Sandy Bull, Inventions for guitar, banjo, oud, electric guitar, and electric bass (side A)

Sandy Bull's 1964 synthesis of international instruments and ideas with Western folk and rock on Inventions predates even the Yardbirds' use of sitar on 1965's "Heart Full of Soul".  In addition to the oud mentioned on the album's cover, Billy Higgins's percussion seems to reference the style of (and perhaps use) a tabla.  Bull's lengthy "Blend II" uses a slow build structure that precedes 90s post-rock as the foundation of his flights, with Higgins's percussion sounding far removed from the famous collaborations with Ornette.  The reminder of the LP is a series of stylized covers ranging from Machaut to Chuck Berry—they reveal more of Bull's technical mastery than his innovative ideas.  His preppy appearance in the excellent cover photo references coffeeshop folk with only the oud in the picture hinting at his far-reaching ideas.