Coven: Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls (Hellfire Yellow & Red Vinyl)

Real Gone Music Press Release

We’ve reissued a lot of “cult” albums at Real Gone Music. But of all the releases we’ve put out, this is the cult-iest of them all. That’s because it’s actually an occult album, the first record to bring Satanic themes to rock music. The upside down crosses, the “devil’s horns” hand’s signs that are commonplace with metal bands both past and present…they all started here. Coven even had a bassist named Oz Osborne…and the first track on the album was entitled “Black Sabbath,” for, er, heaven’s sake! So there’s no question that this 1969 album dealt with the devil first. But perhaps a little history is in order… Formed in the mid-‘60s by then-teenaged vocalist “Jinx” Dawson, drummer Steve Ross, and the aforementioned Mr. Osborne in the mid-‘60s, Coven began attracting attention while opening for bands like Alice Cooper, the MC5, and The Yardbirds both for its dark psychedelic sound and for its wholehearted, unrepentant embrace of sex and Satan. During each performance, Dawson—whose vocals are somewhat reminiscent of Grace Slick with a snarl—would extend her fingers in the now-familiar devil’s horns gesture while a roadie would be hung on an upside-down cross. The band caught the eye of Chicago-based producer Bill Traut, who had formed a label named Dunwich (natch…catch the H.P. Lovecraft reference?). Traut brought songwriter Jim Donlinger on board to contribute material, and ushered Coven into the studio to record Witchcraft. The result was a truly one-of-a-kind record. While subsequent bands exploited demonic imagery and occult themes for commercial success and sensationalism, Coven were true (un)believers. Thus, the last track on the album, “Satanic Mass,” is a full Black Mass, the only recording of its kind, while the double-gatefold album jacket—which we have faithfully reproduced—not only displays a picture of a naked Dawson splayed across a ritualistic altar surrounded by hooded members of the band and its associates, but also includes the full text of a Black Mass along with lyrics to the unabashedly Satan-worshipping songs. In the end, Witchcraft was a little too far ahead of its time; coming out in 1969, at the height of hysteria about Satanism whipped up by the Manson Family murders, the album generated a firestorm of reaction, which turned into an inferno when Manson himself was photographed holding a copy of the record. The album was recalled, Dunwich withdrew support, and the band bounced around a couple of other labels before going on hiatus in 1976. But Coven remains a crucial, if underrecognized, influence on hard rock and heavy metal. Now, at last, Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls receives its first-ever legitimate vinyl reissue with full artwork intact and a crimson vinyl pressing limited to 1200 copies. Whether approached as a cultural artifact, a totemic fetish, a camp classic, or just really cool music, it will cast a spell on you.

Coven Was the First Band to Introduce Occult and Satanic Themes into Rock Music

Formed in the Mid-’60s by Vocalist “Jinx” Dawson, Drummer Steve Ross, and Bassist (No Lie!) Oz Osborne, Coven First Attracted Attention Opening for Bands Like The Yardbirds, Alice Cooper, and MC5

During Their Shows, Dawson Would Make Devil’s Horns Signs with Her Hands While a Roadie Was Hung from an Upside-Down Cross, Pioneering Imagery That Many Future Bands Would Follow

Their Stage Act and Darkly Psychedelic Sound Attracted the Attention of Producer and Dunwich Label Owner Bill Traut, Who Brought Songwriter Jim Donlinger On Board to Record Their First Album, Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls

The First Track on the Album Was Called Black Sabbath (!) and the Last Track, Satanic Mass, Was a Full-Fledged Black Mass, the Only Recording of Its Kind

The Double-Gatefold Album Displayed a Nude Dawson Splayed Across a Ritualistic Altar Surrounded by Robed Band Members and Associates

The Packaging Included the Openly Occult Lyrics and Full Text for a Black Mass

Released in 1969 at the Height of Hysteria About Satanism Whipped Up by the Manson Family Murders, the Album Was Withdrawn After a Photo Surfaced of Charles Manson Carrying a Copy

Needless to Say, It Has Since Become the Cult (or “Occult”) Classic to End All Cult Classics

Real Gone Music’s First-Ever Legitimate Vinyl Reissue Faithfully Reproduces the Original Packaging

Crimson Vinyl Edition Just in Time for Halloween