The OtherHalf

This obscure San Francisco (by way of L.A.) '60s band gained a degree of notoriety in the '80s when their punk-garage single "Mr. Pharmacist" was included on one of Rhino's Nuggets compilations and covered by <a href="spotify:artist:6WoTvA9qinpHtSRJuldYh6">the Fall</a>. Actually, most of the Other Half's material was far less garage than psychedelic, featuring the sustain-laden guitar of <a href="spotify:artist:157kF6QmsHpLQHq5wyjNHd">Randy Holden</a>, one of the best <a href="spotify:artist:0AD4odMWVQ2wUSlgxOB5Rl">Jeff Beck</a>-inspired axemen of the '60s. Boasting a just-out-of-the-garage approach to Haight-Ashbury psychedelia, the group cut a little-heard, fairly strong album, as well as a few rare singles, in 1967 and 1968. <a href="spotify:artist:157kF6QmsHpLQHq5wyjNHd">Holden</a>, who had previously played in the L.A. psychedelic garage band <a href="spotify:artist:2O4POpPZHRm11AWem4isIY">Sons of Adam</a>, went on to join <a href="spotify:artist:4PI5IHRvANLL76O5gRmGKL">Blue Cheer</a> and record on his own. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi