The Mystery Meat record was privately pressed by five Illinois college students in 1968. Only around twenty five copies, each now fetching upwards of $6K, were made. The extreme rarity, combined with the provocative cover art and the visceral sounds underneath it all have made
it a garage LP of legends!
Legendary lost albums are not loved for their rarity alone. The Mystery Meat has a primitive sound
as any dirty garage recording and then some, but the quality of the songs shine through as early as
your first listen and maintain Profiles’ unique longevity. Soft spoken, innocent vocals and sensitive
lyrics contrast frightening drums recorded, it would seem, under a blanket. The muffled rhythm
section is really distinct, recorded in the cavernous basement of a school building at Blackburn
College, rounded on the high end with fierce Farfisa organ and trebly electric rhythm guitar.
It’s not all about loud scary beat rock, but good, strong songwriting, courtesy of Wayne Joplin,
and a tender angle. “Both Have To Pay” and “You Won’t Believe It” stick out for their melancholy
sound; the melodies alone seem to convey a love lost. Lead singer Dick Leighninger clearly knew
how to put emotion into his vocal, and I can just picture the girl in his mind during these makeshift
sessions. “Don’t Take Me” is an exceptionally bizarre ode to death, “Sunshine Makes It” is a
swirling and slightly experimental piece. The rest make up an album of tunes so great any listener
should be surprised. . . All originals.
