Acid Rock
This “slice of life” song by Eric Burdon and The Animals was released both as a single, split between the A-Side and B-Side in 1968. It was also released on their 1968 album The Twain Shall Meet. The sky pilot of the song is a military chaplin. He blesses the boys as they go off on their mission, waits for them, and then observes their return. It is a long, thoughtful composition about war. The length of the song, which is more than 7 minutes, made it not a popular candidate for airplay. “Sky Pilot” is known for its montage of battle sounds, as well as the bagpipe music before the return home of the soldiers. Burdon covertly recorded at a school the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards performing “All the Bluebonnets Are Over the Border.” The British government was not amused. Was the mission worth it? The lyrics say, “Only time it will tell.” And a young soldier remembers the words, “Thou shalt not kill.”
On the track are Eric Burdon (vocals), John Weider (guitar, violin), Vic Briggs (guitar), Danny McCulloch (bass, vocals), and Barry Jenkins (drums.