The Pulse Debuts Album of the Week Show; First Episode: Ode to Quetzalcoatl – Dave Bixby

By Lance Reece

We’re excited to launch a new segment on 88.7 The Pulse’s website: Album of the Week, curated by music host and reviewer Lance Reece. Each week, Lance explores standout albums that deserve a deeper listen. Some are forgotten classics, others are modern gems waiting to be heard. Whether you’re a longtime collector or simply craving something new, this series will highlight music that moves, surprises, and resonates. Let’s begin with a remarkable cult favorite from 1969.

Hey music lovers, this is Lance Reece for 88.7 The Pulse, and today I’m spotlighting a hidden gem that has quietly become one of my all-time favorite albums: Ode to Quetzalcoatl by Dave Bixby. Released in 1969, this obscure psychedelic folk record is a haunting and deeply personal exploration of pain, faith, and renewal. It feels like listening in on someone’s most private spiritual confessions. If you’re drawn to introspective, soul-searching music, this is a must-hear. It’s a rare find for fans of vintage folk or cult classic albums.

Dave Bixby, a Michigan-based folk musician, created Ode to Quetzalcoatl during a time of intense personal turmoil. After years of heavy LSD use that led to a severe depressive breakdown, Bixby experienced a powerful Christian awakening. This dramatic transformation inspired the album, which he wrote and recorded in just six weeks. The sessions took place over three nights in a friend’s living room, captured on a simple four-track machine. That setting gives the album its raw, unfiltered character. The music is spare and intimate, built around acoustic guitar with light touches of harmonica and flute, all anchored by Bixby’s echoing and emotionally bare vocals. Only 500 copies were ever pressed by a small Christian group called The Movement, and the album nearly disappeared until rediscovered by collectors in the late 1990s. Today, it’s considered a defining release within the “loner folk” genre.

The title, Ode to Quetzalcoatl, references the ancient Aztec deity known as the Feathered Serpent, a symbol of wisdom, death, and rebirth. Bixby saw Quetzalcoatl as a Christ-like figure, blending Christian theology with the 1960s counterculture’s interest in non-Western spiritual traditions. Although the lyrics never mention the deity directly, the themes of spiritual rebirth and enlightenment run throughout the record. “Drug Song” pulls no punches, confronting the darkness of addiction with lines like, “I took a trip to see what I could see / And all I saw was misery.” Later tracks such as “I Have Seen Him” and “Free Indeed” reflect Bixby’s transformation, celebrating grace and the clarity he found in faith. The album charts an emotional journey from suffering to spiritual liberation that remains powerful even in its rough, unpolished form.

One of the most moving tracks on the album is “Peace.” Unlike some of the more confessional songs, “Peace” feels like a gentle breath held between storms. Its finger-picked guitar and hushed vocals create a moment of stillness, like stepping into a clearing after wandering through a dark forest. The lyrics speak softly of divine love and quiet surrender, inviting the listener into a space of deep calm. Rather than preaching, Bixby offers a kind of musical prayer. It is both grounding and uplifting, a sonic refuge that gently reminds us there is light to be found even after the longest night.

You can hear traces of Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and the Moody Blues in Bixby’s sound, but his voice is uniquely his own. If you appreciate the emotional vulnerability of Nick Drake or Leonard Cohen, Bixby’s music will resonate. The lo-fi production, rich in echo and intimacy, only enhances the album’s mystique. It feels like a relic from another time, unearthed and waiting to be heard again. Over the years, it has quietly built a cult following and remains a touchstone within niche music circles.

Ode to Quetzalcoatl is more than just an album. It is a spiritual document, a story of redemption, and a testament to the healing power of music. It has quietly lodged itself in my heart, and I think it might find a home in yours too. If you’re looking for something genuine and emotionally rich, this is a journey worth taking.

For more musical deep-dives and hidden gems, visit 887thepulse.com and check out my latest reviews. Want to learn more and listen to featured tracks from the album? Tune in to 88.7 The Pulse Sundays at 7:00 PM to listen to The Pulse Album of the Week with Lance Reece and Brody Williams. Listen live on 887thepulse.com or on our apps.

You can listen to Dave Bixby’s Ode to Quetzalcoatl here.