Escape From Bellevue

I just finished reading an amazing book that I'm sure will resonate with me for a really long time. The book is "Escape From Bellevue" by Christopher John Campion, who is also the lead singer of indie-rock band Knockout Drops. It's the story of the band's quest for success which went hand-in-glove with his worsening alcoholism and drug addiction. Written from a now clean and sober point of view, he pulls no punches and spares us few details. Over the course of his disease he sank about as low as it is possible to sink yet he tells his story with an honesty and sense of humor that never wallows in self-pity. In fact, at times I had to stop reading because I was laughing so hard. Truth be told, it was fairly easy for me to relate to this book. While I am a moderate drinker at most and haven't gotten high in over 20 years, I am a compulsive overeater. My drug of choice is sugar, usually in the form of chocolate. And while the effects of my particular brand of bingeing may not be as dramatic as with other vices, they are definitely there. I have on too many occasions eaten myself into a sugar stupor and have felt the headache-y effects of the hangover for a few days afterwards. So in a way, Chris' story is also my own, except that he hasn't touched anything in a few years. Powerful reading indeed.

I'm really excited about my latest playlist. Not only do I have a new song by one of my favorite bands, Couple, but I also have some demos by two really good friends of mine that, to the best of my knowledge, are making their downloadable debut here. So enjoy the music and please leave a comment or two. I really enjoy hearing from you.

Barbara Lynn - Oh, Baby (We Got A Good Thing Goin')

For many years the only version of "Oh Baby..." I knew was by The Stones from the "Now" album. And while I still prefer their version over the original, it's not hard to see why Mick & Co. were so taken with this song when they heard it back in 1964.

Christopher & The Souls - Diamonds, Rats, and Gum

This came out originally on the super-collectible Pharoh label out of McAllen, Texas. There's an in-depth write up on these guys on the Garage Hangover blogsite so there's not much more I can add here. Except that looking at their picture, you'd never think that these clean cut kids could ever come up with anything as dark and demented as this.

Jay Banerjee - Kate
Michael Lynch - Go To Her

Over the last few years the NYC garage band scene has dwindled to almost nothing. One of the last bright spots was The Anything People who could always be counted on to put on a great show with their mix of obscure covers and like-sounding originals. Unfortunately, the Anythings broke up last year but the good news is that their former members are still musically active on some level and two of them now have new projects going. Jay Banerjee recorded a 3-track CD last winter and "Kate" is my favorite song from that disc. He's got a new band together now called Jay Banerjee & The Hearthrobs who made their debut a few weeks ago at Mercury Lounge. They've got a really nice pop sense and a whole set worth of cool tunes, not to mention a few Beatles covers as encores. They've got another show coming up in a few weeks that's definitely worth your time if you're in the NYC area. Michael Lynch has been doing his one-man band recordings for a few years now and "Go To Her" is his latest. Hopefully he'll also be getting back into playing out live before too long.

Leon Russell - Roll Away The Stone

There was a point in my life when I was in my very early 20's that Leon was THE MAN. There was one scene in the "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" movie where he is being interviewed by an over-zealous reporter who stuck the microphone uncomfortably close to his face and Leon, without batting an eye gently pushes his hand away while continuing to answer the question. Maybe you had to be there but at the time it was the epitome of cool. In the almost 40 years since then I've listened to a lot of music but I still find myself going back to those first few Leon Russell albums occasionally.

The Sons of Fred - Baby What You Want Me To Do

I can't for the life of me understand why this wasn't a big hit over here. With that 'Oh..oh.. see ya later" chorus this was a ready-made radio smash just waiting to happen.
The Capris - Morse Code of Love

Despite the fact that this song has been played to death on oldies radio over the last 15 years, it remains a favorite of mine that I'll never get tired of. Luckily for all of you who can't bear to hear it one more time, all these songs are individual files and that's why computers have trash bins.

Inez & Charlie Foxx - Mockingbird

Here's another ditty in the hit portion of our program as "Mockingbird" made it all the way up to number 7 on the Billboard Charts in 1963. Unfortunately many people know this song only by James Taylor and Carly Simon's lame early 70's remake. This is the real deal folks.
Couple - Lagu Cinta Untukmu

A few months ago one of my favorite bands Couple released their third album "Pop Tak Masuk Radio". Unlike their first two, this one is sung entirely in Malaysian, which proves once again that Rock & Roll is its own language. I can't understand a word (although knowing Aidil who writes their songs I'm sure the lyrics are quite poetic) yet it still sounds terrific. Anyone who wants to hear more or score a copy of the CD for yourself can check out their blog.
Joe Ely - Musta Notta Gotta Lotta

It's 9 AM and the party's just ended so forgive me if I don't look my perky best. "Musta Notta Gotta Lotta" is of my favorite odes to the Rock & Roll lifestyle. One of the things I really like about it is that unlike a lot of songs on this subject, there's no hint of that "look at me I'm so cool" vibe. And whoever the band it, they are absolutely smokin'.

The Kooks - Always Where I Need To Be

I'm so out of touch with today's mainstream pop and rock audiences that I have no clue anymore what makes a song a hit. With few exceptions, most of the new bands that I like have some degree of retro in their sound. So I hear a song like "Always...." and think how fresh it must sound blasting out of a car radio speaker and how incredibly catchy it is. Therefore it makes no sense to me that it's not a big hit and that these guys aren't huge stars. And for all I know, maybe it is and they are and I'm so out of things that I have no idea. I just know what I like.

The Falcons - I Gotta See Her

According to the Soybomb Garage Database there were at least 7 groups from various points around the globe calling themselves The Falcons back in the day. But these Falcons actually were from my home state of New York. Snotty 3-chord garage punk at its finest.
Richard Berry - Watusi

I'm guessing that this was recorded to cash in on the success of "Stranded in the Jungle" by The Cadets as it is a note-for-note copy. In fact, it might even be the exact same backing track.
The Who - Early Morning Cold Taxi

Ever since I heard "...Taxi" on some crappy sounding bootleg back in the early 80's, it's been a particular favorite of mine. It was originally recorded during the "Sell Out" sessions but for whatever reason, wasn't included on the album.
Jimmy Patton - Let Me Slide

I've already posted Jimmy Patton's two other "hits" and as I promised a few months ago, this is his third. I'm not sure if he recorded anything else but if he did, hopefully somebody like Norton or Ace will see fit to release them all together at some point.
Edgar Winter Group - Round & Round

Edgar Winter playing power pop? A few months ago my favorite DJ on Top Shelf Oldies played this song as a mystery oldie and nobody could guess who it was. Once I figured out the song title I went looking through Gemm Music to try and figure out the artist. I saw Edgar Winter Group listed and thought to myself "No way it could be them". But this is actually from the same album that gave us "Free Ride" and "Frankenstein" way back when - which means I must have heard this song at least a few times back then and forgot about it.

And then you'll realize I'm not a bum

This Too Shall Pass

I've been in somewhat of a funk lately. I'm not going to bore you with all of the details as after all, we've all got our problems and while mine might seem more serious than some, everyone's problems are always the most serious to them. Suffice it to say that unemployment, inactivity, ennui, stress and depression have been getting the better of me these past few weeks. One of my mother's favorite expressions is "This too shall pass" and I have been reminding myself a lot of that lately. Sometimes slowly, occasionally all of a sudden, things have a way of working themselves out. At some point things will turn around - for me and hopefully for all of us who have been whupped upside the head by the events of the past 2 years - be it the economy, natural disasters or whatever else. But right now I am in a more contemplative state of mind and my musical tastes of late have been somewhat reflective of that. So while I hope to be in more of a rockin' & rollin' frame of mind next time around, I hope that some of you will find some gems in this latest playlist of mine.

The Craig - I Must Be Mad

Luckily it hasn't happened too often but there have certainly been a few times over the years when I have been driven to this level of obsession over a love interest I thought I'd die if I had to live without. Now if I could only remember their names....
Felt - My Darkest Light Will Shine

I have trouble making out all of the lyrics but despite that, there is something I find very sad and reassuring about this song at the same time. When he sings "It's just a price we pay for such a lovely day" I'm reminded of how transient life's pleasures can be and how nothing can be taken for granted. "No gain without pain" as I seem to remember hearing somewhere.

Laura Nyro - Lazy Susan

While she is more remembered as a songwriter, having penned a number of hit records for artists like Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat & Tears and The Fifth Dimension in the late 60's, Laura Nyro was also an excellent singer. This song comes from her first album (where all of those aforementioned hits first appeared) and I really can't imagine anyone else singing this.
The Replacements - September Gurls (Customer)
The Box Tops - Neon Rainbow

As most of you readers know only too well by now, Alex Chilton died of a heart attack last week. So much has been written about him that there is really not much left to say. One of the best tributes was written by Paul Westerberg who was more than just a fan. "September Customer" was recorded one drunken night in 1984 at CBGB's . It's The Replacements' "Customer" sung to the tune of "September Gurls". Pure genius which I am sure Mr. Chilton quite appreciated. "Neon Rainbow" is my favorite song by Alex's first band The Box Tops, recorded when he was still a teenager. Thankfully I was able to find this mono mix which is way superior to the stereo which is what appears on all of the Box Tops compilations I've heard.
The Hi Numbers - Heart Of Stone

You try and try to get the love of your life to feel the same way about you but no matter what you do he/she still treats you like shit and it hurts like hell. Nobody said life was fair but on the bright side, if love didn't hurt so much, think of all the great songs that would never have been written. Like this one.
Mose Allison - I Don't Want Much

One of the things I've always loved about Mose Allison is his understated appreciation of the absurdities of life. Listening to him I get the sense that he knows life is unfair, that things are not going to go his way but what the hell, all you can do is laugh. One of my favorite quotes is from author Tom Robbins, "You can't change reality but you can change your perception of it" and Mose's music seems to embody that attitude.

Muddy Waters - I Won't Go On

My appreciation of the Blues is mainly where it turns into Rock & Roll and while I'm not quite sure which side of the fence this falls on, Muddy Waters has always had such a powerful voice that it really doesn't matter.

The Germz - No Easy Way Down

If we're lucky we get to experience a few streaks in our lives where things are going just about as perfectly as they can and we can do no wrong. But unfortunately Mama's maxim "This too shall pass" works in reverse too and nothing good lasts forever. Sometimes that downward spiral can be mighty painful.
The Music Machine - Trouble

"Trouble" is one of a handful of originals on the first Music Machine album and as much as I love the song "The People In Me", I always thought this would have been a better choice for their second single.
Gerry & The Pacemakers - Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cying

Permit me my 2-plus minutes of wallowing here. This is as perfect a late night crying-in-your-beer (or in my case, crying in my Hagen Daz) song as anything Dean Martin ever recorded.
Warren Zevon - Looking For The Next Best Thing

There are times when, as the song goes, you just can't get what you want so you have to settle for what you can. Sometimes second best is as good as it gets.
Maxine Brown - One Step At A Time

Although she is revered in Northern Soul circles, Maxine Brown never really got her due as her talent warranted. Despite having 15 records that made Billboard's Top 100, she only cracked the Top 20 one time. "One Step..." made it to number 55 in the summer of 1965.
Roky Erickson - Starry Eyes

Except to state that in my opinion "Starry Eyes" is one of the best 'love from afar' songs ever, there's not a whole lot to say about it as this song pretty much speaks for itself.

The Syndicate - She Haunts You

These guys definitely got it bad (and that ain't good - but that's another song). I'm willing to bet that whoever wrote this song never got anywhere near first base with his phantom lady love but, as I said before in not so many words, there's nothing like some serious frustration to produce some great Rock & Roll or in this case, some cool moody garage.
Sonny Criss - Early And Later Part 1

It's 3AM and there's no one left in the bar besides the bartender and a trio of drunks with bad hairpieces in the corner singing Jimmy Buffett songs. Sometimes you just got to know when to say when but what the hell, just one more couldn't hurt.

Some people want salvation, paradise and all that stuff

Back In The Loop

Last week my Mac was in the repair shop for a few days. It was amazing how disoriented I felt without it. No emails, no chatting, no blog surfing, no Facebook - I felt so cut off from everything. It's amazing and kind of frightening to think of just how much these little machines have changed our lives and our way of relating to the rest of the world. When they called me last Thursday to let me know that my computer was ready to be picked up, I didn't care how much it was snowing and raining outside, nothing was going to stop me from retrieving my lifeline.

Dave Davies - Picture Book

"Picture Book" originally appeared on the Kinks' "Village Green Preservation Society" but this is a live version by Dave Davies recorded at the Bottom Line in New York City about 10 years ago.

Esquerita - I Need You

Although Little Richard may have held the title of the "all time queen of rock & Roll", as proclaimed by Leon Russell back in 1971, in his prime Esquerita would have surely given him a run for his money.
The Spliffs - You Know What They'll Say

These guys released a few singles back in the early 80's but this one is their most sought after, commanding pries of around $160. Way too rich for my blood but luckily it was included on Volume 6 of the fabulous "Shake Some Action" compilation series.
The Rumblers - I Don't Need You No More

The Rumblers were mainly an instrumental group, best known for their semi-hit "Boss" which was released on Downey Records and then picked up by Dot for national distribution in 1963. "I Don't Need..." was the B-side and is of much more interest to 60s garage fans. Oddly enough, when a Rumblers best-of CD was issued in 1997 this song was not included.

The Icicles - Whirling

With the organ in the background laying a gentle haze over the proceedings and those slightly melancholic vocals, I find this song to be incredibly comforting and relaxing. I can hear it being played in the background of some movie where the heroine wakes up safe and sound from a really scary dream.

Bob Dylan - It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry

I'm guessing this was recorded at the LA Forum in 1965 or 66 by Dylan and his touring group which included most of the members of The Band.
Alvin Robinson - Down Home Girl

Like almost everyone I know, I first heard this song when it was covered by The Stones on their "Now" album, but this was the original that inspired them.
Stiff Little Fingers - Gotta Gettaway

A few weeks ago my friend Naz who runs the Bleedin' Out blogsite did a little write-up on SLF and it reminded me of how much I loved their first few albums. I remember seeing them when they got back together about 20 years ago and while my most vivid memory is of skinheads starting fights with random members of the audience, I also remember that the band positively smoked.
The Smoke - High In a Room

The Smoke are mainly remembered for their single "My Friend Jack" but they actually had a rather extensive discography. This was their second single, the follow up to "...Jack".
Robert Parker - Sneaking Sally Through the Alley

I first heard this song when it was done by Robert Palmer on his first album but I'm sure this was the original version. With all due respect to Mr. Palmer, this one is so much better.

The Fleshtones - Killing By Degrees

This is from "The Angry Years 1984-86" album which for some odd reason was not released until a number of years after. Nonetheless, this is pure Fleshtones - a little soul, a bit of garage/psych and a touch of punk all melted together into a sound that is so familiar yet is uniquely theirs. Amazingly, these guys have been playing together for around 25 years and they're still going strong.

The Scots Of St. James - Tic Toc

I don't know much about these guys except for what I could find on Soybomb's garage database, which is that this Glasgow combo had at least one other single. I just noticed that the rip of this song is messed up so I've reposted it and at a higher bit rate.
The Uptowns - Here She Comes Again

I just ordered an original copy of this on Gemm Music and was surprised to learn that this originally was released by Laurie Records who were not really known for releasing a whole lot of R&B singles.
The Outlets -Not Too Late

I first heard "...Late" back in the late 80's when my friend was given a cassette of the "Let's Breed" compilation that we played over and over again while driving to and from shows in his olive green Oldsmobile. I'm sure this song serenaded us more than once on our numerous 3 AM White Castle runs.

Unknown Cambodian Group - Gloria

It always makes me feel good to realize how widespread the influence of Rock & Roll was back in the mid to late 60's. Probably due no doubt to the U.S. military presence in Southeast Asia. While it's hard to do a 'bad' version of "Gloria" these unknowns add a few exotic touches of their own to this 3-chord standard.

I can't help it if this train gets lost

Life is such a drone

Less Talk More Music Pt. 4

Once again there's not a whole lot to talk about here in YankeeBoy land. The job search is plodding along and although I've gotten a few calls from recruiters, nothing much more than vague half-promises has materialized so far. For the most part I try to avoid paying too much attention to the news as it just aggravates me, and besides there is nothing I can do about any of it. So for now I really don't have any pearls of wisdom to share so just enjoy the music. And please leave comments - good bad or indifferent. I love getting feedback - even when people disagree with me.

One last thing. I've switched from Sharebee to Multiupload. From my side it's more reliable and easier to keep track of things. I've not heard any complaints so I'm guessing that for you downloaders it's working out as well.

Dorothy Moore - Misty Blue

Leading off this go round is one of my all-time favorite ballads and a Top-5 hit for Dorothy Moore. We've all felt this way at one time or other, especially around Valentine's Day.
Big Danny Oliver - Sapphire

"Sapphire" has appeared on a number of R&B comps over the years and it's also found its way onto a few of my own Ipod playlists. Whenever I'm walking around town and this song comes on it always puts a little extra bounce into my step.
The Gurus - It Just Won't Be That Way

"It Just Won't Be That Way" was originally an album track by The Critters before it was recorded by The Gurus for their second single, following up their minor hit "Blue Snow Night" on United Artists.
Dale Hawkin - Wild Wild World
The Knack - Just Wait And See

Sadly, this is the memorial section of the post. Since my last playlist our R&R community has lost two of its members to cancer. Dale Hawkins is mostly known for his 1957 Top-40 hit "Suzie Q" which can be found, along with "Wild Wild World" on the Ace Records CD "Rock and Roll Tornado". Doug Fieger was the main force behind The Knack who are also, somewhat unfairly, thought of by many as being a one-hit wonder, that hit being "My Sharona". "Just Wait..." is just one of a number of stellar power pop tracks they recorded over their career and is from one of their later albums "Round Trip" which is unfortunately out of print at the moment.
Dorothy Berry - Ain't That Love

Dorothy is best known for her remake of the Falcons' hit "You're So Fine" but this is another Northern Soul pounder that is just as worthy of attention.
The Humane Society - Knock Knock

This moody garage classic has been on a number of compilations over the years, most notably the Rhino Nuggets Box that came out a few years ago.
Joyside - I Don't Care About Your Society

About a month ago I saw this incredible documentary about the Punk scene in Beijing called "Beijing Bubbles" and Joyside were, in my opinion, the best of the 4 or 5 bands featured. While some of their lyrics might sound quaint or passe to our jaded Western ears, considering the society in which they live, there is a lot more on the line for these guys than there ever was for their U.S. or U.K. counterparts.

The Royal Guardsmen - Leaving Me

This was the original flip side to their first single, a remake of the Young Rascals song "Baby Let's Wait" which went absolutely nowhere. After all of their "Snoopy..." hits "BLW" was released as a single again with a different B-side. Too bad as this is easily their most garage-y and best record.
The Olympics - Baby Do The Philly Dog

From the late-50's thru the mid-60's The Olympics were no strangers to the Billboard Hot 100. "...Philly Dog" is a big favorite among soul DJ's and it was also their last chart entry from the fall of 1966.
Andy & David Williams - I'll Love You

Being the son and nephew of singer Andy Williams, these younguns were all primed and ready to be America's next favorite cutie pies back in the early 70's. I'm not sure if it ever worked out that way for them but they did leave a few nice records in their wake and I've always had a soft spot in my heart for this one. It may be a bit too sugary for some of my regular visitors so consider this my nod to Valentines Day.

The Artesians - Koko Joe

"Koko Joe" has been done many times but this is possibly the most rockin' version ever. Surpisingly, it was never released at the time but can be found now in all it's Hi-Fi glory on Norton's "Stomp! Northwest Killers Vol. 1 1960-1964.

Richard Berry - Baby Please Come Home

RB is best known for writing the Frat Rock classics "Have Love Will Travel" and "Louie Louie". While "Baby..." is more standard R&B fare for the period, Richard manages to leave his distinctive mark, especially towards the end of the song.

Mickey & Ludella - That Look You Gave To Me

Mickey & Ludella are part of that whole Medway group of musicians influenced by and involved with Billy Childish, who may even be playing somewhere on these sessions.

Frederick Delius w/Andre Kostelanetz (cond.) - On Hearing The First Cuckoo In Spring

Frederick Delius was a German-English composer of the late 19th and early 20th century. Unlike many of the Classical composers of the previous few generations, his music is much more impressionistic. It relies on setting an atmosphere more than having an identifiable, hummable melody. Personally I find it very relaxing to close my eyes and let myself be carried away on the gentle waves of sound.

They say you lied and that you'll never be true.

Who Were They?

Being almost 59 years old myself, I definitely subscribe to the theory that one is never too old to Rock & Roll. Over the last 5 years I've seen The Stones, John Fogerty (twice), Brian Wilson and Nick Lowe in concert and in addition I still love newer works by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Petty and a host of others whose names escape me at the moment. So what I am about to say is not at all about ageism. But the other night during half-time I felt totally embarrassed for that travesty that was calling itself The Who. It's not that Roger Daltry (who I thought bore a striking resemblance to Mrs. Doubtfire) can't sing or that Pete Townsend, who I really wish would have finished buttoning his shirt before coming onstage, can't play anymore. My problems with The Who started right after Keith Moon died. To me, this band was truly always much more than the sum of its parts. Here we had 4 distinct and often conflicting personalities and styles that joined to form this electrifying, unique combination that was way bigger than any of them individually. When Keith died that synergy was gone and they became just another rock band whose best days were behind them. When "Face Dances" came out I heard a few songs on the radio and was unimpressed. It was the first Who album I didn't buy. And now that John Entwistle is gone they're even less The Who than ever. I think I'd respect them more if they called themselves "The Townsend-Daltry Band" or something like that. But they will never be The Who. To quote Pete Townsend: "We won't get fooled again".

The Who - My Generation

Now THIS is The Who! Snotty, angry, arrogant, pumped-up and in your face. Listen to Entwistle and Moon - nobody could play like them before or since. The Who is dead. Long Live The Who!
Beck - Devil's Haircut

Many of my fellow garage-heads dismiss Beck as just one more modern artist they can't relate to, but I enjoy a lot of his music in much the same way that I've always liked XTC. He's got a real appreciation of R&R's past (check out the intro stolen note-for-note from "I Can Only Give You Everything") to which he adds an engagingly skewed pop sense of his own.
Bo Diddley - Put The Shoes On Willie

This is somewhat of a novelty number for Bo, despite having his trademark Bo Diddley maracas-shaking beat. Novelty or not, I've always liked this song.
Johnny Winter - Highway 61 Revisited

If this doesn't get your adrenaline flowing, then probably nothing will. I've never read or heard anything one way or the other, but my guess is that Bob Dylan would heartily approve of Winter's take on his classic. You've got to love that slide guitar playing. This particular rip lacks a little in the volume department so you might want to crank it up a bit.
Jason Eddy & The Centremen - Singing The Blues

I've seen his last name spelled with both a 'y' and an 'ie' at the end so I hope I got it right. This is one of Joe Meek's more raucous productions and a pretty out-there version of this old Guy Mitchell country standard.

Ognir And The Nite People - I Found A New Love

Over the years Ognir & Co. have shown up on a number of garage compilations and, to these ears anyway, they're always welcome. I wouldn't be surprised if by this point in time, original 45s are going for close to 4 figures and way out of my budget.
Chuck Higgins - Motor Head Baby

While Chuck Higgins may not have been the most accomplished of musicians, he certainly had a long and successful career, playing shows well into the 1980's. This is from his earliest session for Combo records in 1952.
The Viletones - Don't You Lie

From Toronto, Canada this song is taken from their "Look Back in Anger" EP recorded in 1978. It's funny how a lot of the punk records from that era that sounded so outrageous at the time, nowadays sound like nice upbeat pop. Which is by no means a bad thing. What's also amazing is how many of these singles are commanding such super high prices - even more than original 60's garage records at times.
The Roulettes - Bad Time

Although these guys are mostly knows as Adam Faith's backup band, they released a handful of singles on their own, this being their best. Anyone wanting to hear more, can check out their CD here.
Little Caesar & the Romans - She Don't Wanna Dance

This was the flip side to their ballady hit "Those Oldies But Goodies". While the A-side has been played to death on oldies radio, "SDWD" remains relatively unknown.
The Stones - Connection

This is taken from a rare mono version of "Between The Buttons". To me it sounds a whole lot punchier than the stereo mix. Back in late 1966 the druggy connotations gave this song an extra shot of 'cool' but even without that, it remains one of their better songs from that era.
Shemekia Copeland - Breakin' Out

The last time I saw Ms. Copeland perform in concert at B.B. King's in New York she must have played for close to 2 hours and she was absolutely incredible. Whether she's playing a slow blues or an upbeat rocker, she's a bundle of pure energy with a voice that reminds me of a young Etta James.
The Stems - She's A Monster

It's hard to believe that Dom Mariani has been playing either in bands or as a solo for over 25 years and yet remains relatively unknown. "...Monster" is one of his first recordings with garage rockers The Stems. Most of their early recordings have been collected on "Mushroom Soup: The Citadel Years", available from Amazon.

Charlie Rich - Lonely Weekends

Recording for Sun Records back in the late 50's, Charlie was a lot more of a traditional country singer than most of his labelmates, which is probably why they stuck on that awful background chorus.
Spencer Wiggins - Love Attack

Although he never made Billboard's Top 100, Spencer was well known and loved in soul circles. Now that Ace Records is reissuing so much of the Goldwax Records catalog, perhaps he will finally get a little more recognition.
The Us Too Group - I'll Leave You Crying

From Fairfield, Ohio, this moody, minor-key opus appears to be their one and only claim to fame.
Roy Loney - Born To Be Your Fool

Along with Cyril Jordan, Roy Loney was the main impetus behind the original Flamin' Groovies. After 3 critically acclaimed but commercially disappointing albums, Roy left the band and went out on his own. Until last year most of his early solo material remained unavailable on CD but Raven Records in Australia has since rectified the problem with a nice 28-track best-of.

Put some bleachers out in the sun

A Little Blog Music

There's not a whole lot going on these days in YankeeBoy land. Being unemployed with no regular hours is playing havoc with my sleeping schedule, as evidenced by the fact that I am writing this at 2 AM. I really need to find a job soon, not just for the money but for my own sanity. If and when I can ever retire I will need to find some activity to fill my time. But since I had to cash in my pension in order to pay for school and life in general, I figure that if I'm lucky I'll be able to retire sometime around my 98th birthday. At my last job I used to joke with my boss and tell him that if he wasn't nicer I would die at my desk and he would have to deal with my carcass. These days it doesn't seem quite so funny. But enough of this. Let's get to what we all came here for.

Badfinger - Rock Of All Ages

Although Badfinger managed to score four Top-20 hits back in the early 70's (this was the B-side of their first "Come And Get It") the band was beset by musical setbacks, internal disputes and mental illness resulting in the tragic suicides of two of their founding members.

Bob Dylan - Love Minus Zero (No Limit)

Back in the Spring of 1965, after "Mr. Tambourine Man" by The Byrds first hit the charts, my friend's older sister lent me "Bringing It All Back Home". Much of what I heard went over my 14-year-old head but this song really struck a chord with me. It remains one of my favorite Dylan songs.

The Broken Hearts - You Won't Find Me

This song is the leadoff track of their first (only?) album "Want One". Fans of upbeat, slightly garagey Power Pop would do well to check it out on Amazon as it contains 20 tracks of similar musical fare.

Billy Harner - Don't Want My Lovin'

I've always thought that The Fleshtones would do a great cover of this song. Unfortunately there has never been a comprehensive Billy Harner 'Best-Of' but the good news is that most of his singles can still be found for not too much money.

The Pleasure Seekers - What A Way To Die

Like most of the garage-loving world, I first heard this song on the comp of the same name. Back in the late-80's I sang a variation of this song called "What A Way to Diet" with Vince Brnicevic's Air Force.
Wayne Newton - Comin' On Too Strong

For almost everyone I know, this song is where interest in Wayne Newton begins and ends. This Terry Melcher produced masterpiece is a far cry from "Danke Schoen".
Madness - Bed And Breakfast Man

I've always loved the first Madness album and "B&BM" is one of its forgotten gems. I especially like that chunky little organ riff throughout the song.
John Lennon - Nobody Told Me

For me, this is the ultimate "coming of age" song. It so perfectly captures that moment in our lives when we realize that so many of the grand assumptions of our youth are not quite that way and that life is just...life.
Los 007 - No te Puedo Encontrar

This mid-60's Peruvian nugget is an interesting melange of styles. The guitars have this moody, slightly ominous feel and then the vocals come in sounding almost like The Vogues or The Lettermen.

The Woggles - Sayonara Blues

Along with The Lyres and The Fleshtones, Atlanta GA's Woggles put on some of the most energetic shows I have ever seen. For sheer danceability and fun, these guys are just about as good as it gets.
Ted Taylor - Everywhere I Go

Ted Taylor has one of the more distinctive voices in R&B/Soul. This is one of his more upbeat tracks, that I'm guessing was recorded fairly early in his career.
Warren Zevon - Johnny Strikes Up The Band (Live @ The Roxy 4-24-78)

I've always been a big fan of Mr. Zevon and this song, a tribute to one of his own heroes Johnny Carson, has always been one of my favorites.
Joe Frank & The Knights - Can't Find A Way

Hailing from Jackson, MS I am assuming that this organ-fueled pounder was their only 45 as, despite their appearance on a number of garage compilations, this is the only song of theirs that has come to light. Still, if you're going to leave a one-song legacy, you could do a lot worse than this.
Dale McBride - Prissy Missy

This primitive stomper has appeared on a number of online compilations over the years but a search on Gemm Music and Ebay could not turn up any copies of the original 45. Apparently Dale has had quite an extensive career as a country singer although this is the only record I know by him.

Ruby Johnson - Keep On Keeping On

Ruby was one of the lesser known artists on the Stax/Volt roster but her lack of crossover mainstream success should not be taken as a lack of artistic merit as she had a handful of quality records in the mid-60s before retiring from the music business.

The Beau Brummels - One Too Many Mornings

For many fans of their original folk-rock sound, after the Beau Brummels left Autumn Records to sign with Warner Brothers, their records were nowhere near as compelling, despite some interesting experiments like being one of the first Rock bands to record an album in Nashville. "OTMM" however hearkens back to their original sound and remains one of the best versions of this song ever recorded.
The Cordells - Annie Get Your Yo-Yo

Ritchie Cordell was one of the many unknowns of the Brill Building music scene back in the mid-60's and he penned a number of hit songs for acts like Tommy James & The Shondells and The 1910 Fruitgum Company. This was one that certainly deserved to be a hit but for some reason, failed to click. Sadly, Cordell died of pancreatic cancer in 2004.

Everybody's smoking but no one's getting high.

State Of The (Dis)Union

As readers of this blog already know, I have been a supporter of President Obama from the beginning. So when 9:00 came on Wednesday night I was all primed and ready to listen to his State of the Union address. He said all of the things I wanted him to say and then some. He addressed the issue of outsourcing which is how I lost my job back in 2008. He chided the Republicans for saying no to everything and even went to far as to take a poke at the Supreme Court justices for their disastrous decision (see my previous post for details if you need to) last week. He explained the hows and whys of what he wanted to do and what he hoped his plans would accomplish. He took the blame for mistakes he had made. In short it was as near perfect a speech as could be. Yet throughout the whole hour and 10 minutes of it I found myself feeling an odd sense of disappointment. As good as it was, there was something missing. I wanted more.

At one point the camera panned to the Republican side of the House chamber and seeing all of them sitting there either stone-faced or with looks of contempt on their faces made me realize what the problem was for me. He was basically preaching to the choir and not reaching any of the people he needed to. While many people in this country are losing their jobs, their savings and their homes there is a large political faction in this country that seems wholly intent on nothing more than covering their own asses. And they attempt to do this by issuing a steady stream of negative rhetoric, offering few if any constructive suggestions of their own.

I'm not saying that President Obama is infallible. He's not. In order to get where he is he had to play the politics game as much as anyone. But we are living in very desperate times and the man does have some well thought out ideas, radical though they may seem to some, to get us out of the mess we find ourselves in. What we need now is a Congress that will work with him to solve these problems. That doesn't mean automatically saying 'yes' to everything he proposes but it does mean honestly listening to and impartially considering his plans and making intelligent suggestions. It means that Republicans and Democrats alike need to work together to try and fix things. The American people deserve nothing less.

Barbara Stephens - I Don't Worry

Although Ms. Stephens recorded this for the Stax label in Memphis, it sounds as if the session might have actually taken place in New Orleans as the drumming has that distinctive second-line feel to it. This must have been a B-side as it is not on the Stax box.
Even - End to End

I'm not sure where I first learned of these guys (probably on another blog) and there isn't a whole lot of info out there in cyberland other than their myspace page. They remind me of fellow Aussie psych-rockers The Lime Spiders who are also featured in this post.

Neil Young - Revolution Blues

Although personally I generally prefer his older music, I've got to hand it to him. NY has never rested on his laurels or been overly driven by commercial considerations. While some are more hit-or-miss than others, every new album is an adventure and one never knows what direction he will go in next.
The Trolls - Walking Shoes

According to the Soybomb Garage Compilation Database there were at least 5 bands calling themselves The Trolls back in the mid-60's. These particular Trolls came from San Jose and this was their big 2:07 claim to fame.
Wayne Worley - Red Headed Woman

"Red Headed Woman" has been on a number of Rockabilly compilations over the years and for good reason. It's a frantic balls-out rocker with a nifty guitar break halfway through.
The Plimsouls - Now

If I were to make a list, The Plimsouls would probably be way up there on my "Bands I Wish I'd Seen Live" tally. From the sound of things on this track from their "One Night In America" album, they must have really been something to see.
Pagliaro - What The Hell I Got

I first discovered Michel Pagliaro about 30 years ago when I spent Christmas vacation with a friend in Canada. I bought a K-Tel album of Canadian artists and he was the one that made the biggest impression on me. I'd love to hear some garage band revive this song, removing some of the slick production and giving it a more vintage Byrdsy sound. I apologize for the little glitch near the end of the song but unfortunately this is the only rip of it I have.

James Brown - Signed, Sealed, And Delivered

This isn't the Stevie Wonder hit of the same name. Back in 1963 this got up to number 77 on the Billboard charts and according to the Joel Witburn book, "SS&D" was a number 2 country hit for Cowboy Copas way back in 1948. I would have sworn this was a JB original.
The Revells - Midnight Stroll

Each Halloween it seems that every blog puts together a comp of scary music and inevitably "Midnight Stroll" is always on a bunch of them. But it's a terrific record and sounds just as chilling on a cold winters night.
The Outsiders - Touch

The (Dutch) Outsiders need no introduction to fans of mid-60's Garage and Freakbeat. This is one of their best singles and is available on a number of compilations and even as a reissue 45.

The Traveling Wilburys - Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger

All too often supergroups are little more than commercial ploys designed to revive sagging careers. The Wilburys were one of the exceptions as each artist involved brought his A-list material to the table and the result was a unique symbiosis where the whole was even more than the sum of its worthy parts.

Prince Conley - I'm Going Home

Here's another early outing on the Stax label, recorded before the label found their signature sound. With that exotic rhumba beat and Conley's understated vocals, this is an atmospheric masterpiece that surely deserved more attention than it received at the time.
The Lime Spiders - Beyond The Fringe

For a few years, back in the late 80's and early 90's these guys could do no wrong. I remember seeing them when they came to the US around that time and played Maxwells. They were unbelievable and as I remember they went over big with the whole crowd. They have a really nice website where you can learn and hear lots more.
King Alex & The Untouchables - Hutchia Cuthia Lovin' Man

Just like with garage bands (and almost every other genre of popular music) back in the 1950's there were many many talented young black Rock & Rollers trying for their shot at the big time. This particular track comes from a comp of the same name containing lots more crazy R&B sounds of the same ilk. A quick online search found it available here.
The Sonics - He's Waitin'

Here are The Sonics. Crank it up as loud as you can and just enjoy!
Scruffy The Cat - Never, Never

STC were one of the many hundreds of bands lumped in under the 'college radio/alternative' banner and so, never got the recognition and attention they deserved. They somehow always reminded me of a more punkified Lovin' Spoonful. They had more than their share of hooky, clever songs and they were all delivered with an easygoing confidence and warmth that was out of fashion at that time. Unfortunately their albums are all out of print but copies can still be found on Gemm Music.

You never see us 'cause we don't come around.