Ultimate Spinach
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Psychedelic rock music, albums, singles |
Ultimate Spinach was a brief-lived psychedelic rock group originating from Boston, Massachusetts in 1967. They played a significant role in the "Bosstown Sound" promotional campaign, which sought to compete with the San Francisco Sound. Throughout their short tenure, they produced three albums, with their eponymous debut being the most commercially successful.
"Bosstown Sound" and Band Formation
Initially known as Underground Cinema, the ensemble included multi-instrumentalist Ian Bruce-Douglas, vocalist Barbara Hudson, drummer Keith Lahteinen, rhythm guitarist Geoff Winthrop, and bassist Richard Nese. As Underground Cinema, they acted as the resident band at the Unicorn club and recorded demos later featured on New England Teen Scene: Unreleased! 1965-1968 during 1966.
The group adopted the name Ultimate Spinach after signing with Boston promoter Alan Lorber, who produced all three of their albums.[1] The new name was coined by Bruce-Douglas during a 1967 psychedelic experience, inspired by the colorful designs he painted on his face.[1] This distinctive title also fit well within the period’s trend for vivid psychedelic band names, aiding in capturing public interest.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In September 1967, Lorber initiated a campaign to establish Boston as a center for emerging local artists.[2] This effort gained exposure through a January 1968 Newsweek feature that spotlighted Ultimate Spinach alongside other Bosstown Sound groups such as Beacon Street Union and Orpheus. Despite initial enthusiasm, the Bosstown Sound did not achieve enduring national success, as critics viewed its bands as overly derivative of San Francisco's scene.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Debut album and early achievements
Bruce-Douglas led the group by contributing guitar, keyboards, harmonica, and lead vocals on most tracks. He also served as the chief songwriter and penned liner notes for their first two releases. Their debut record, Ultimate Spinach, was launched on January 6, 1968, under MGM Records. This concept album focused on anti-war themes and became their highest-charting release, reaching number 34 on the Billboard 200. It showcased a variety of guitar effects—including fuzz, echo, tremolo, feedback, volume swells, and wah-wah pedals—mirroring the contemporary West Coast psychedelic style. In 2008, Classic Rock magazine placed it at number 36 on their list of the "42 Greatest Psychedelic Albums". Bolstered by strong media support, the band toured with groups like Big Brother and the Holding Company and The Youngbloods at venues such as the Fillmore. After this period, Lahteinen departed and Russell Levine took over on drums; Priscilla DiDonato joined to help reproduce the album’s intricate vocal harmonies during live performances.
Subsequent releases and decline
Later in 1968 came their sophomore album, Behold & See, another thematic work. Personnel shifts included Jeff Baxter stepping in for Winthrop and Caryl Lee Britt replacing DiDonato. The album reached only number 198 amid waning "Bosstown Sound" hype and unfavorable reviews. The omission of electric keyboards—integral to their debut’s layered sound—diminished both studio richness and live dynamics. What had once been fresh West Coast emulation lost its appeal. Following this release, Bruce-Douglas exited and disbanded the group; Hudson briefly carried on. Douglas later criticized producer Alan Lorber for prioritizing commercial gain over artistic values in both promotion and production. Lorber assembled an almost entirely new lineup to fulfill contractual obligations for a final album. Issued in 1969, Ultimate Spinach III failed to chart due to the absence of a central songwriter and inconsistent musical styles among members. The band dissolved soon thereafter.
During the 1990s, Big Beat Records reissued all three albums in the UK market. Their recordings appeared on various compilations featuring "Bosstown Sound" artists, and in 2001 The Very Best of Ultimate Spinach was released. After years of unauthorized circulation, a 1967 live show at the Unicorn was officially issued in Europe in 2014 under the title Live at the Unicorn, July 1967.
Members
- Ian Bruce-Douglas – vocals (lead), electric piano, organ, vibraphone, lead guitar, recorder (1967–1968)
- Barbara Jean Hudson – vocals, acoustic guitar (1967–1969)
- Ted Myers – lead vocals, lead guitar (1967, 1969)
- Jeff Baxter – lead and steel guitar, vibraphone, vocals (1968–1969)
- Tony Scheuren – organ, piano, acoustic guitar, vocals (1968–1969)
- Mike Levine – bass guitar (1968–1969)
- Russell Levine – drums and percussion (1968–1969)
- Richard Nese – acoustic and electric bass, feedback effects (1967–1968)
- Geoffrey Winthrop – rhythm guitar (1967–1968)
- Keith Lahteinen – drums, percussion, vocals (1967)
Discography
Studio albums
- Ultimate Spinach (1968)
- Behold & See (1968)
- Ultimate Spinach III (1969)
Compilations
- The Box (2000)
- The Very Best of Ultimate Spinach (2001)
- Sacrifice of the Moon: Instrumental Music of Ultimate Spinach (2006)
Live albums
- Live at the Unicorn, July 1967 (2014)
Singles
- "Ego Trip / Your Head Is Reeling" (1968)
- "(Just Like) Romeo & Juliet" (1969)