A second, self-titled EP was released in 1966, displaying this experimental/psychedelic approach and featuring a new lineup including newly-recruited members Burce Barthol (bass), guitarists Paul Armstrong and David Bennett-Cohen as well as drummer John-Francis Gunning. Talking Issue #1 was released in late 1965, with one side featuring two songs from folk musician Peter Krug and the other featuring the newly-formed Country Joe & The Fish playing two McDonald songs, an acoustic version of “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die-Rag” and “Superbird,” a scathing sendup of president Lyndon Johnson.Īfter the release of the EP, the band played shows in the Bay Area, adopting a distinct psychedelic edge to their music that saw them marching in philosophical solidarity with other psychedelic groups of the era such as Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead. For the recordings, McDonald and Melton were joined by Carl Schrager on washboard and kazoo, Bill Steele on bass and Mike Beardslee on vocals. At the time, McDonald was the publisher of a left-wing underground newspaper called Rag Baby, and taking his cue from the anti-war protest movement, he decided to record an EP “talking issue” of the magazine. Connecting over a shared love of folk music in general and the protest music of Woody Guthrie in particular, the pair formed a folk duo, playing the local coffeehouse circuit.

The 'Fish' Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin-To-Die Ragīoth natives of southern California, vocalist/guitarists “Country” Joe McDonald and Barry “The Fish” Melton met after both relocated to Berkeley, California in 1965.Ever Since You Told Me That You Love Me (I'm a Nut).

Screen grab from the movie Woodstock, showing Barry Melton (left) and Country Joe McDonald of Country Joe & the Fish performing 'Rock and Soul Music.' Country Joe & The Fish Band Members

Performed Sunday evening, August 17, 6:30–7:50 pm Taking the wet stage at about 6:30, Country Joe & The Fish were only the second act to perform on Sunday afternoon.Ĭelebrating the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock festival, August 1969–2019 Day Three, Performer 2: Country Joe & The Fish The sky opened up at the end of Joe Cocker’s Woodstock performance, and the deluge that fell on the festival caused a three-hour delay.

Wolflust by Doug Mezner