torsdag 14 april 2016

Return Of The Walrus


Return Of The Walrus




Ok, get up and get ready to get down with the latest installment of.. yeah, what is this series called?
Rip Records? Kill R'n'R? Sixties Garage Punk? Or just nothing maybe.

TRIGGER WARNING!
If you can't stand ultra-crude shit-fi, then stay clear.
This is not for the squeamish.
These bad puppies has been weeded out from their better-sounding siblings just because the fantastic qualities in the music gets lost if it stands too close to something better produced/recorded/pressed or whatever.
Well not everything sounds like Captain Dueseldorph (featured here).
It depends on your preferences, I 'spose.
Anyhoo, this has led to me having to lower the over-all volume. Don't ask me why. Just crank up that knob. Oh, and crank up the volume too.

I pulled a lot of stuff from Crude PA Vol. 1 (won't be revamping it anyhow) and Oil Stains Vol. 1 (won't revamp that one either).



Marauders - Just Times Between Us

"Remember that summer.."

Marauders kicks off this set with some bizarre driving up-tempo super-twangy surf ballad.
This is a pretty wicked 45, the flip is graced by the just-as-crude but even more bad-ass Warning (find it on the excellent Garage Punk Unknowns Vol. 8.)

The songs starts a little wobbly and dry and uhm, "dramatic" - ploinkploinploink - and then makes itself known to everybody in the room. Oh and the lead-guitar twangs itself into a frenzy, the guitarist is battling his instrument like it was a boa constrictor.
Things get a little hairy (at 2:40 to be exact) when he ventures from the original hook and start to solo a bit. Feels like watching an untrained baby giraffe walking a tightrope over the niagara waterfalls with no safety-net.
But after some serious nail-gnawing you see him reach the safety of the other side of the song.
No one died today.

(Granite City, IL) '66
Heads 9518


Intrepids - Run From The Sun

"...into the darkness of guilt and shame"

Some pretty bitter stuff being served here by the Intrepids.
Throaty singer, spindy organ, yammering choir and an overall well-played tracks.
The singer pretty much blasts his cheating and abusive girl for three minutes and then he's out.

Says Bolt:
Associated Recording Studios acetate - PA/NY 196?. Fantastic unreleased demo cut from a band allegedly from PA but recorded in New York in the famous Associated Recording Studios.

(Meanville, PA?) '6?
unreleased demo



Faces In The Crowd - Clouds Of Doubt

"You might have won if you stuck it out.."

This song makes me smirk. One gets the feeling that the singer's father has had some wise words to tell his son, who in turn have been so touched and inspired that he wrote a small poem and a folky ditty of his newly acquired wisdom.
But it is very sincere and almost sad.
Like the singer missed the inspiring point of the talk, and just took it as an "i'm fucked" and ran with it.

Apparently came in a picture sleeve which I haven't seen.

(Cleveland, OH) Sep '66
Del-Nita 60941


Savages - Quiet Town

"they say it's bad but we all know, it's the place were we can go at night.."

Real spooky bit here presented by the incomparable Savages (of The World Ain't Round fame).
I'm not going to dwell on this classic group too long.
But if you didn't know - Savages released an album in 1966 and three 45s (all great and pulled from the album).
Now - this was recorded in 1965, but can you hear the psychedelic qualities?
Or "cinematic" might be a better choice of word.
Because when I listen to this song, I silently float together with them, slowly observing the surrounding in the quiet town.
I feel like we are unknowingly dead ghosts drifting into this misty place all while its citizens shuts the windows and bar the doors.

(Bermuda) '65
Duane 1049


Blues Inc. - Tell Me Girl

"tell me babe, do you care..?"

A soft-spoken organ-driven ballad with a slight taste of Zombies. The singer must have shut himself inside a closet and curled up in a blanket.

(Fort Wayne, IN) Oct '66
Phalanx 1026


Half Beats - Should I

"no more will I wait for you, no more will I cry for you.."

A pretty nasty folk-rocky girl put-down with some glorious falsetto voices in the background, underlining the hopelessness in our protagonists situation.
He doesn't even sound sad, he's more sarcastic and fantastically bitter.
No saccarine here it is just plain wicked. The raw power of the song still holds water since Cheater Slicks covered this in 1995.
But they still don't find the biting sarcasm the original singer harbored.
And how could they? True teenage angst is inimitable.

(Chicago, IL) 1966
International Recording Co. acetate


Shan Dels - Please Stay

"that's all I've left to say.."

English is not my main language - as you might've guessed by now..
So I'm not sure but it sounds like the singer is trying to sound like he's from London or something.

Anywayz, Shandels recorded a bunch of so-so 45s - 4 of 'em - from '65 to '67.
They later morphed into Dry Well and recorded another 45 in '68 (find it on Relative Distance - hm, I might just revamp that..)

This was their first 45 and features the wonderful instrument cordovox. There not enough cordovox in sixties garage punk. You can get more of that medicine on their third 45 Shades Of Blue found on Nobody To Love on the excellent Teenage Shutdown series.

(Long Island, NY) '65
Showcase 404


Thorns - This Is The End

"I'll die without your love, to me this is the end.."

Do you remember Thorns INSANE I want you from The Dead And Forgotten?
Well, here's the (almost equally tense) flip.
I feel a strong surge of Zombies here too. A fantastic song and a fantastic acetate 45.

(Philadelphia, PA)
Sound Plus Studios acetate


Strawberry Tuesday - Return Of The Walrus

"I'm gonna get it, I'm gonna get it.."

Let's get stupid and get ourselves a fuckin walrus.
I feel this has a strong kinship to Mr. Zeppelin Man and (We All Love) Peanut Butter.
You can hear the snickering during the guitar solo so I'm not sure they're 100% serious with this tall tale.
But that does not matter one second, the only thing that matters is that this is epic supreme and you will probably hear it anytime soon at the in-crowd bar.
I don't think Strawberry Tuesday reached further from the stars since they pretty much disappeared after this. It was released on a LP sampler called Reading 1968. I haven't heard that album, but if it sounds anywhere near this masterpiece, I must seek it down.

(Reading, PA) '68
Empire Records WWR 868-586


Bright Image - People In The Town

"it's been so many, so many years have passed...."

Poor kid. Woman gone, he don't know where, people stare him down and constantly asks him where the heck she's gone. Sadists.
Jangly folk-rocker with some of the best use of wah-wah I've ever heard.

(Philadelphia, PA) Mar '70
Amigo 114


Starfyres - Captain Dueseldorph

"if you're ever down by the sea, take a look for me and Captain Dueseldorph.."

Get ready for some fizzling garage sounds!
C'mon, surely you must know this? One of my absolute faves - ever!
It wiggles, it wobbles, it makes you feel completely drunk outta your mind.
Of course - the shit-fi allure in this comes on like greek mythology sirens but that's not all.
It's heavy as FUCK, filled to the brim with atmosphere and even if the instruments are slightly out of tune, every note hits just where it's supposed to.
And it's not in your face. It is there - if you're lookning - but it mostly just floats in and out of the surface of reality like a submarine.
The flip is the hot punk No Room For Your Love, and you can find it here.

(Lansford, PA) '67
Burr 1001


Invictas - Do It

"i can't see we could ever be together even though you mean a lot to me.."

I don't know why I added the "a go-go" suffix, but accidents happen. I try to be as thorough as I can, but sometimes I fuck up. Which gives me greater understand for mis-info on old comps, and greater appreciation for the work Warren & co put behind his/theirs contributions to this comp-scene.
They really set the standard high.

Invictas released four fratty 45s (three on the Sahara label, and one PS on Bengel) from '65 to '67 and then fizzled away somewhere. Who knows where.

A really hard-rockin' soulful rocker with a glorious hook.
Love the ending.

(Rochester, NY) Jan '66
Sahara 110


Lost Ones - I Can't Believe You

"you always told lies, brought the water from my eyes.."

The Lost Ones makes sure the party don't stop with this ultra-crude pounder. Awesome drummer who probably played at the college marching band.

You can hear some dude callin some "oh no" and some "awww" and some "oh yeah" in the background.
Ace guitar solo.
(the back cover says "i don't believe you" - fuck!)

(Sarver-Butler, PA) '66
Mersey 002


Insane - I Can't Prove It

"I love you girl.."

Insane puts this set in yet a higher gear and rush in on the scene with some more pounding drums and wailing guitars and just rocks out for a full three and a half minutes. A lot a soloing and tomfoolery which must've been a hoot to dance to at the local hop.

(Terryville?, CT) Jul '67
Alien Associates 201, 347


Them - A Girl Like You

"with a love like ours we can turn our backs on the people, and the rules"

This is one of those songs that must have existed forever in the dna of the universe.
Everything is just perfect.
Pure perfection.
I can't write anything more about it.
Flawless.
Argh, such a romantic juvenile delinquent winner.
Ugh..

(Cincinnati, OH) Dec '64
King 5967


Immigrants - 225 Blues

"here's my hand, dear
I'm giving you my final adieu.."

Immigrants were a bunch of kids from various places around NY who went to collage in Kansas.
They recorded an album full with not-too inspired covers, but this one is a downer bomb.
225 Blues sounds like Rolling Stones circa '64 played on too low rpm.
And that is fantastic, one of my faves on this set.

(Salina, KS) 1966
Starburst Recordings ‎– SRA 9837

http://www.mediafire.com/file/d4cmh8dkp7ou53z/033_Return_Of_The_Walrus.zip/file


söndag 3 april 2016

You Take Me For Rides


You Take Me For Rides



Fabulous Rumbles - The Truth Hurts More Than Lies

"Before we met I was lonely, then you came into my life
darling, you're my one and only, let me stay here by your side"

Great PS on this and an awesome way to kick of fthis (long overdue) set of songs.
Definately a grower, I just happened to have it in a playlist and it soon crept under my skin.
At first it was pretty 'meh' in my ears, but it is really a nifty little mersey-esque ditty.

Fabulous Rumbles released one more 45 in 1966 then lost the "fabulous" and just went with "Rumbles" and released 2 more 45's on Mercury in 1966 and 1967.

(Omaha, NE) Apr '65
Dad's 101


Try-Angle - Writing On The Wall

"I see you walking down the street, and for a moment our eyes meet
if that's the way you want it, that's the way it will be - you don't love me no more"

Try-Angle stops a little short from releasing a 2-sided killer, because even if both sides are epic in their own right, they just don't quite soar the hights of Dovers, Squires and Es Shades.
 Still - that is why I like it.
This rickety trolley is just rolling down the street with a dejected hollow sound without wanting to get too much attention.

Now, that is true downer garage right there!

(Franklin, IN) Nov '67
Orlyn 2553



Citations - The Day That She'll Go

"And now the time has come, I know
Today's the day that she will go"

What this jangler lacks lyrics-wise it makes up with crude naïve honesty.
This was their sole 45 and it has a pretty sorry flip. But I like this one.

(Lowell, MA) Jul '66
Pre-Sav Enterprises 122586


Hustlers - The Sky Is Black

"Every night I wait for your call on the phone, it's no good - for the sky is black. Ooh.."

The haunting gasp of the freezing desert wind's got nothing on Hustlers.
Steadily on the verge of dropping their instruments and break down in tears, Hustlers soldiers on and makes their way thru the horror of teenage angst.

(???) '67
Orlyn 1949


Seventh Cinders - You Take Me For Rides

"Don't try to change the way that I feel - I don't wanna love you if your love isn't real"

Now we're talkin'! The Seventh Cinders makes sure this set get rockin and the tears starts rollin!
I could talk endlessly about this track and its hauntingly crude-ee-ful cinematic qualities but I will settle with just pointing the way to when the singer dances thru the moonlit misty graveyard, hopping from headstone to headstone singing "I don't wanna love you.." in his most romantic falsetto.

(Midland Park, NJ) ??
Greezie 502


Dead Wunz - Til I'm Beside Her

"I lose just all desire, unless I am beside her"

Romantic loser mid-tempo ballad. Seems like it was written by some prince who lost his Cinderella at a dance where they danced until dawn and he.. well he refers to the winter and that he has no desire to live since she's gone. Cute.

(Chicago, IL) '67
Orlyn 5123


Fabulous Depressions - Can't Tell You

"My world's been a mess for a couple of years, I think that pretty soon I'm gonna break out in tears"

Oh my gawd this sounds so much like Action Woman, it's insane! Well, might be because the Fabulous Depressions hailed from Minnesota - just like Litter - and they might've picked up a trick or two.
Just sayin'.
And hey - check those drums! Dem drums and dat organ makes it all come together.

(New Ulm, MN) Jan '68
Madd 123167


Newports - Life Must Go On

"And wars will go on, and life must go on"

The Byrds seems to be lurking in the shadows in this grisly jangler. Even Dylan would probably frown at the gruesome imagery of the lyrics (who covers topics that sadly is as valid today as it was then.)

(Ormond Beach, FL) May '67
Zebb 155


Sounds Of Randall - Wasting My Time

"I've gotta know now!"

Looks pretty pedestrian on the surface but gets to you after repeated listening.
I can't put my finger on it. Might be some honest urgency goings on that is casting spells on me.

(Sunset, LA) Apr '66
Carl 101


Vandals - Mystery

"It's a mystery, I gotta find out"

Vandals put out 3 solid 45's (their second featured I Saw Her In A Mustang, which is supreme raunchness), this being their first. Mystery was released again on the Tiara label (which also put out Melvin by Belles) but in another version.
Pretty solid production, I must say. Atleast more solid than the relationship between the singer and his girlfriend because my friend - that mystery you can't figure out seems pretty easy to solve.

(Hollywood, FL) '65
Parole no #


Pushin' - Just Tell Her

"You may come within my world but I guarantee the sorrow"

Sweet jeezuzz! What heavy moods! What dark thoughts!

Pushin' is totally off the charts when it comes to their sound. This is from the heady days of heavy rock, glitzy glam, rising disco and ramalama New York Dolls/Iggy & the Stooges proto-punk fests where Ramones are waiting in the wings in steamy backstages oh, and cocaine and heroin and tits and ass and all that jazz..
But Pushin' is content with the soft and clunky sounds they make themselves without too much noise and neon lights and fast drugs.
You can HEAR that this isn't from 1966 but man, the song sounds it is coming straight out of a sixties New England garage.

(PS I listed this as Don't Tell Her which is wrong - it is Just Tell Her, nothing else.)

(CA) '73
ALA 4422


Hangmen - I'm Gonna Love You

"Til the end of time"

It is night. The studio is locked up. All is dark. No one is around. Ooorrr?
Hangmen slowly creeps in and begins to gently poke the instruments. When they are sure that they are alone they start to rock out in the most royal way.

Badum-dingdingdingding
"anyone there?"
dumdumdumdum
"I don't think so..?"
ploinkploinkploinkploink
"OK LET'S GO!"
IMMA LOVE YA BABY!

The guys later recorded as the Five Canadians who we all know and love.

(San Antonio, TX) 
Flo-Pin 101


Blue Condition - Lost Love

"She said there's no reason in trying"

Not as late as Pushin', but pretty late anyway, Blue Condition was a good 3 years past their time on this romantic ballad. Which is cool in my book. Which means they probably weren't dirty filthy hippies. Which is pretty cool too.
The flip to this is an insane slab of acid punk that probably renders this 45 costing top dollars and an arm and a leg.
That is, if you ever find it. I don't think there are too many in existence. Like, one. And I don't think the owner is about to sell it anytime soon.

(IL) Feb '69
Tersa 101


Apollos - Never Again

"I see the sand, I see the river, and my eyes shed a tear just like before"

Hold it! Hooold it!! I SAID HOLD IT GODDAMN IT!!!
This is so fuckin great!! If you can't dig this...I don..I ca.. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?!? HUH?!?!
What more could you possibly demand from a bunch of awkward pimply teens?
Fuck Dovers! OK? Fuck Squires, fuck Es Shades, fuck it all!

Now you fuckin come here, stand next to - HEY COME BACK HERE! FUCKER!
Now you stand here next to this kid, he's just come back from a tear-soaked stroll down the fuckin RIVER which he - IN TEARS - wrote a song about! And now you rate it. Yeah, you heard me. Read him what you rated it in TeenBeat Mayhem (now on sale). Ok kid, listen to what this geezer thought of your openhearted song about getting your heart broken and all that.
You don't wanna tell it to him? Ok I'll tell it to him.

Three. He gave you a three. On a fuckin ten-scale, he gave you a three.
The description of what a three sounds like is - SHUDDUP YES I HAVE TO TELL IT TO HIM! - is, and I quote, "dull and ordinary". Yes. So now you know kid, the next time you hear your heart break - that sound, ya know? That is dull and ordinary.

Heartless sons of bitches!

(South Bend, IL) '66
Orlyn 0984


Weeble Foxx - I'm Your Fellow Man

"People!!"

Folk-rock overload! Weeble Foxx has so many important things to tell that the mic barely can take them all in! But it sounds earnest and very important.
And that is good enough for me.

(Warren-Youngstown, OH) Jan '66
Mark I 4115


Tempters - I Will Go

"ooooh, ooooh"

This song absolutely hypnotizes me. It sways back and forth, it hums secret words I barely make out.
It is as if I don't really want to know more than that. It is here now, it has always been here and will always be here.
I don't even wanna know what it is all about.
I just love it.

(Hamilton, OH) Apr '66
Link 708