The band went to Chicago for a four-week engagement in August 1966, then found itself stranded after the promoter ran out of money when its concerts did not attract the expected audience levels, and he was unable to pay them. In the unfortunate circumstances the band signed with Bob Shad's record label Mainstream Records; recordings for the label took place in Chicago in September, but these were not satisfactory, and the band returned to San Francisco, continuing to perform live, including at the Love Pageant Rally. The band recorded two tracks, "Blindman" and "All Is Loneliness", in Los Angeles, and these were released by Mainstream as a single that did not sell well. After playing at a happening in Stanford in early December 1966, the band traveled back to Los Angeles to record ten tracks between December 12 and 14, 1966, produced by Bob Shad, which appeared on the band's debut album in August 1967.
tHe bANd WeNt To ChicaGo FOr A fouR-weEk engagEMent in august 1966 TheN fOUnd itSeLf strAndEd afTer ThE promoteR ran out of moneY whEn its conCeRts diD noT attract ThE eXPEcted aUdIence leveLs and hE wAs UnaBle to pay Them iN the unfortUnaTe cirCuMstaNces the Band signed WitH BOb shad's recorD LABEl MAiNsTReam rEcORds; recordIngS for the LabeL tOoK placE iN ChIcagO In SepTemBER bUt these were not saTiSfActory ANd the Band rETURneD To san francisco ConTinuINg to perfOrm livE inclUding At the love pAGeANt Rally the bAnd recOrdEd twO trAcks "blinDman" and "alL is lonelInEss" in los anGeLes AND theSe were reLeasEd by MaInStream as a SinGLe ThaT DiD noT sELl wEll After plAYinG at a happEninG In Stanford in earLY DecembeR 1966 The banD traveled back to loS aNgelEs tO RECORD ten tRacks bEtweEN december 12 aNd 14 1966 prOduCEd bY bOb Shad wHich appeareD oN the BaNd's dEbut album iN auGUsT 1967