Doug Sahm

With a jukebox mind under his 10-gallon hat, Doug Sahm has explored everything from psychedelia, country, and horn-heavy blues to a unique mix of garage funkiness and Merseybeat. The Sir Douglas Quintet's "She's About a Mover" started the trip. The 1965 hit laid a mop-top catchiness a top Augie Meyers'Farfisa organ syncopations, revealing a gift for eccentric fusion that would stamp the band's subsequentefforts. Honkey Blues featured James Brownish horns overlaid with San Francisco guitar noodling:Together was LAtino swagger meeting the blues meeting C&W. Mendocino produced another hit in the flower-power title track; "At the Crossroads"was Doug doing Dylan.

Doug faltered on forgettable albums such as Doug Sahm and Band, and Hell of a Spell. His guitar sounds better when reined in, and earnestness is his voice's greatest virtue -- but his musical imagination paid off consistently in happy, novel ways. It's a bit confusing that the Rhino and Sequel compendiums have the same title, but they're both terrific -- and they concentrate on the Tex-Mex sound that Sahm trademarked. Juke Box Music contains more straightforward roots rock; San Antonio Rock collects early, pre-Quintet gems. The Rhino Atlantic set give us the psychedelic and the countrified Sahm. -- P.E.

From the 2004 The New Rolling Stone Album Guide