The story of Father Yod, Yahowa 13 and the Source Family could literally fill books, but rest assured, they truly were the "apex of high" in terms of psychedelic music. A tale that transcends conventional music history, this legendary collective represents one of the most radical experiments in communal living and cosmic sound ever documented. The basics paint an extraordinary picture: Father Yod was a WWII flying ace and spiritual seeker who gathered his "children" around him in early 1970s Los Angeles. Among them were some fantastic musicians, and the Source Family recorded over a dozen albums of free form jams featuring Father Yod on vocals, kettle drum, and gong, creating a truly original sound that defied categorization and expectation.
I'm Gonna Take You Home, recorded in 1973, captures the Source Family at their most transcendent. This is music born from pure spiritual conviction, where traditional song structures dissolve into cosmic consciousness and communal expression becomes art. The album stands as testament to an era when music was not merely entertainment but a vehicle for transformation - both personal and collective. Father Yod's commanding presence anchors these extended improvisations, his vocals ranging from shamanic chants to mystical proclamations, while his percussion work - particularly his hypnotic kettle drum and ceremonial gong - creates rhythmic foundations that seem to pulse with otherworldly energy. The supporting musicians, deeply immersed in the Source Family's spiritual practice, respond with an intuitive understanding that can only come from shared experience and collective consciousness.
These are not songs in any conventional sense, but rather sonic rituals - extended meditations that capture the essence of a community living entirely outside mainstream society's boundaries. The free-form nature of the recordings reflects the Source Family's rejection of conventional structures, whether musical, social, or spiritual. Each track unfolds organically, guided by instinct and inspiration rather than predetermined arrangements. The resulting music is both deeply American and utterly alien - rooted in the West Coast's countercultural ferment yet reaching toward cosmic realms that transcend geography and time. I'm Gonna Take You Home stands as essential documentation of one of psychedelia's most uncompromising visions, a reminder that the genre's greatest achievements often came from those willing to live their art completely.