First Step Beyond

Chicago's reputation will forever be tainted by the horn-ravaged corniness of their eponymous band. Medusa s First Step Beyond could have forever altered the perception of Chicago rock history had it managed to make the leap from tape to its destined vinyl pressing. Instead, this mish-mash of Sabbath, Hawkwind, and Amon Duul II remained petrified in the Corycian Caverns, or rather the drummer s basement. Self produced on four track in 1975, the sole transmission from Medusa s repertoire appeared on the extremely mysterious Pepperhead label, whose proprietor allegedly disappeared after a bad trip and has never been seen again. Housed in cushy mock-velvet and screened in blood red and gold, and art directed from the band's elaborate original stage props and artwork, we have positioned this unreleased opus to finally reach its destination: the turntables of pot-smoking teenagers, young and old.