The Third Mind: The Third Mind 2020 + The Third Mind 2 2023

 

As a musician who has passionately advocated for American roots music since the Blasters released their first album in 1980, Dave Alvin is widely regarded as a traditionalist, which is not as accurate as it would seem at first glance. Alvin grew up on free jazz, psychedelia, and hard rock along with the

blues, rockabilly, country, and jump jazz sounds that inform his best-known work, and his project the Third Mind is a step outside his usual boundaries that lets him explore ideas he hasn't approached in the past. Alvin was inspired by reading a book on Miles Davis that outlined his methods for composing and recording several of his major fusion albums of the '70s: Miles would call out a key, set a tempo, and he and his band would improvise at length.
                                

Dave Alvin, a respected member of the roots rock and Americana community, shows off a different side of his creative imagination with the Third Mind, a studio-based project whose music is a spontaneous

mix of rock, blues, psychedelia, jazz, and improvisation. The project made its debut with 2020's The Third Mind, an album that came from Alvin's desire to experiment with unusual methods of performing and recording music, creating a set that was challenging, exciting, and languid all at once. Lightning struck twice when the group returned to the studio to cut another improv session released on 2023's The Third Mind 2, and inspired moments from three concert performances were compiled on 2025's Live Mind.
                      

Eager to try something similar, Alvin brought together a group of musicians he thought would be right for an improvisational project. Along with Alvin on guitar and vocals, the sessions included David

Immerglück (Counting Crows, Cracker, Monks of Doom) on guitar and keyboards, Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker) on bass, Michael Jerome (John Cale, Richard Thompson, Better than Ezra) on drums, and Jesse Sykes on guitar and vocals, with guest appearances from D.J. Bonebrake of X on vibraphone and Jack Rudy, whose credits range from Johnny Rivers to Margaret Cho, on harmonica.
                     

Without rehearsal, the musicians recorded covers of songs by Alice Coltrane, Fred Neil, Tim

Rose, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and the 13th Floor Elevators, as well as one original created by the group, with improvisational interplay embraced throughout. In February 2020, their first album, The Third Mind, was released by Yep Roc Records, and the following April, the group took their experiment out of the studio and onto the stage with a West Coast concert tour.
                  

The musicians repeated the experiment on 2023's The Third Mind 2, another improvisational session that featured the group covering classic tunes by the Electric Flag, Fred Neil, the Paul

Butterfield Blues Band, and the Jaynetts, as well as creating one new composition, "Tall Grass." The Third Mind once again hit the road for a brief concert tour in February and March 2024. For these dates, guitarist Mark Karan sat in for David Immerglück, and Willie Aron joined in on keyboards. Performances in Los Angeles, California, Ventura, California, and Dallas, Texas were recorded, and highlights from these shows were collected on Live Mind, released in February 2025.
                         

THE THIRD MIND - THE THIRD MIND 2020

                       

If anyone was expecting that this would be the album where Alvin would remake himself into an avant-

garde noise artist, they get shut down pretty quickly; however, while it's not hard to recognize the rudiments of his guitar style in these jams, he does take the opportunity to stretch out and explore the space around him in a way that's fresh and challenging.
                     

The Third Mind – The Third Mind
Label: Yep Roc Records – YEP-2710
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2020
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                

01. Journey In Satchindananda   5:57
Written-By – Alice Coltrane
02. The Dolphins   5:16
Written-By – Fred Neil
03. Claudia Cardinale   2:54
Written-By – Dave Alvin, David Immerglück, Michael Jerome, Victor Krummenacher
04. Morning Dew   9:18
Written-By – Bonnie Dobson, Tim Rose
05. East West   16:29
Written-By – Mark H Naftalin, Nicholas George Gravenites
06. Reverberation   3:53
Written-By – Roger Kynard Erickson, Stacy Sutherland, James Thomas Hall

LINE - UP

                 

Bass Guitar, Vocals – Victor Krummenacher
Drums, Percussion – Michael Jerome
Featuring, Guitar, Lead Vocals – Jesse Sykes
Guest, Harmonica – Jack Rudy
Guest, Vibraphone – D.J. Bonebrake
Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals – David Immerglück
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Dave Alvin

MORNING DEW LYRICS

     

Walk me out in the morning dew my honey
Walk me out in the morning dew today
I can't walk you out in the morning dew my honey
I can't walk you out in the morning dew today

I thought I heard a baby cry this morning
I thought I heard a baby cry today
You didn't hear no baby cry this morning
You didn't hear no baby cry today, yeah

Where have all the people gone my honey
Where have all the people gone today
There's no need for you to be worrying about all those people
You never see those people anyway
                             

I thought I heard a young man morn this morning
I thought I heard a young man morn today
I thought I heard a young man morn this morning
I can't walk you out in the morning dew today

Walk me out in the morning dew my honey
Walk me out in the morning dew today
I'll walk you out in the morning dew my honey
I guess it doesn't really matter anyway
I guess it doesn't matter anyway
I guess it doesn't matter anyway
I guess it doesn't matter anyway
I guess it doesn't matter anyway

Flac Size: 251 MB

THE THIRD MIND - THE THIRD MIND 2 2023

                 

There aren't a lot of things Dave Alvin hasn't done in a musical career that's spanned six decades, but he

was able to scratch one item off his list in 2020 with the first album from his group the Third Mind. For the first time, Alvin, one of America's great songwriters, threw caution to the wind and assembled an improvisational ensemble who strolled into a studio and performed a set of songs with no prior rehearsal.
                    

While the five covers all date back to the '60s, drawn from the songbooks of the likes of the Electric Flag, Fred Neil, and Gene Clark, the interpretations suggest a kind of spiritual psychedelia that trades

Day-Glo cliches for a new kind of electric music for the mind and body. On their first album, the Third Mind sounded like that modern rarity, a jam band with no audible hippie affectations; The Third Mind 2 shows they're digging even deeper into a rich, flavorful groove of their own. Not many people can get away with not rehearsing, but this album proves there are musicians good enough to get away without it, and even make it exciting.

                                  

The Third Mind – The Third Mind/2
Label: Yep Roc Records – YEP-3076
Format: CD, Album
Country: Worldwide
Released: 2023
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                           

01. Groovin' Is Easy    8:07
Written-By – Ron Polte
02. Why Not Your Baby    5:29
Written-By – Gene Clark
03. In My Own Dream    8:23
Written-By – Paul Butterfield
04. Tall Grass    8:47
Written-By – Dave Alvin
05. Sally Go Round The Roses    10:51
Written-By – Abner Spector
06. A Little Bit Of Rain    5:09
Written-By – Fred Neil

LINE - UP

                   

Bass Guitar – Victor Krummenacher
Drums, Percussion – Michael Jerome
Electric Guitar – Dave Alvin, David Immerglück
Harmonium, Mellotron – David Immerglück (tracks: 4)
Piano, Organ [Hammond B3 Organ], Mellotron – Willie Aron
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Jesse Sykes

Flac Size: 288 MB

The Beau Brummels: Discography 1965 - 1968

 

The Beau Brummels were an American rock band. Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the band's original lineup included Sal Valentino (lead vocals), Ron Elliott (lead guitar), Ron Meagher (bass

guitar), Declan Mulligan (rhythm guitar, bass, harmonica), and John Petersen (drums). They were discovered by local disc jockeys who were looking to sign acts to their new label, Autumn Records, where Sylvester Stewart—later known as Sly Stone—produced the group's early recording sessions. Friends since childhood, Valentino and Elliott formed the band in early 1964, bringing on board rhythm guitarist Declan Mulligan, bassist Ron Meagher, and drummer John Petersen to help them play a series of club residencies around the Bay Area.
                      

Often credited as early architects of the San Francisco sound, the Beau Brummels found success right

out of the gate with their 1964 debut single, "Laugh, Laugh." With its autumnal folk-pop jangle and moody melodic hooks, the song bore enough resemblance to the burgeoning British Invasion that many fans mistook these young Americans for Brits. Initially, the band's musical style blended beat music and folk music and typically drew comparisons to the Beatles, while their later work incorporated other music genres such as psychedelic rock and country rock.
                

Their debut album "Introducing the Beau Brummels" was released in 1965. Dominated by

Elliott's strong original material, the group's ringing guitars and multi-part harmonies made the Top 40 just one more time on "You Tell Me Why" from their second album, The Beau Brummels, Vol. 2. When recording began for the band's second album, 1965's The Beau Brummels, Volume 2, Mulligan was no longer a member of the group. In 1966 Mulligan filed an unsuccessful lawsuit, claiming he was wrongfully dismissed from the group.
                       

"You Tell Me Why", the album's lead single, was the band's third and final U.S. top 40 hit, peaking at number 38 in August 1965. Another single, "Don't Talk to Strangers", reached number 52 in

November. While Stone is credited as the album's producer, his involvement, according to Sal Valentino and Ron Elliott, had diminished to the point that the band does not recall any producer being in charge. By the end of the year, Elliott began to suffer seizures from his diabetic condition that left him unable to perform. Don Irving became Elliott's stand-in on guitar when the group performed live, and also recorded with them.
                  

Regrouping as a trio, the Brummels rebounded with the critically acclaimed 1967 album Triangle. Produced by Lenny Waronker and featuring a guest spot from Van Dyke Parks, it was

their most unique and experimental record to date. While not a significant commercial success, it nonetheless cracked the Billboard 200. With Meagher also drafted into military service, the Brummels had slimmed down to the core duo of Valentino and Elliott, who headed to Nashville to record their final Warner Bros. release. Venturing into country-rock a year or so before it became trendy, the Brummels issued the eclectic Bradley's Barn in October 1968, then promptly disbanded.
                       

Valentino formed a new band called Stoneground and Elliott worked with Van Dyke Parks, Randy Newman, and the Everly Brothers, among others. The Beau Brummels re-formed in 1975

for a somewhat lackluster reunion album before going their separate ways again. The Beau Brummels are considered the first band from a burgeoning San Francisco music scene to achieve widespread success in response to the British Invasion, standing out among such bands as The Charlatans, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, We Five, Moby Grape, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Country Joe and the Fish.

                             

01. THE BEAU BRUMMELS - INTRODUCING 1965

                  

Introducing The Beau Brummels is the debut album by American pop rock band the Beau Brummels. It

was produced by Sly Stone. Unlike with most other debut albums of the era, ten of the twelve songs on the album are originals. The album peaked at number 24 on the U.S. Top LPs chart in 1965.
               

The Beau Brummels – Introducing
Label: Sundazed Music – SC 6039
Series: Yesterdazed Series
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo 1995
Country: US
Released: 1965
Genre: Rock
Style: Folk Rock, Pop Rock

TRACKS

                    

01. Laugh, Laugh  2:54
Written-By – R. Elliott
02. Still In Love With You Baby   2:32
Written-By – R. Elliott
03. Just A Little   2:23
Written-By – Durand, Elliott
04. Just Wait And See   2:22
Written-By – R. Elliott
05. Oh Lonesome Me   2:22
Written-By – D. Gibson
06. Ain't That Loving You Baby   2:22
Written-By – D. Malone
07. Stick Like Glue   1:58
Written-By – R. Elliott
08. They'll Make You Cry   3:05
Written-By – R. Elliott
09. That's If You Want Me To   2:35
Written-By – R. Elliott
10. I Want More Loving   2:23
Written-By – R. Elliott
11. I Would Be Happy   2:40
Written-By – R. Elliott
12. Not Too Long Ago   3:06
Written-By – R. Elliott

BONUS TRACKS            

13. Just A Little (Unissued Demo Version)   2:23
Written-By – Durand, Elliott
14. Good Time Music (Autumn Single 24-A)   3:04
Written-By – J. Sebastian

LINE - UP

Sal Valentino - vocals
Ron Elliott - lead guitar
Declan Mulligan - guitar
Ron Meagher - bass
John Petersen - drums

Flac Size: 242 MB

02. THE BEAU BRUMMELS - VOLUME 2 1965

                

The Beau Brummels, Volume 2 is the second studio album by the American rock group the Beau

Brummels. Released in August 1965, the album contains the U.S. top 40 hit "You Tell Me Why" and follow-up single "Don't Talk to Strangers." The album was produced by Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone, although his involvement, according to lead singer Sal Valentino and guitarist-songwriter Ron Elliott, had diminished to the point the band does not recall any producer being in charge.
                       

The Beau Brummels – Volume 2
Label: Sundazed Music – SC 6040
Series: Yesterdazed Series
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Folk Rock, Garage Rock, Pop Rock

TRACKS

                   

01. You Tell Me Why    3:05
02. I Want You    4:00
03. Doesn't Matter    2:00
04. That's Alright    2:12
05. Sometime At Night    1:50
06. Can It Be    2:28
07. Sad Little Girl    3:30
08. Woman    2:48
09. Don't Talk To Strangers    2:21
10. I've Never Known    2:03
11. When It Comes To Your Love    2:11
12. In Good Time    1:49

BONUS TRACKS            

13. Woman (Vocal Version)    2:41
14. When It Comes To Your Love (Unissued Instrumental Version)    2:08

LINE - UP

Sal Valentino - vocals
Ron Elliott - lead guitar
Ron Meagher - guitar
Declan Mulligan - bass
John Petersen - drums (Lead vocal on "Sometimes At Night")

Flac Size: 245 MB

03. THE BEAU BRUMMELS - BEAU BRUMMELS' 66 - 1966

                        

Beau Brummels '66 is the third studio album by the American rock group the Beau Brummels, and their first on Warner Bros. Records. The album consists of twelve cover songs and no originals. Autumn

Records, the band's previous label, had sold the band to Warner Brothers in early 1966. Warner Brothers, however, did not control the publishing rights, and opted to have the band record an album of covers, including songs originally performed by The Beatles and Bob Dylan, as well as recent hit singles by such acts as The Mamas & the Papas and Simon & Garfunkel. Lead vocalist Sal Valentino explained, "When we went to Warner Brothers, they were just anxious to get a record out, to capitalize on the success we had. That record was the wrong one to do at the time."

              

The Beau Brummels – Beau Brummels 66
Label: Warner Bros. Records – 7599-26885-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: Europe
Released: ?
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

TRACKS

                

01. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away   3:42
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
02. Mr. Tambourine Man   3:49
Written-By – Bob Dylan
03. Louie, Louie   2:10
Written-By – Richard Berry
04. Homeward Bound   2:44
Written-By – Paul Simon
05. These Boots Are Made For Walking   2:52
Written-By – Lee Hazlewood
06. Yesterday   2:37
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
07. Bang Bang   1:56
Written-By – Sonny Bono
08. Hang On Sloopy   2:52
Written-By – Russell, Farrell
09. Play With Fire   2:56
Written-By – Jagger-Richards
10. Woman   2:02
Written-By – B. Webb
11. Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter   2:39
Written-By – Trevor Peacock
12. Monday, Monday   2:48
Written-By – John E. A. Phillips

LINE - UP

Ron Elliott - guitar/vocals
Sal Valentino - vocals
Ron Meagher - bass/harmonica/guitar/vocals
Declan Mulligan - guitar/harmonica/vocals
John Petersen - drums/vocals
Don Irving - guitar

Flac Size: 217 MB

04. THE BEAU BRUMMELS - TRIANGLE 1967

                    

Triangle is the fourth studio album by American rock band the Beau Brummels. Produced by Lenny Waronker and released in July 1967, it was the band's first album to include songs that vocalist Sal

SAL VALENTINO

Valentino and guitarist Ron Elliott composed together. The band incorporated fantasy elements and surreal characters into the album's song titles and lyrics, and worked with a variety of session musicians to create Triangle's psychedelic musical style. The Beau Brummels were reduced to a trio—Valentino, Elliott, and Ron Meagher—at the time Triangle was recorded, as former group members Don Irving (guitars) and John Petersen (drums) left the band following the release of the group's previous album, Beau Brummels '66.
                          

The Beau Brummels – Triangle
Label: Collectors' Choice Music – CCM-318-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2002
Country: US
Released: 1967    
Genre: Rock, Pop, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk Rock, Country Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                   

01. Are You Happy?   2:16
Written-By – Durand, Elliott
02. Only Dreaming Now   2:04
Written-By – Elliott, Valentino
03. Painter Of Women   2:49
Written-By – Durand, Elliott
04. The Keeper Of Time   2:08
Written-By – Durand, Elliott
05. It Won't Get Better   2:00
Written-By – Elliott, Valentino
06. Nine Pound Hammer   3:16
Written-By – Merle Travis
07. Magic Hollow   2:51
Written-By – Elliott, Valentino
08. And I've Seen Her   1:57
Written-By – Durand, Elliott
09. Triangle   2:15
Written-By – Elliott, Valentino
10. The Wolf Of Velvet Fortune   4:49
Written-By – Elliott, Valentino
11. Old Kentucky Home   2:04
Written-By – Randy Newman

LINE - UP

Ron Elliott – guitar, arranger, vocals
Ron Meagher – bass, guitar, vocals
Sal Valentino – vocals, vocal arranger

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

Van Dyke Parks – harpsichord, keyboards
Carol Kaye – bass
James Burton – guitar
Donnie Lanier – guitar
Jim Gordon – drums
The Blossoms – backing vocals
Gene Garf – accordion
Lou Klass – violin
Shari Zippert – violin
David Duke – French horn
George Hyde – French horn
Gale Robinson – French horn
Jesse Ehrlich – cello
Raymond Kelley – cello
Dick Hyde – trombone

Flac Size: 188 MB

05. THE BEAU BRUMMELS - BRADLEYS'S BARN 1968

                    

          
Bradley's Barn is the fifth studio album by the American rock group The Beau Brummels. Released in

October 1968, it contains the singles "Long Walking Down to Misery" and "Cherokee Girl." The album has received critical acclaim as an early example of country rock. The album was named after the recording studio owned by Owen Bradley where the album was recorded.
                   

The Beau Brummels – Bradley's Barn
Label: Collectors' Choice Music – CCM-317-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 1968    
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk Rock, Country Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                 

01. Turn Around   3:00
Written-By – Durand, Elliott
02. An Added Attraction (Come And See Me)   2:57
Written-By – Sal Valentino
03 .Deep Water   2:29
Written-By – Elliott, Valentino
04. Long Walking Down To Misery   3:10
Written-By – R. Elliott
05. Little Bird   2:36
Written-By – Ron Elliott
06. Cherokee Girl   3:32
Written-By – Durand, Elliott
07. I'm A Sleeper   3:13
Written-By – Elliott, Valentino
08. The Loneliest Man In Town   1:49
Written-By – C. Elliott, R. Elliott
09. Love Can Fall A Long Way Down   4:12
Written-By – Durand, Elliott
10. Jessica   2:17
Written-By – Elliott, Valentino
11. Bless You California   2:15
Written-By – R. Newman

LINE - UP

David Briggs – keyboards
Kenny Buttrey – drums
Ron Elliott – guitar, vocals
Joe Osborn – bass
Norbert Putnam – bass
Jerry Reed – guitar
Sal Valentino – vocals

Flac Size: 201 MB