Green Crystal Ties, Volume 7: Mind Expanding Punk of the 60s

Green Crystal Ties, Volume 7: Mind-Expanding Punk of the 60s is a compilation album featuring American psychedelic and garage rock musical artists that recorded in the 1960s. It is the seventh installment of the Green Crystal Ties series and was released on Collectables Records on April 7, 1998. The album is not so "Mind-Expanding"—alluding to psychedelic music -- Volume 7 does offer the most hard-edged musical stance within the series.

The album opens with the Detroit-based band the Tidal Waves' sneering protopunk anthem "Action! (Speaks Louder Than Words)", followed by their number one regional hit "Farmer John". Somewhat confusingly, the two songs are tailed by an additional pair of tracks by another group named the Tidal Waves, from Maine, who record their own version of "Farmer John" in an approach similar to that of the Searchers. Tony Lane and the Fabulous Spades' "Baby, Please Don't Go" and "Baby, What Do You Want Me to Do" are perhaps the most genuinely raw and live recordings present on the album. Faithful renditions of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" and Van Morrison's "Gloria" are compiled courtesy of the Outcasts from Long Island. Baton Rouge's the Basement Wall, well known in the south for their tenacious live performing, are featured with their snarling cover versions of "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" and "Louie, Louie". Other musical highlights include Tucson-favorites the Lewallen Brothers' "Wine, Wine, Wine", and the Sting Rays' punchy recording of "Eight Days a Week".

Each band on Volume 7 is compilmented by extensive liner notes on a fold-out card. The Basement Wall instrumental "No Matter What Shape Your Stomach's In" is evidently present in-between their two tunes, but is not officially credited on the album.