I just couldn’t pass up grabbing a copy of the latest reissue of Easter Everywhere by The 13th Floor Elevators. The OG psychedelic rock band’s second LP, originally released in 1967, is often seen as the band’s pinnacle before Roky Erickson and company fell into a spiral of drugs and mental health issues.
The album included the stunning near eight-minute opener “Slip Inside This House” and a cover of Bob Dylan’s masterpiece “Baby Blue” (sometimes credited in other covers as “It’s All Over Now” or “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue”).
Let’s take a look at what makes this reissue special.
Mono Vs Stereo: 2022 Reissue of Easter Everywhere
There are plenty of collectors who add multiple pressings of albums to their collection. Why? Because, over time, new pressings often include different masters, remasters, and edits to the original recording. This can even happen in the original year of pressing when looking at Mono vs Stereo.
And that’s what you see here. The 2022 reissue of Easter Everywhere is a double LP that includes BOTH the Mono version on the first LP and the Stereo version on the second LP.
Credited inside, the liner notes point out the rarity of the original Mono pressing and highlights some key differences between Mono–which they state were pretty limited to promo copies and special orders only–and the Stereo version.
This may be the first time the album has been expanded into a gatefold sleeve; a quick look at Discogs tells me that much. Inside you’ll see the liner notes referenced above and a slew of photos of the band, singles, and more. Outside, not much has changed with exception of some light pressing references, including the Mono / Stereo call-out on the back of the sleeve.
1967: The 13th Floor Elevators Influence Continued
As noted in the opening, the album begins with the eight-minute-long “Slip Inside This House” and continues what The 13th Floor Elevators began with The Psychedelic Sounds of… one year prior. When taken back to back, it’s easy to see why many consider Easter Everywhere not just a continuation of the band’s debut, but also the band at their peak.
Take a listen to “Slip Inside This House” and you’ll hear what I mean:
Back to back, the two records are quite cohesive, though Easter Everywhere almost has a progression or refinement to it. I picked up on it predominantly in the latter songs on the second half. Namely, “I Had to Tell You” and “Postures (Leave Your Body Behind)”.
Here, the band seems to draw more influence from blues, leaving space for experimentation to weave throughout the songs. They’re also a bit more subdued; their pace is slower and more concentrated.
A Recap: Is It Worth It?
In short order, my answer is a resounding YES.
Not only is this 2022 reissue pressed to very cool clear with yellow and white splattered vinyl, the packaging is tasteful, and the inclusion of both Mono and Stereo versions.
Personally, I love how the Mono version sounds. The deeper bass seems to round out the songs a lot more, giving them greater depth and clarity than the Stereo version. It’s easy to see why it’s so sought after!
Don’t miss my coverage of The Pyschedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, too!
You can grab your copy of both albums here:
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