Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out is a 1967 album credited to Timothy Leary, created to accompany the documentary film of the same name. It contains narrated meditation mixed with freeform psychedelic rock music.
Contents
Music
According to BrooklynVegan: "Like the earlier release, it is spoken word but with sparse haunting mostly guitar and tabla music over it. Unlike the direct plainspoken narration of the earlier record, this sounds as if the voices are beamed down from somewhere in the stratosphere." Lyrical themes explored on the album include psychedelic drug use and social issues. According to Alex Henderson of AllMusic: "On this disc, one hears Leary expressing his belief that most of society's problems are caused by people over 40 (although Leary himself was about 46 or 47 at the time) and complaining that the American school system breeds mindless conformity, but mostly, he talks about drugs -- especially LSD, which Leary believed could dramatically change society for the better."
Reception and legacy
Alex Henderson AllMusic gave the album three stars out of five, writing: "One doesn't have to agree with Leary's theories to realize that Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out has historic value. This recording is very much a product of its time, and it is an intriguing listen despite -- or perhaps because of -- Leary's eccentricities and excesses."
A staff writer at BrooklynVegan wrote in 2017: "Calling this a singular work does not do it justice. While strange, its obvious influence on the culture at the time cannot be overstated. So pull up a chair, turn on, tune in and give this a whirl if you dare."
Track listing
Side A
"The Turn On" - 2:23
"The Tune In" - 3:34
"The Beginning of the Voyage (Heart Chakra)" - 4:01
"Root Chakra" - 2:05
"All Girls Are Yours" - 4:37
"Freak-Out" - 0:29
Side B
"Freak-Out (Continued)" - 3:53
"Genetic Memory" - 6:43
"Re-Entry (Nirvana)" - 3:10
"Epilogue (Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out)" - 2:52
Liner notes
All selections written by Maryvonne Giercarz/Lars Eric/Richard Bond
Guide: Timothy Leary, Ph.D.
Voyager: Ralph Metzner, Ph.D.
Divine Connection: Rosemary Woodruff
Veena: Maryvonne Giercarz
Guitar: Lars Eric
Tabla: Richard Bond
Executive Producer: Henry G. Saperstein
Associate Producer: S. Richard Krown
Special Effects Conception: UPA Pictures, Inc.
Produced by Al Ham
Tape Editor: Dale McKechnie