The Seeds are one of those bands who just jumbles my brain, and it’s not because of the music so much, it’s because of the band’s demeanor, how they viewed themselves, and that they were more than willing be ‘pushin’ too hard’ to not only make a name for themselves, but keep that brand alive … and a brand it was.Certainly The Seeds rose out of the psychedelic flower power era, and rode that Haight Ashbury wave with their looks and presentation.  There are also those who are going to attempt to tell you that The Seeds laid down the fundamentals for the punk movement that would shake the world some ten years into the future.  In reality, The Seeds, though primarily frontman Sky Saxon, were a quintessential Sunset Strip band of the mid 60’s, with Saxon being an over exuberant LA and Topanga Canyon nomad who literally took far too much acid, far too often to think clearly.  Regardless, the album still has a positive hue around it, with many claiming that it was one of the best garage psych albums of all time, with new listeners continually discovering the release, entranced with its awkward yet jubilant sparkle, with critics saying, ”The album is brilliantly simple, a headlong surge of fuzz drenched guitars, bubbling organ riffs, and raw throat tearing vocals.”  While later albums would move more towards the essence of psychedelia, it’s this 1966 release that the band is, and will forever be known for, both defining them in and of a moment from which they seemed doomed never to be able to shake, never able to progress further, as they were always being pulled back into this outing, and that historic single, “Pushin’ Too Hard.”And therein lies my personal dilemma with The Seed … The Monkees had a television show during this time, and then there was Partridge Family, but one can dismiss or excuse these bands because they were designed and set up to be part of a television show, and not as ‘official bands.’  But The Seeds were a rock n’ roll outfit, a band with a leader who was a confused angst ridden outsider who was desperate for a bit of love and acceptance.  And to that end there was nothing the band wouldn’t promote to stay in the limelight, including guest appearances on some of the worst of the worst sitcoms of our time.  Sure, I thought it was a hoot to see The Seeds on television, to see the fashion and the style of the times smacked up against that of the older generation and the status quo straight laced establishment stars of these shows.  Over time, with this constant exposure, I began not to take The Seeds any more seriously than I took the fake band The Archies.Yes, I would love to sit down and be able to listen to The Seeds and delight in remembering those days, when in reality, with each word I type, I can see nothing but this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQWVHvjdfZw], dumbfounding-ly swimming through my head. *** The Fun Facts: Sky Saxon, Richard Marsh, also known as Little Richie Marsh, was born in Utah in 1937, which would make him over 30 at the time of this release … and we all know that in 1966, one could not trust anyone over 30, hence he would never pin down his actual date of birth.In 1973, he became a member of the Source Family religious group, a Hollywood Hills commune led by YaHoWha (a restaurateur, whose real name was Jim Baker) who gave Saxon the names Sunlight and Arlick.Review by Jenell Kesler

Damn dude it's unfortunate that all of these superficial personal opinions really prevent you from absorbing the music and understanding the artistic value of it. First of all, The Seeds have nothing to do with the Haight Asbury scene and have no association with San Francisco bands, what was happening in LA in 65/66 was occurring completely independent of any scene that had yet to form up north. The Seeds were an LA phenomenon that one could not truly understand without seeing them preform live and being involved in that scene. The Seeds NEVER played outside of LA, they could care less about reaching a wider audience as you say, appearing on the television shows was more of a joke to them rather than this shameful self promotion you speak of. Sky was a superstar in LA, the Doors even opened for them whenever they were on the bill together. It was Saxon who actually coined the term "flower power" and is actually respected as an innovator and originator of what came to be associated with "hippy." Can you imagine performing the song "pushing too hard" in 1966? You have to be a real bad ass to pull that off, the rest of the world just wasn't ready for it, that's why commercial success really didn't occur for them outside of Califormia. So I really don't understand the point of your review. Why should we care if you like the seeds are not? Why should your personal opinions of a band sway someone's decision to either listen to this record or not? Who knows what you're personal tastes are or what you even regard as a good band. I'd appreciate more a review of the record or pressing at hand rather than a subjective view from an unknown Internet music critic. If you had never heard the seeds before and someone put on their first record would you dismiss it completely or would you be intrigued and want to hear more. I'm guessing the latter. But because you saw them on a tv show you will forever judge the quality of their existence based on this. In my opinion that's no way to approach music. The music should speak for itself regardless. If it doesn't speak to you I understand that but don't judge the quality of a bands material based on whether or not they want to bring some attention to their craft.

"Includes GNP Crescendo blue/white inner sleeve."My understanding is that these inner sleeves came with 80s re-issues.

Any Repress in the 80's would come with a plain white sleeve and most likely be from Europe.

The single "Pushin too hard" failed to chart when it was first released in April '66. It was re-released in October '66 and the black promo stamp was added to the front cover of the LP. The original plain Lp's are rare but the Blue and white inner sleeves are still from '66, just a 2nd issue.

IMPORTANT NOTICE !!!The real US original do not have the "Pushin' Too Hard" rectangle and "GNP Crescendo" is written in horizontal on the label.