Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine
| "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Country Joe and the Fish | ||||
| from the album Electric Music for the Mind and Body | ||||
| B-side | "Masked Marauder" | |||
| Released | April 1967 | |||
| Recorded | February 1967 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:24 | |||
| Label | Vanguard | |||
| Songwriter | Joseph McDonald | |||
| Producer | Samuel Charters | |||
| Country Joe and the Fish singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine" is the debut single by American psychedelic rock band Country Joe and the Fish, released in April 1967 as the lead single from their debut studio album Electric Music for the Mind and Body (1967). It is their highest-charting song, peaking at number 98 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Composition
The song is based on blues[1] and composed of organ, guitar, drums and bass,[1][2] with the drums featuring alternating tempos.[3] Lyrically, it is a love song centering on a failed romance.[2][1]
Critical reception
Uncut considered Country Joe McDonald's "wry, wide-eyed vocal approach" on "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine" to be "even better" compared to their song "Flying High". They additionally stated, "A character sketch of sorts, a romance gone awry, it leaves boy/girl, moon/spoon pop fare in the dust, its unconventional rhythms and surreal storytelling making it the album’s most compelling track."[1]
Charts
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 98 |
References
- ^ a b c d "Country Joe & The Fish – Electric Music For The Mind And Body". Uncut. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ a b Whiting, Sam (April 11, 2017). "6 songs that embody the San Francisco Sound". SFGate. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ Kurtz, Warren (September 2, 2021). "Fabulous Flip Sides In Memoriam - Drummers for The Cyrkle, Iron Butterfly, and Country Joe & The Fish". Goldmine. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of August 5, 1967". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2026.