Sweetwater is one of those ’60s bands who, through a twist of fate and circumstances beyond their control, never quite received the recognition they richly deserved. What began as a humble house band playing the coffee shops of California quickly transformed into the regular support act for legends like The Doors and The Animals during the late ’60s.

They even charted in the US with their haunting cover of Motherless Child, a song most famously associated with Paul Robeson. Their 1968 self-titled debut album is, in my opinion, a hidden gem of the original psychedelic era—lush, inventive, and all too often overlooked.

Pop culture buffs might know Sweetwater were slated to open the original Woodstock festival in 1969. But due to overwhelming crowds and chaotic traffic jams, they never made it to the stage on time. Later that year, tragedy struck when lead singer Nansi Nevins was seriously injured in a car accident, stalling the band’s momentum just as they were poised for greater success.

My personal favourite from their debut is the mesmerizing My Crystal Spider, while the lyrics of What’s Wrong—check out the video below—feel more relevant now than ever, decades after their release.

If you’re a fan of ’60s psychedelia and haven’t yet explored Sweetwater’s work, this is the perfect moment to dive in. Welcome aboard—let the trip begin.