The Keep On Chooglin‘ series is inspired by such great compilations as Country Got Soul, Delta Swamp Rock and Country Funk. However, this little compilation came about when series compiler Reinhard Holstein was listening to “Across The Great Divide – Getting It Together In The Country 1968-1974” – a 3-CD box set that offers 64 artifacts from the first era of British country rock. The best of these tracks find a new home on “Keep On Chooglin’” #37. Then other tracks from bands from the box and some that can’t be found on this compilation.
After the Summer of Love in 1967, much of the USA changed from psychedelia to country rock. Bob Dylan started with “John Wesley Harding” (1967), The Band released “Music From Big Pink” (1968), and “Sweetheart of The Rodeo” by The Byrds came out the same year. In 1969, Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Flying Burrito Brothers debuted their first albums. And even the Grateful Dead moved to the country with “Workingman’s Dead” (1970). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. All of these publications had a profound influence on what happened in the United Kingdom afterwards.