The C.A. Quintet - Trip Thru Hell (1968)

Some say 500 copies of this album were pressed, some 700, and others say 1000. Regardless, the album wasn't successful, due in part because it was way ahead of it's time, and because it was released independently in Minnesota, where all innovative psych bands were born and died a quick death. The band was actually around for probably 5 or so years, but only managed to crank this one out. It's quite simply an amazing, pioneering record if you're into apocalyptic psych, which I certainly am.
I'll be honest and admit that the album certainly isn't what one would expect, since pretty much every song coming out at the time was about peace, love, women, etc. and here we have a bad acid trip (through hell) presented in music played on instruments that had never been used in the genre before, like a lost Clint Eastwood western soundtrack. This is an all out horror story. Amazing bass performance, entrancing drums, dual guitars, haunting organs and backgrounds, trumpets (yes, trumpets) signifying it is the end, this album is not to be missed. Well, it was, but you should be listening to it now.