This -led edition of the isn't just an important transition between their initial blues-based incarnation and the mega-pop band they became, it's also their most vital, exciting version. The addition of as second guitarist and songwriter foreshadows not only the soft-rock terrain of and with , but also predicts . That only pertains to roughly half of the also excellent material here, though; the rest is quintessential . The immortal with its hard-edged, thickly layered guitars and chamber-like sections, is perhaps the band's most enduring progressive composition. is another familiar number, a down-and-dirty, even-paced funk, with clean, wall-of-sound guitars. Choogling drums and 's fiery improvisations power perhaps 's most inspired work save and leads into an unlikely symphonic interlude and the similar, lighter boogie A hot Afro-Cuban rhythm with beautiful guitars from on not only defines the 's sound, but the rock aesthetic of the day. Of the songs with 's stamp on them, is a mysterious waltz love song; haunting guitars approach surf music on the instrumental ; while is the ultimate pre- number someone should revisit. Blues roots still crop up on the spatial, loose, -tinged the folky and the final outcry of the ever-poignant moaning "do you really give a damn for me?" is a reminder of how pervasive and powerful 's influence was on 's originality and individual stance beyond his involvement. Still highly recommended and a must-buy after all these years, it remains their magnum opus. ~ Michael G. Nastos