The Ultimate Spinach, comprised of keyboardist/guitarist Ian Bruce-Douglas and singer Barbara Hudson was the leading band of Boston's alternative scene in the second half of the 60s. The phenomenon was more a publicity stunt than a legitimate artistic movement.

Despite suffering claims of dishonesty, they published quite sophisticated albums. On Ultimate Spinach (MGM, 1968) the standout cuts are the suite Ballad Of The Hip Death Goddess, with an instrumental interval for theremin (an early electronic instrument), feedback and reverberation, and the psychoanalytic folk- blues Ego Trip. They were taken to court by Country Joe MacDonald for having copied Section 43 in their Sacrifice Of The Moon. Also Pamela is reminiscent of Country Joe's Grace. More complex compositions, such as the suite in four movements Genesis Of Beauty and Fragmentary March Of Green, two pieces soaked in mysticism, enliven the second album Behold And See (MGM, 1968). Jazz Thing and Mind Flowers experimented with even more unusual tempos and atmosphere, while the graceful Gilded Lamp Of The Cosmos exemplifies the best of their psychedelic folk ballads. (Note: Big Beat's re-release of Behold And See omits Visions Of Your Reality. In addition it liberally edits other cuts, thus it should not be considered a true re-release). Ian Bruce-Douglas eventually retired to Florida and recorded a third album with a completely new lineup, that included guitarist Jeff Baxter, future session man for Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers.