The band's debut album in 1968 was a well-named serious slab of sonic meat after which the band lost three members and had to regroup for their second and huge album In-A-Gadda-Da-Via.

The album's artwork depicts the band members playing their instruments beside a large monument of a human ear. It was designed by Armando Busich (artwork) and Joe Ravetz (photography).

This peaked at #78 in USA but didn't trouble the scorers in UK.