This Tromsø/Norway act started as The Arctic in spring 1964. They headed to Stockholm/Sweden to pursue a professional career and it was there where they met the businessman Sten Ekroth, who became their manager. Ekroth's idea was to make the band as big as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and it was him who came out with the name "Pussycats". Their first single "Ebb Tide/Cadillac" sold nearly 25,000 copies. Their follow-up "Gonna Send You Back To Georgia/Donna" did not sell nearly as much, but at least it was not a week without the Pussycats was featured in the press. Their career was marked by scandal stories, often arranged by their manager. Their debut-album Pssst! Pssst! was hailed as a masterpiece in the press, and from a historical perspective, the LP is considered to be a milestone. No other Norwegian artists had until 1966 been able to make a rock LP of such convincing quality, both in terms of sound, performance and song material. The album was also one of the '60s greatest successes in Norway and stayed ten weeks on top of the charts, which was a Norwegian record. During a publicity tour in the summer of 1966, the Pussycats' second LP was recorded in Hamburg. Mrrr... Mrrr... was a bold mix of catchy pop songs and more experimental tunes and received ovations in the press and sold well again. Prior to the release of Mrrr... Mrrr... Ekroth quit his job and Totto Johannessen took over the management. More singles followed and they developed now a more polished Pop sound with less success. "Vanya Maria/Death Is Coming" was their last release as The Pussycats and perhaps their only record with hints of Psychedelia. Another 45 "Sjøreisa/Mors Minner" came out under the pseudonym Sailors but didn't make much impression. Soon after the band quit but in 1971 Trond Graff and Sverre Kjelsberg reformed the group with new members. Their only output was the album "Touch Wood" in 1973 which moves towards Progressive and Jazz.
The Pussycats Story (PolyGram 847502-2 / 1990) includes all their singles and the best tracks of their two albums.
Tracklist: - Ebb Tide - Cadillac - Donna - Gonna Send You Back To Georgia - Boom Boom - Gone, Gone, Gone - Danny - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - The Last Time - Just A Little Teardrop - Let Me Stay With You - Purdy Patsy - Baby Baby - Don't Love Me - Love Me Tonight - Why Have We To Wait - Song - They Say... - Regrets - I'm Going Home - The Craftsman - True True Lovin' - Travellin' - A Night Of Life - Rain - Call Me - Vanja Maria - Death Is Coming Personnel: Trond "Eddy" Graff (lead gtr, vcls, organ) [ABCDEFGHI] Ottar "Jimmy" Aasegg (rhythm gtr, vcls) [ABCDEFGH] Sverre "Teddy" Kjelsberg (bs, lead vcls) [ABCDEFGHI] Ingemar "Reddy" Stjerndahl (keyb'ds, vcls) [AC] Friedel "Freddy" Brandt (drms) [ABCDEFGH] Dennis Wilhelmsson (keyb'ds, vcls) [B] Christian Reim (keyb'ds) [D] John Erik Holtan (keyb'ds) [E] (Arild Boman (keyb'ds) [F]) Janne Løseth (lead gtr, vcls) [G] Per Christian Hansen (gtr) [H] Bjørn Henriksen (gtr) [I] Bror Dahl (sax) [I] Knut T. Johannessen (drms) [I] Band origin: Tromsø (Norway)
A harmony-pop outfit from London, they started as The West Coast Consortium. With their high-pitched falsetto vocals they are nothing for the hard-psych connoisseur. Their first single didn't make any impression and for some reason they changed their name for the second 45 to Robbie (maybe to establish their lead singer Robbie Fair as a solo act). Again success eluded them, although it was quite good. The follow-up "Colour Sergeant Lilywhite" was perhaps their most psychedelic and one of their best outings. Soon after they added organist Bill Mangham to their line-up and shortened their name to Consortium. The first record they did under the new moniker was "All The Love In The World". It was their only hit, reaching #22 in the UK charts. Not a bad song, but the backings are totally annoying. They released five more singles, all in the same style. Particularly "Day The Train Never Came", "I Don't Want Her Any More" and "The House Upon The Hill" are well worth hearing. They finally split around 1975 after RCA cancelled a record deal for an LP. At this time only Robbie Fair, now Robbie Legat, was the only remaining original member. The recordings were finally released as "Rebirth" on Angel Air in 2006 and more or less in the Pop-Rock vein. In 2003 Castle (Castle Music CMRCD 786) released "Looking Back", a 27 track CD, including all the singles (except the last) plus 11 unreleased tracks. There's another CD on Wooden Hill called "Mr. Umbrella Man" with more unreleased stuff.
Tracklist: - Some Other Someday - Looking Back - Indigo Spring - Listen To The Man - Colour Sergeant Lillywhite - Lady From Baltimore - All The Love In The World - Spending My Life Saying Goodbye - When The Day Breaks - The Day The Train Never Came - Beggar Man - Cynthia Serenity - I Don't Want Her Anymore - The House Upon The Hill - Melanie Cries Alone - Copper Coloured Years - To Please Louise - Amanda Jane - Cindy In Love - Willow Wood - I'll Always Love You - Soldiers In The Rain - Live And Let Live - Once Upon A Time - What Are They All Singing About - Scarlet River - One Day The Train Never Came Personnel: Robbie Fair [aka Robbie Leggat] (vcls) [ABC] Brian Bronson (gtr) [AB] Geoffrey Simpson (organ, lead gtr, vcls) [AB] John Barker (bs, trombone) [AB] John Podbury (drms) [AB] Bill Mangham (organ) [B] Brian Parker (vcls, gtr) [C] Mick Ware (vcls, gtr) [C] Ken Brown (bs) [C] John Parker (drms) [C] Band origin: London
Discographie: Albums: 1. (C) Rebirth (Angel Air SJPCD 216) 2006
[1. racorded 1975]
45's: 1. (A) Some Other Someday/Looking Back (Pye 7N 17352) 1967 2. (A) Indigo Spring/Listen To The Man (Pye 7N 17370) 1967 3. (A) Colour Sergeant Lillywhite/Lady From Baltimore (Pye 7N 17482) 1968 4. (B) All The Love In The World/ Spending My Life Saying Goodbye (Pye 7N 17635) 1968 5. (B) When The Day Breaks/Day The Train Never Came (Pye 7N 17725) 1969 6. (B) Beggar Man/Cynthia Serenity (Pye 7N 17797) 1969 7. (B) I Don't Want Her Any More/The House Upon The Hill (Pye 7N 17841) 1969 8. (B) Melanie Cries Alone/Copper Coloured Years (Trend TNT 52) 1970 9. (B) Annabella/Tell Me My Friend (Trend 6099 004) 1971
[1. + 3. as West Coast Consortium] [2. as Robbie] [4. - 9. as Consortium]
It's hard to believe that New Westminster could be the heart of the R&B Scene, but there it was, the mid 60's, and IKE AND TINA TURNER were on the bill! The former Hollywood Bowl, under new ownership of Les Vogt and the management of Douglas Miller, became the short lived Grooveyard, and took its rightful place in local music history. MARVIN GAYE, ETTA JAMES, LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER, THE SPINNERS, and BO DIDDLEY performed there, as well as hot Northwest groups THE KINGSMEN, PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS, DON AND THE GOODTIMES, and even THE SONICS. Most importantly, The Grooveyard gave some of Vancouver's hottest acts a stage and, on some very special evenings, you could see up to ten live bands and dance 'til you dropped. It just didn't get any better. The original album was the brainchild of Les Vogt, band manager, concert promoter, rockabilly performer, and owner of the Grooveyard. He thought the album would generate more publicity for the club and the bands in his management stable. He took his idea to musician and song writer Tom Northcott and local entrepreneur Jack Herschorn at their offices, where they operated New Syndrome Records. All the songs on the album were recorded and engineered by Robin Spurgin at his studio. [..] The songs were not really recorded live in the club, but were actually played live in the studio with no added overdubs. Oddly, the crowd noise that was added to the background was recorded at the Arctic Club (a Vancouver Jazz venue) and not at the Grooveyard. [..] Recorded in 1966 and released in 1967, the originals pressing of the double album was only 1000 copies (making it one of the most sought after albums in Vancouver record collector circles). Doug Cuthbert, the original drummer for the Night Train Revue, did the original cover design. (taken from the liner notes)
Neptoon Records was responsible for this re-issue (Neptoon 005 / 2004) and as one might expect it consists mainly of Soul and R&B covers. Not a bad album, all bands are competent and the music has a special Northwest sound. The Stags for instance did a fine cover of The Wailers' "Out Of Our Tree" as well as an innocent version of The Byrds' "It Won't Be Wrong", The Shockers could easily find place on any "Northwest Battle Of The Bands" volume and The Shantelles' cover of "Have Love Will Travel" leans more towards to The Sonics than to the Richard Berry original (but in a smooth way). Live! From The Grooveyard is surely an artifact but also a hipshaker and quite good listen through.
Tracklist: 1. Epics - It's Growing 2. Epics - Knock On Wood 3. Night Train Revue - Letter Song 4. Night Train Revue - 99-1/2 5. Soul Unlimited - Get Out Of My Life Woman 6. Soul Unlimited - Choo Choo 7. Kentish Steele & The Shantelles - Have Love Will Travel 8. Kentish Steele & The Shantelles - Land Of 1000 Dances 9. Kentish Steele & The Shantelles - Leaving Here 10. Kentish Steele & The Shantelles - Mercy Mercy 11. Stags - It Won't Be Wrong 12. Stags - Out Of Our Tree 13. Shockers - You Don't Love Me 14. Shockers - It's You Alone 15. Nocturnals - Mustang Sally 16. Soul Unlimited - Little Joe 17. Soul Unlimited - Something You Got 18. Night Train Revue - Sometimes I Wonder 19. Night Train Revue - You Don't Know Like I Know 20. Epics - Cleo's Back 21. Epics - If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time 22. Shockers - Don't Bring Me Down 23. Shockers - You Better Run 24. Nocturnals - Slow Down 25. Nocturnals - You Make Me Feel So Good 26. Nocturnals - Get On Back 27. Stags - Drive My Car 28. Stags - Everybody Knows (I Still Love You) Personnel: [EPICS] Jayson Hoover (vcls) Jim Harmata (gtr) Bob Kidd (bs) Bill Gibson (keyb'ds) Gunther Klaus (sax) Dave MacPhail (drms)
[SOUL UNLIMITED] Carl Graves (vcls) Bob Nahirnak (gtr) Wayne Pealo (bs) Robbie Buchanan (keyb'ds) Al Lynch (trumpet, vcls) Bruce Norris (trombone) Ken Bronsch (sax) Stan Williamson (drms)
[KENTISH STEELE & THE SHANTELLES] Kentish Steele (vcls) Paul Dean (gtr) Brian Pulham (bs) Brian Tingle (organ) Gary Greensword (trumpet) Warren Clarke (trumpet) Stu Meadows (trombone) Brian Tansley (sax) Glen Gish (sax) Jim Patterson (drms)
[THE STAGS] Lloyd Manuel (gtr) Pete McKinnon (bs) Dan Hunt (organ) Norm Stacey (drms)
[THE SHOCKERS] Keith Foreman (vcls) Mike Wilson (gtr) Carl Erickson (bs) Ed Coppard (keyb'ds) Dave Jonsson (drms, vcls)
[NOCTURNALS] Ron Henschel (gtr) Wayne Evans (bs) Chad Thorp (organ) Roger Skinner (sax) Carl Erickson (sax) Bill McBeth (drms, lead vcls)
Rock; Christianity; guitars; church... in the 21st century these words don't seem odd together. But, in 1961 rock meant "devil music" and church meant "boring". The Pilgrims changed all that. Raise among the world-war bombsites of southeast London, the five "Pilgrims" were part of the first generation to be called "teenagers". The swinging sixties had started and it was not cool to be Christian. These full-blooded teenagers with a love for rock music became christians but opted not to conform. They put faith and rock together and changed christian music for good. The Pilgrims were the first wholly electric Christian rock group and shocked the churches of their day. Later bands broke through into mainstream recording, radio and TV, but The Pilgrims were breaking traditions and taboos. After playing at a church service attended by Princess Margaret the group were condemned on national radio by a Countess (no less!). But The Pilgrims didn't want upper class approval; they spoke to their own generation in a language they understood. The group played in churches, to be sure, but their favourite audiences were in beat clubs and dives where nobody was pretending to be holy. When you listen to The Pilgrims you can sense the rawness and enthusiasm of a newfound faith; nut the music is polished and professional. They put heart and soul into their playing and wanted to be the best. At a 1966 concert in a 2,500-seat auditorium opposite Westminster Abbey they were feted as "not only the best, but also the LOUDEST Christian group". [..] taken from the liner notes
The Pilgrims have all my sympathy. Except for the lyrics you would'nt believe that they came from the Christian environment. The music leans towards early UK R&B/Beat but with a sound that is closer to american garage bands. Not every track on this CD (LRL 001 / 2004) is a winner but songs like "Hey You", "Thank You Lord" or "There's Something In Your Life" will satisfy every garage-head and lovers of raw and wild Beat. On this occasion I would like to recommend you the highly enjoyable UK Xian Beat compilation on the excellentRoots And Traces: Spurensicherungblogspot.
Tracklist: - Hey You! - Thank You Lord - Heaven's The Place For Me • Version 2 - There's Someone In Your Life - I Didn't Care - Think It Over • Version 2 - Wait And See - Do You Believe In God? - Heard It All Before - Any Time Of The Day - Who's Your Lord? - I Know I'm Going To Heaven - He Wants You - I Don't Need You - What Are You Doing With Your Life? - Think Of God's Love - I Praise The Lord - Don't You Think It's Time - Heaven's The Place For Me • Version 1 - I Found A Special Friend - Think It Over • Version 1 Personnel: Derrick Phillips (rhythm gtr, vcls) [ABC] Don Sanders (lead gtr, bs) [ABCD] Ian Wilkie (drms, vcls) [ABCD] John Hubbard (bs, vcls) [AB] Chris King (vcls) [A] Tony Goodman (vcls, lead gtr, hrmnca) [BCD] Band origin: London
Discographie: 45's: 1. Heaven's The Place For Me/Think Of God's Love (Herald 2416) 1964
The Wild Cherries started as a R&B combo in 1964. In their early days they often shared the gigs with The Purple Hearts. After a radical line-up change only founding member Les Gilbert remained and took over the keyboards. Lead guitarist Lobby Loyde (aka Barry Lyde) came from the Purple Hearts and as a five piece they released their first two singles in 1967. With new bass player John Phillips two more 45's followed a year later. The band went through a series of personnel changes and at the end of 1969 they finally call it quits. Lobby Loyde reformed the band as a power trio in 1971 but after a lone single the band finally falling apart. Half A Cow Records, who was responsible for the great Purple Hearts release "Benzedrine Beat", put out a complete discography (except the '71 recordings) of the Wild Cherries material (Half A Cow HAC 113 / 2007). Sad to say that "That's Life" didn't live up to my expectations. It is said that they were an adventurous and breathtaking live-band but on their recordings it seems that they couldn't unlock the handbrake. The strangely titled debut "Krome Plated Yabby" is not bad but nothing exceptional. The follow-up "That's Life" is far better and like its predecessor very much in the Cream style. The A-side of their third single "Gotta Stop Lying" is the best song to my ears and not unlike british psych-influenced Freak Beat. The 16 unreleased tracks, nine of them live, are more thrilling than their official releases. Especially their version of "Tobacco Road" is rough-as-guts and the live-version of "Without You" lives up for the name "Wild" Cherries. The CD comes with a 36 booklet and extensive liner notes.
Tracklist: - Krome Plated Yabby - Everything I Do Is Wrong - That's Life - Try Me (I'm Not as Bad as You Think) - Gotta Stop Lying - Time Killer - I Don't Care - Theme for a Merry-Go-Round - Without You - Coming Home Baby - Tobacco Road - Worried Blues - You Don't Love Me - Get Out of My Life - Bye Bye Bird - Without You [version 2] • live - I'm Your Kingpin • live - Mad Man Blues • live - Tobacco Road • live - Parchman Farm • live - Smokestack Lightning • live - My Generation • live - Ain't Got You • live - Baby Please Don't Go • live Personnel: John Bastow (vcls, hrmnca) [AB] Malcolm McGee (lead gtr, vcls) [AB] Rob Lovett (rhythm gtr, vcls) [AB] Les Gilbert (bs, organ) [ABCD] Geoff Hales (drms) [A] Kevin Murphy (drms) [B] Danny Robinson (vcls) [CD] Lobby Loyde (lead gtr) [CDEG] Peter Eddy (bs) [C] Keith Barber (drms) [CD] John Phillips (bs) [D] Matt Taylor (vcls) [E] Barry Sullivan (lead gtr, rhythm gtr, bs) [EF] Steve Pristash (bs) [EF] Barry Harvey (drms) [E] Brian Wilson (lead vcls) [F] Tim Piper (gtr) [F] Teddy Toi (bs) [G] Johnny Dick (drms) [G] Band origin: Melbourne (Victoria/Australia)
Discographie: 45's: 1. (C) Krome Plated Yabby/Everything I Do Is Wrong (Festival FK 1879) 1967 2. (C) That's Life/Try Me (Festival FK 2052) 1967 3. (D) Gotta Stop Lying/Time Killer (Festival FK 2258) 1968 4. (D) I Don't Care/Theme For A Merry Go Round (Festival FK 2535) 1968 5. (G) I Am The Sea (Stop Killing Me)/Daily Planet (Havoc H 1006) 1971
E.P.'s: 1. (C) Krome Plated Yabby (Festival FX 11422) 1967
From Chicago/Illinois, the Saturday's Children were a pleasant pop group, clearly influenced by The Beatles' "Rubber Soul" era. They released three singles on the Dunwich label and the unreleased "A Man With Money" appeared later on the retrospective compilation Early Chicago in 1971. These eight tracks are from the Sundazed double E.P. (Sundazed SEP-2 126 / 1997) and contains all their material.
Tracklist: - You Don't Know Better - Born On Saturday - I Hardly Know Her - Leave That Baby Alone - A Man With Money - Tomorrow Is Her Name - Christmas Sounds - Deck Five Personnel: Ron Holder (gtr, vcls) Dave Carter (gtr) Jeff Boyan (bs, vcls) Rick Goettler (organ) George Paluch (drms) Band origin: Chicago (Illinois/US)
Discographie: 45's: 1. You Don't Know Better/Born On Saturday (Dunwich 139) 1966 2. Deck Five/Christmas Sounds (Dunwich 144) 1966 3. Leave That Baby Alone/I Hardly Know Her (Dunwich 156) 1967
A band from Portugal with a strong Moody Blues influence. Their output spans nearly a dozen Singles/EPs and two albums, the first in the soft-rock/pleasant psych mould, the latter with a more symphonic Prog vibe (I would recommend the first). This release (World Psychedelia WPC 68490 / 2005) contains the best from their 45's and if you like the music of their english contemporaries then you will be rightly served here. Not every track is a winner but songs like "Os Faunos", "Balada Para D. Inês", "Dona Vitória" and especially "Ode To The Beatles" are quite worthwhile.
Tracklist: - A Lenda De El-Rei D. Sebastião
- Os Faunos
- Gente
- Balada Para D. Inês
- Partindo-Se
- Dona Vitória
- Nas Terras Do Fim Do Mundo
- Meu Irmão
- Domingo Em Bidonville
- João Nada
- As Trovas Do Vento Que Passa
- Epílogo
- Back To The Country
- Ode To The Beatles
- Uma Nova Maneira De Encarar O Mundo
Personnel: António Moniz Pereira (gtr) [ABCDE]
Jorge Moniz Pereira (bs) [A]
José Cid (keyb'ds, vcls) [ABCDE]
Miguel Artur da Silveira (drms) [ABCD]
Mário Rui Terra (bs) [B]
Tózé Brito (bs) [CDE]
Mike Seargent (gtr) [E]
Guilherme Inês (drms) [E] Band origin: Estoril (Portugal)
Discographie: Albums:
1. (B) Quarteto 1111 (Columbia 8E 062-40037) 1970
2. (E) Onde, Quando, Como, Porquê Cantamos Pessoas Vivas
(Decca SLPDP 5016) 1974
45's:
1. (A) Meu Irmão/Ababilah (Columbia/EMI ) 1968
2. (B) Nas Terras Do Fim Do Mundo/Bissaide
(Columbia/EMI 45 ML 245) 1969
3. (B) Génese/Os Monstros Sagrados
(Columbia/EMI 8 E 006-40035 M) 1969
4. (B) Todo O Mundo E Ninguém/É Tempo De Pensar Em Termos
De Futuro (Columbia 8E 006-40080 M) 1970
5. (D) Back To The Country/Everybody Needs Love, Peace
And Food (Columbia 8E 006-40088 M) 1970
6. (D) Ode To The Beatles/1111
(Columbia 8E 006-40140) 1971
7. (D) Sabor A Povo/Uma Nova Maneira De Encarar O Mundo
(Columbia 8E 006-40250) 1972
E.P.'s:
1. (A) A Lenda de El-Rei D. Sebastião/Os Faunos/
Fantasma «POP»/Gente (Columbia/EMI SLEM 2289) 1967
2. (A) Balada Para D. Inês/Partindo-se/
Vale da Ilusão/Dragão (Columbia/EMI SLEM 2304) 1968
3. (B) Guarda Nocturno/Perspectiva/Tempo de Inocência/
Dona Vitória (Columbia/EMI SLEM 2325) 1968
4. (B) João Nada/Estrada Para A Minha Aldeia/Domingo Em
Bidonville/Epílogo (Columbia/EMI E 016-40059) 1970
Peter 'Moon' Gosling was the vocalist, keyboardist and mastermind behind Moon's Train and wrote most of the songs with Stones bassist Billy Wyman, who managed and produced this Beckenham/London group. Their only official release for MGM in 1967, the 45 "Deed I Do/It's In Her Mind" went nowhere. The band had enough material for an intended album but after Gosling and Wyman had drifted apart it remained in the can. In 1998 Tenth Planet released a 16 song album (Tenth Planet TP037) with the proposed tracks from an acetate (except "Marriage Is For Old Folks"). The music is typical soulish Mod, pretty much in the Alan Bown Set mould although I prefer the songs that take the same line as the Small Faces, the powerful "Wait For Me" and especially the anthem-like "My Town". Also included are the Gosling/Wyman compositions "Shades Of Orange" and "Loving, Sacred Loving" as instrumentals, later picked up by The End for their "Introspection" album.
Tracklist: - The Life I Lead
- Wait For Me
- You Got Me
- Say What I Mean
- Loving, Sacred Loving
- Bakerman
- Telephone Talker
- My Town
- I'm Not The Marrying Kind
- I Get Excited
- My Love For You
- Shades Of Orange
- Home And Dry
- Nervous
- Moanin'
- Memories Of You
Personnel: Caroline Attard (vcls) [A]
Jernima Smith (vcls) [A]
Lewis Rich (vcls) [A]
Peter 'Moon' Gosling (keyb'ds, vcls) [AB]
Ken Leamon (sax, flute) [AB]
Peter 'Face' Lynton (gtr, bs) [A]
Tony Chapman (drms) [A]
Ian Dibbon (gtr) [B]
Peter Atwood (bs) [B]
Alec Brown (trumpet) [B]
Malcolm Penn (drms) [B] Band origin: London
Often misspelt as "The World Is Love" this CD (Collectables COL-0683 / 1997) centres around Dallas resident Jon Williams and his involvement in three great garage/acid punk bands, Penthouse 5, By Fives and The WordD. It contains all the singles (except for the By Fives B-Side) and alternate versions as well as unreleased material, which is equally good. The WordD got another airing on the latest Cicadelic release "It's A Happening! - Texas Girls Of The 60's" that is strongly recommended.
Tracklist: - Bad Girl - Don't Mess Around With My Dream - In His Shadow - I Saw You Walking • by The By Fives - Keep On Walking (unreleased version) • by WordD - You're Gonna Make Me • by WordD - You're Gonna Make Me - Vertigo Blue Sometime (previously unreleased version) - It's All My Own Bizarre Dream (prev. unreleased version) - La, La, La (previously unreleased version) - Twelve String Jangle (previoulsy unreleased) - You're Always Around (previously unreleased) - You're Always Around • by The WordD - Today Is Just Tomorrow's Yesterday (demo) • by WordD - Today Is Just Tomorrow's Yesterday (4 track) • by WordD - The Years Have Passed (backing track) - It's All My Own Bizarre Dream (demo) - Don't Mess Around With My Dream (demo) • by Ron Price - Vertigo Blue Sometime (pbacking track) - Today Is Just Tomorrow's Yesterday (early rehearsals) Personnel [Penthouse 5]: Rob Graham (vcls) [A] Justin Brown (lead gtr) [A] Steve Wood (gtr, keyb'ds, vcls) [AB] Bill Looney (bs) [AB] Mark Porter (drms) [A] Jon Williams (lead vcls, keyb'ds, hrmnca) [B] Richard Keathley (lead gtr, vcls) [B] Mike Echart (drms) [B] (Becky Durr (lead vcls) [B] Band origin: Dallas (Texas)
Discographie: 45's: 1. (A) Bad Girl/In His Shadow (Solar 7665-4211) 1966 2. (A) You're Gonna Make Me/ Don't Mess Around With My Dream (Hawk 1-1-67) 1967
[2. as Penthouse]
Personnel [The WordD]: Genie Geer (lead vcls) Jon Williams (lead vcls, keyb'ds, hrmnca) Richard Keathley (lead gtr) Pat Whitefield (bs) Bob Johnson (drms) Band origin: Dallas (Texas)
Discographie: 45's: 1. You're Always Around/You're Gonna Make Me (Caprice 609V-4983) 1966
Personnel incl. [By Fives]: Jon Williams (lead vcls)
Band origin: Dallas (Texas)
Discographie: 45's: 1. I Saw You Walking/That's How Strong My Love Is (Tomi 106) 1966
Anytime you get a chance to tap into someone else's maniacal collection of anything - pinball machines, barbwire samples or, in this case, original garage-rock music, you're in for a treat. This 2-CD set (Bacchus Archives BA 11102 / 2005) chronicles the recordings of Michael Brassard and Stephen Blodgett as they worked their way through a number of East Coast '60 and '70s rock bands. The set opens with Brassard's 1958 debut on WDEV radio, playing and whistling his acoustic original "Rovin' and then proceeds through a full disc of early-60s frat-stompers, garage rock, doo-wop rooted ballads, surf-tinged guitar, and oddball studio freak-outs, all punctuated by bits of contemporaneous radio continuity. Unlike many garage rock comps, this isn't the sound of '65, it's the sound of '62. The British Invasion had yet to happen, and some of the country's rawest music was emanating from corners like Vermont. Michael Brassard, both before and with the Ravens, was apparently quite a sponge for musical styles, equally at home with twangy guitar rockers as with talking folk-blues. Using Plattsburgh, New York's Rollerland as a studio (where The Ravens waxed the skatetastic "Moonlight Couples Only"), Brassard and friends had the freedom to try just about anything that came to mind. The Ravens were a solid garage rock band in the Pacific Northwest vein, and Brassard and Blodgett wrote many catchy original songs. The second disc in this set moves from the garages of 1962 to the trippy sunshine pop of 1967. It's difficult to connect the two discs, as the second set's harmonies, string orchestrations, and psychedelic lyrics (e.g, "I Could Hear the Grass Growing") are more akin to the works of Gary Usher and Curt Boettcher than The Kingsmen styled work of Mike & The Ravens. Variously credited to Fire & Brimstone, The Camel's Hump, The Front Burner and others, the common thread is again Michael Brassard and his former Raven bandmate Stephen Blodgett, and like their earlier garage rock, they wrote many memorable original tunes. A more concise sampling of The Ravens finished garage rock sides can be found on Bacchus' companion single-disc volume, "Heart So Cold: The North Country '60s Scene." This 2-CD collection provides a view of the underlying studio catalog from which the commercially released sides were sprung. The evolution of Brassard and Blodgett, and their second wind of '60s psychedelia is all worth hearing. Disc two finishes out with pop, folk and country sides waxed from the '70s through 2004, showing the flame still burning. Sound quality on disc 1 is highly variable; disc 2 is more consistent mid-to-hi-fi. Both discs include generous helpings of previously unreleased works. (review by Red Tunic Troll)
You can also check their website for further information.
Tracklist: [CD1] - Rovin' • by Mike Brassard (1958) - Dum Duvey • by Mike & The Throbs (1962) - Git Home • by Mike & The Throbs (1962) - Two-Ton Jenny • by Mike & The Throbs (1962) - Mr. Heartbreak - I've Taken All I Can - Pete's Turkish Delight • by Peter Young & Brian Lyford - Ballad of a Square • by Mike Brassard (1962) - (Everybody's Goin' To) Rollerland - Moonlight Couples Only - No Man's Land - Baby, Please Don't Leave Me • alternate take - Biggest Fool Around - One of These Days - Like a Fire - Can't You Feel the Pain • by The Ravens - Riptide • by The Ravens - I'll Get It from You • by The Ravens - Goodbye to Mary Jane - Living in a Dream • alternate take - Oobie Doobie Do (Shake That Thing)
[CD2] - Grey Eyes Watching • by Stephen Sargent & The Pride (1967) - Underground • by Fire & Brimstone (1967) - I Could Hear the Grass Growin' • by Fire & Brimstone (1967) - Look • by The Camel's Hump (1969) - Gotta Talk to You, Baby • by The Camel's Hump (1969) - Birmingham • by The Camel's Hump (1969) - Greyhound Bus • by Stephen Blodgett (1968) - Tomorrow • by Mike Brassard & Bo Blodgett (1968) - Lights of San Francisco • by The Front Burner (1971) - Eldorado • by The Front Burner (1971) - Gentle Wind • by Texas Drive (1973) - Georgia Plains • by Texas Drive (1973) - Truly (Christ's Lament) • by Texas Drive (1973) - Lady • by Mike Brassard (1982) - No More Beatle Songs • by Stephen Blodgett (1998) - Motorboatin' • by Stephen Blodgett (1998) - Adorable Gene • by Stephen Blodgett (1998) - Motivatin' Blues • by Mike Brassard (2004) - No Love to Give You - Durham - Teen Angel • by Stephen Blodgett & Bill Kinzie (1977) Personnel [Mike & The Ravens]: Mike Brassard (lead vcls) [ABC] John "Bo" Blodgett (lead gtr) [AB] Stephen Blodgett (rhythm gtr, vcls) [AB] Eddie Jones (bs) [A] Peter Young (drms) [AB] Brian Lyford (bs) [B] Bobby Lavigne (lead gtr) [C] Jim Ricker (bs) [C] Marc Chapman (drms) [C] Band origin: Northfield (Vermont/US)
Discographie: 45's: 1. Mr. Heartbreak/I've Taken All I Can (Empire E-1) 1962 2. Baby, Please Don't Leave Me/Biggest Fool Around (Empire E-2) 1962 3. Goodbye To Mary Jane/Living In A Dream (Empire E-3) 1963
Personnel incl. [Stephen Sargent & The Pride]: Stephen Blodgett (gtr, vcls) Chris Kiley (vcls) Band origin: Burlington (Vermont/US)
I've picked up the latest proposal from the comments section and continue with new posts. The older files will be restored from time to time (there are still more than 200 left).
Las Antorchas were formed by five college students and originated out of Mexico City. They released only one E.P. on Orfeon but had enough material for a longplayer. They split around 68/69 but after a line-up change they continued simply named as Antorcha. Under that moniker they recorded five singles and an album, released 1976. VAM Records collects all their known material as Las Antorchas on one CD (VAM/Orfeon Video Vox CMS-205« / 2006). The organ is sometimes horribly off-key and the vocals don't make a big impression. The worst track is their cover of "Hello, Goodbye" (Hola Adios), one of the few Fab Four songs I rather dislike. However they have a few good cover versions and strangely enough this collection works as a whole. Not to forget the excellent "Dime", a really great acid-punk track but not representative for their sound. Conclusion: they were not as good as Los Ovnis/Apocalipsis etc. but better than Tijuana Five or Los Belmonts (if that helps in any way). The CD comes with liners and VAM also released their subsequent material as Antorcha, but more about them in my next post.
Tracklist: - La Antorcha - Opus 14 Interior 12 - Tu Me Enseñaste - Dime - Tu Me Enseñaste (instrumental) - Shake - Un Poquito Más - Confesion - No Espero Ya Por Ti - Substitute - Anoche Fue - Nunca Te Amado Mas - No Lo Hagas - Sabia - Hola Adios - El Soldado - Canta Conmigo - Dime (instrumental) Personnel: Jorge Gonzalez (lead gtr, vcls) Fernando Mercado (gtr, vcls) Omar Cortes Gaviño (bs, vcls) Victor Manuel Motta Aviles (keyb'ds, rhythm gtr, vcls) Bernardo Minerva (drms, lead vcls) Band origin: Mexico City (Mexico)
Discographie: E.P.'s: 1. Un Poquito Más/No Lo Hagas/Anoche Fue/Shake (Orfeon EP-734) 1967
Pete Miller is yet another fascinating figure from the underexpiored recesses of the British '60s beat under-world. He released two tremendous, utterly twisted singles: "Baby I Got News For You" (as Miller) in 1965, and "Cold Turkey" as (Big Boy Pete) in 1968. Prior to this, he had been lead guitarist for Peter Jay & the Jaywalkers, whose output included several singles produced by Joe Meek. Judging by some of the quirky, inventive and just plain WEIRD sounds on this collection, Miller had been watching Meek closely during his Jaywalkers days, (though he'd have to have been doing so furtively as Joe was secretive to the point of paranoia about his sound techniques). In his home studio in Norwich -"sur-rounded by lava lamps and Hindi visuals" - Miller and his musician friends spent most of 1966-69 conjur-ing up bizarre feats of pop and psychedelia, utilizing some of the echo and compression techniques he'd observed at Meek's studio along with many of his own electronic innovations. Fourteen of these songs make their first public showing on Homage To Catatonia, amply displayed in a magnificent gatefold sleeve complete with lyrics and all-telling liner notes. Combine a razor-sharp studio instinct, simple but superior '60s recording technology, madcap psycho-pop songsmithing ala (maybe) Roy Wood/Jeff Lynne with p'raps a little Edward Lear-esque nonsensical wordplay thrown in, and you may - just may - have same idea what you'll find on songs like "Knit Me A Kiss" or "A Dog Called Doug"-but it still won't begin to explain the impossible-to-pigeonhole (and amazing) "I Am Seldom 21", "Chinaman" or 'The Procession." Miller's tapes truly are a very unique secret horde of English psychedelia, and, incredibly, several of these recordings pre-date even the Beatles "Revolver", let alone the subsequent psychedelic stampede. Perhaps the strangest but most strangely satisfying set since I Hear A New World. A grower. I recommended. (Mike Stax in "Ugly Things")
This album was released on the Tenth Planet label (Tenth Planet TP 026 / 1996). There's nothing much to say against his pop-psych tunes but he polished his old tapes a bit too much. So I've got the feeling that it sounds more like the '90s than the '60s. But I'm nagging and nagging and nagging... In fact it's a good album with some great songs like "Knit Me A Kiss", "Paranoia" or "The Procession". More info about his music on his website
Tracklist: - Sheer Lunacy - Crocogators - I Am Seldom Twenty One - Knit Me A Kiss - 1,500,000 Volts - Captain Of My Toy Balloon - John Celery - Paranoia - Chinaman - Music Created By Dust - A Dog Called Doug - The Procession - The Candleman - The Treacle Dance Personnel incl.: Peter Miller (gtr, bs, sitar, vcls) Origin: Norwich (Norfolk/UK)
Discographie: 45's: 1. Cold Turkey/My Love Is Like A Spaceship (Camp 602005) 1968
Obscure local album by Northwest frat/lounge/pop band of the tuxedo dancehall variety. Seemingly patterned on the Raiders' "Here they come" with half crooner ballads & half teen rockers. The charming Orbisonstyle smoothies are a bit cheesier than the Raiders' but the garage fuzz tracks (I counted 3½) are good with a fat rocking NW sound and neato teen vocals. Bizarre closing Dylan cover. (Patrick The Lama in "The Acid Archives")
As far as I know "Where Did She Go" (Satori 1001) was their third and last album. The A-side is eminently forgettable and the songs fit better to an aged crooner with too much pomade in his hair than to a garage band. The flip-side is way-out better and much more in the garage-vein. The guitar on their cover of Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" sounds pretty much like Punk-Rock '77 than '67. Definitely not a lost gem but hard to get and before you pay silly money for this better have a listen first, although the quality of this rip (which is not mine) is not the best. You can find more information on theGarage Hangoversite.
Tracklist: - Where Did She Go - Candy Roses And Love - My Girl - Pretty One - My Prayer - Stay Away From My Girl - Rapunzel - Glimmer, Glimmer, Sunshine - Love Work Shop - I Used To Feel Bad - Subterranian Homesick Blues - Don't Go Home Personnel: Jack Bedient (lead vcls, rhythm gtr) [ABCD] Kevin Woods (lead gtr, vcls) [ABC] Bill Britt (bs, vcls) [ABC] Jewell Hendricks (drms) [AB] Walter Hanna (keyb'ds) [BC] Ira Orr (drms) [C] Jerry Bledsoe (drms) [C] Steve Eggleston (bs) [D] Sam Wisner (drms) [D] Dennis Hayes (organ) Bill Vitt (drms) Band origin: California → Carson City (Nevada)
Discographie: Albums: 1. Two Sides of Jack Bedient (Trophy 101) 1964 2. Live at Harvey's Fantasy 3365 1965 3. Where Did She Go (Satori 1001) 1967 4. Songs You Requested (Chessmen no #) 196? 5. In Concert [Harolds] (Chessmen no #) 1969 6. Jack Bedient (Executive Productions no #) 196?
45's: 1. The Mystic One/Question (Era 3050) 1961 2. Pretty One/Silver Haired Daddy (Trophy 1001) 1964 3. See The Little Girl/Here I Am (Fantasy 595) 1965 4. See The Little Girl/Looking For A Good Love (Fantasy 595) 1965 5. Double Whammy/I Want You To Know (Fantasy 598) 1965 6. Drummer Boy [Play Us A Song]/Dream Boy [Count Your Dreams] (Palomar 2212) 1965 7. Glimmer Sunshine/Where Did She Go (Rev 104/5-66) 1966 8. Love WorkshopI Could Have Loved You So Well (Columbia 4-44302) 1967 9. Pretty One/See That Girl (Columbia 4-44481) 1968 10. The Pleasures Of You/It’s Over (Columbia 4-44565) 1968 11. My Prayer/Independence Day (Columbia 4-44671) 1968 12. I've Been Loving You/I Could Never Lose My Love For You (Executive Productions 21) 1969 13. Beautiful [Takes A Trip]/Release Me (Executive Productions 21) 1969
This group originated from Finspång/Sweden. Their only album from 1966 is a pleasant affair with nice vocal harmonies and melodies that were heavily influenced by the "Beatles-Revolver"-era. This CD (EMI 724385930225 / 1998) contains all their singles and the above mentioned album.
Tracklist: - Wondering - Nothing But Moan - Little Down-Hearted Arthur - Im Krankenhaus - Please Girl Put Me On Your List - Suit-Men Crowd - He's A Friend Of Mine - I Can't Catch Them - Mr. Great Blues - Restless Feeling One Hour After Dinner - The Taperecorder - The Leaves Of The Summer - Frosty Stars On A Window-Pane - Meet Mr. Edgar - Through My Door - Displeasing Message - One Way Ticket (To The Blues) - Take My Suzy - Wrong Side - Easy To Fool - Umbrella - Drizzle - Puzzled - I Can't Sleep - Only Love Personnel: Olle Nilsson (gtr, vcls) [A] Kenneth Larsson (gtr, vcls) [A] Conny Larsson (bs, vcls) [A] Thomas Palmkvist (drms) [A] Torgny Lind (drms) Curt Bergh (drms) Band origin: Finspång (Östergötland/Sweden)
Discographie: Albums: 1. 14 In A Bunch (Olga LPO 03) 1966
45's: 1. Wondering/Nothing But Moan (Olga SO 16) 1965 2. I Can't Catch Them/Through My Door (Olga SO 22) 1966 3. Displeasing Message/Little Down-Hearted Arthur (Olga SO 30) 1966 4. One Way Ticket/Take My Suzy (Olga SO 35) 1967 5. Im Krankenhaus/Meet Mr. Edgar (Olga SO 39) 1967 6. Wrong Side/Easy To Fool (Olga SO 42) 1967 7. Easy To Fool/Frosty Stars On A Window Pane (Olga SO 51) 1967 8. Through My Door/Meet Mr. Edgar (Olga OLE 002) 1968 9. Umbrella/Drizzle [Rain] (Olga OLE 006) 1968
Rare, original and hard to get music is the demand of that blog here. If a record is still available through mailorders I won't post it (but I make exceptions if I get the feeling the dealers force up the prices). Enjoy the music and... ...leave comments (or leave me alone).
This Tromsø/Norway act started as The Arctic in spring 1964. They headed to Stockholm/Sweden to pursue a professional career and it was there where they met the businessman Sten Ekroth, who became their manager. Ekroth's idea was to make the band as big as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and it was him who came out with the name "Pussycats". Their first single "Ebb Tide/Cadillac" sold nearly 25,000 copies. Their follow-up "Gonna Send You Back To Georgia/Donna" did not sell nearly as much, but at least it was not a week without the Pussycats was featured in the press. Their career was marked by scandal stories, often arranged by their manager. Their debut-album Pssst! Pssst! was hailed as a masterpiece in the press, and from a historical perspective, the LP is considered to be a milestone. No other Norwegian artists had until 1966 been able to make a rock LP of such convincing quality, both in terms of sound, performance and song material. The album was also one of the '60s greatest successes in Norway and stayed ten weeks on top of the charts, which was a Norwegian record. During a publicity tour in the summer of 1966, the Pussycats' second LP was recorded in Hamburg. Mrrr... Mrrr... was a bold mix of catchy pop songs and more experimental tunes and received ovations in the press and sold well again. Prior to the release of Mrrr... Mrrr... Ekroth quit his job and Totto Johannessen took over the management. More singles followed and they developed now a more polished Pop sound with less success. "Vanya Maria/Death Is Coming" was their last release as The Pussycats and perhaps their only record with hints of Psychedelia. Another 45 "Sjøreisa/Mors Minner" came out under the pseudonym Sailors but didn't make much impression. Soon after the band quit but in 1971 Trond Graff and Sverre Kjelsberg reformed the group with new members. Their only output was the album "Touch Wood" in 1973 which moves towards Progressive and Jazz. 
