the disc’s compilers were asked to give some sort of insight into why these tracks were selected, I’m sure that they could. But this is just not at all what it first appeared to be – it’s not a bummer, but still not a winner.