Peach Fuzz Forest

Show Me Them Now - Joe Meek specials

2011-11-23T13:31:00.001Z

Here's a new batch of Joe Meek related shows.

The first two feature Joe Meek expert David Peters from Falmouth (above) , and in the 3rd show Dave spins some of his favourite Joe Meek sides.

Enjoy!

Captain Billys Whizbang

2011-08-31T11:57:00.000Z

Updated the Captain Billys Whizbang story

Show Me Them Now

2011-07-26T11:40:00.003Z

Here the latest show, featuring myself....

Update

2011-07-03T17:27:00.001Z

Updated Revalation page

Old audio tracks

2011-06-06T07:04:00.003Z

michaelvee has very kindly uploaded a large number of the old audio tracks from the blog, as well as creating some new inserts and notes. They can be downloaded here;

http://sharebee.com/2bdd0394

http://sharebee.com/a1b6e890

http://sharebee.com/1dc51dcc

http://sharebee.com/a4399200

http://sharebee.com/0fcea623

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YCVE1PZN

http://www.mediafire.com/?c937oo38mpax7kg

2011-05-28T18:17:00.002Z

And the last one for this week. Enjoy!

Show Me Them Now

2011-05-28T18:16:00.000Z

and another....

Show Me Them Now

2011-05-28T18:09:00.002Z

Here's the first of a new batch of shows

Show Me Them Now

2011-05-04T16:06:00.000Z

Here's the latest show. Full of Australian goodies!

Show Me Them Now

2011-04-06T17:21:00.002Z

Last Saturday's show

update

2011-04-02T07:00:00.000Z

updated Jynx Pack story

Show Me Them Now

2011-04-02T06:57:00.002Z

Here's the latest show

Show Me Them Now

2011-03-23T08:09:00.002Z

Here's the show from 12th March

Show Me Them Now

2011-03-10T18:14:00.001Z

Here's the latest show

Show Me Them Now

2011-03-04T18:02:00.001Z

Here's last week's show, enjoy!

Show Me Them Now

2011-03-01T05:55:00.003Z

A little later than planned....Here's the Psychedelic Show from a couple of weeks ago

Show Me Them Now

2011-02-13T09:18:00.005Z

Here's the latest show, feature myself playing a selection of Cornish bands from the 60s and 70s

Show Me Them Now

2011-02-04T07:55:00.001Z

Here's the show from 29th Jan 2011

Show Me Them Now

2011-01-30T06:10:00.006Z

Over the coming weeks I'll be posting a new radio host "Show Me Them Now", hosted by Dave Garwoood out of Soure FM in Falmouth, Cornwall.

The show mixes mod, soul, garage, psych, rock, punk, ska and all manner of good music, as well as stories and recollections from local scenesters.

Please do check out the show below. Excuse the shaky start, after some technical glitches things soon get back on track. This show features some great recollections of the 80s mod scene in the South West.
Please leave comments and let me know what you think!

Wishful Thinking

2010-07-06T12:39:00.004Z

Wishful Thinking - V.I.P (Decca F12438. 1966)

Mainly known for their harmony work. The band were very popular in the South West, with Peanuts and Step by Step becoming staples of many Cornish bands live sets, the latter of course being covered by The Onyx. On their first 45 they revved things up a couple of gears with this great catchy piece of beat.

Wishful Thinking - I Want You Girl (Decca F12760. 1968)

....and later on their career they cut this gorgous piece of pop psych. After a few line-up changes they would regroup in the early 70s and move into a more progressive direction. Recently back together I believe their are some new recordings in the works.

2010-06-26T05:31:00.002Z

Last year I posted some tracks from Tikis & The Fabulons, a 45 rip and a couple of demos. If you downloaded the demos any chance you could send them over by email, I've misplaced the mp3s.....

ta!

The Light - Dawn/Don't Refuse Me

2010-06-18T12:20:00.003Z

The Light - Dawn/Don't Refuse Me (MJB Acetate. 1966)

And another super obscure UK acetate.

Part of the Avenue Artistes stable of bands and presumibly from the Southampton area where the agency was based. Has a nice twangy guitar sound. As far as I'm aware this acetate didn't make it to the into the racks and the band didn't release any vinyl. Despite this an LP's worth of material was also recorded, but remains in the can.

The Embers - Looking Glass

2010-06-18T12:14:00.002Z

The Embers - Looking Glass (Emidisc acetate)

Here's an unreleased acetate from the vaults.

Part of Bob Potters roster of artists. Bob now owns Lakeside and puts on the darts each year. In the 60s he had Wishful Thinking, Onyx, Embers and others as well as running several clubs in Surrey area. The Embers were a four piece that often supported and backed up bands, but never broke out on their own. A nice bit of phasing could have tranformed this into a great piece of pop psych, it's still a great track. The band recording quite a few tracks, some with Onyx members playing with the band, but never got managed to score a record deal. Great shame that this track has taken 40 year to finally get heard!

audio files

2010-06-09T11:45:00.002Z

...should now have all been fixed. Let me know if there still any problems!

Sonny Young - She Tore My Castles Down/Judy

2010-06-08T11:31:00.003Z

Sonny Young - She Tore My Castles Down/Judy (SPQR 3320. 1964)

No info on this last batch I'm afraid. SQPR was a part of London Records, anybody know what it stood for?

Terry Haynes - It's Gonna work Out Fine/Further Down The Line

2010-06-08T11:24:00.006Z

Terry Haynes - It's Gonna Work Out Fine/Further Down The Line (Jetstar 106. 1966)

I think this one is from out of Dallas. I don't think Terry spent a lot of time rehearsing the flip side....

Nearly All Our Own Work - Pupils of Newquay School

2010-06-04T07:09:00.003Z

"Nearly All Our Own Work - Pupils of Newquay School"

Released in 1973 on TC Records

Do you have this record for sale? Please email me!

A CDR or tape would even suffice.....

Hunt Stevens - Yeah Yeah (I'm In Love With You)/Fever Of Love

2010-06-02T11:53:00.001Z

Hunt Stevens - Yeah Yeah (I'm In Love With You)/Fever Of Love (Take 3 708. 1964)

I don't know anything about Hunt, but he sounds like an old rockabilly guy to me. Yeah Yeah is clearly influenced by Beatlmania.

Uranus and the Five Moons - Your Groove

2010-06-02T11:50:00.002Z

Uranus and the Five Moons - Your Groove (Gotcha Co 2048)

This one is a bit noisy, but still worth a listen. A cool bit of beat from New England. Terrible band name.......

Righteous Brothers - Baby She's Mine

2010-05-26T12:34:00.003Z

Righteous Brothers - Baby She's Mine (london (HL 10086. 1966)

The Righteous Brothers?? Yes indeed! This is the flip side to Wite Cliffs Of Dover. Probably been passed over a thousand times by most garage fans, but check out this cool beat mover.

Resolution - Pretty Girl Why

2010-05-26T12:31:00.003Z

Resolution - Pretty Girl Why (GM 114)

I'm on a bit of a Buffalo Springfield kick at the moment, if you hadn't guessed. Here's another Springfield cover. I know nothing about this one I'm afriad.

Subconcious Mind - On The Way Home/No Fair At All

2010-05-26T12:28:00.002Z

Subconcious Mind - On The Way Home/No Fair At All (Vintage 2501)

I believe this band cut this 45 after winning a Battle Of The Bands. Top side is a Buffalo Springfield cover, while the flip is a nice moody ballad. Styrene pressing, so sound quality isn't great.

Billy Harner and The Expressions - Anymore/Whatcha Gonna Do

2010-05-26T12:24:00.002Z

Billy Harner and The Expressions - Anymore/Whatcha Gonna Do (Lawn 239. 1964)

Probably a well known name to Northern Soul fans. Billy put out 45s on Cameo Parkway, Kama Sutra and Kent and also released an LP on a local Philadelphia label. Before that he cut a couple of rockin' 45s on Lawn, backed by The Expressions. Anybody know who the Expressions where? Obviously a pretty tight unit and the guitarist knocks out a couple of killer breaks.

Hello

2010-05-26T12:19:00.002Z

I'm back...

Although I won't be posting quite as much as I used to, but hopefully will post a few nuggets you will enjoy.

Is there anybody still out there?

Christian Music Group - Bird of Heaven

2010-01-29T08:37:00.004Z

Christian Music Group - Bird of Heaven

A beautiful little folk number from a really quite enjoyable xian LP

Adam, Mike & Tim – Little Pictures

2009-12-02T12:11:00.006Z

Adam, Mike & Tim - Little Pictures (Decca F12221. 1965)

Thanks to Paul Martin

Here’s an interesting little 45 from a band who have been somewhat neglected over the years.

The band were from London and featured brothers Adam and Mike Sedgwick along with friend Tim Saunders. They all worked for a large advertising agency in London and starting out livening up boring lunch breaks by singing folk songs. They were encouraged by a friend to send a demo tape to Decca who impressed enough to offer the band a deal for three singles, the first of which “Little Baby” appeared in 1964, backed by an early songwriting outing from a pre-Pink Floyd Rick Wright, “You’re The Reason Why”.

The band’s debut failed to dent the charts and a follow up “That's How I Feel/It's All Too True” also had little success. The band’s final 45 for Decca would be “Little Pictures/ Summer's Here Again”, which was a great piece of Byrdsian folk-pop with some rather lysergic lyrics;

I’m seeing little pictures of orange, red and gold

I’m hearing all the crazy sounds of bells.

I’m hearing some wind with a voice, just like a little bird

I’m seeing a joker man that no-one tells.

I’m walking on a road that’s made of sunlight beams

I’m swimming through a sea with frozen waves

I’m counting on the rain to wash the ragged scenes

of a joker man that nobody saves

I’m picking up a fruit of a fast dying tree

I’m treading on the stems of little flowers.

The clouds weep some tears in a big hungry sea

The joker man just winks his eye and smiles

Perhaps not out of the ordinary for West Coast USA, this groovy 45 would have been very out of place what was happening in England at the time of it’s release (August 1965) and while not overtly psychedelic musically, lyrically it could certainly class as one of the first ‘psychedelic’ singles to appear in the UK in the 60s (Miller’s ‘Baby I Got News For You’ would not appear from another two months).

Unfortunately the 45 also bombed and the band moved to Columbia for two more releases in 1966, “Flowers On The Wall/Give That Girl A Break” and “A Most Peculiar Man/Wedding Day”. The band appeared to be ahead of the game once again with their cover of Paul Simon’s “Most Peculiar Man”, which featured sitar and must rank of one of the earliest examples of its use on a UK 45.

Bizarrely “Little Pictures” would get a further outing on some Small Faces re-issues were it was credited to that band as “What a Matter Baby”. Despite having little commercial success in the UK the band would still secure a number of US releases.

Mike Sedgwick would be the only band member to return to music, launching a solo career in 1968.

Third World - MIracles/Baby Boeing

2009-11-09T08:49:00.003Z

Third World - Miracles/Baby Boeing (CBS 7182. 1971)

Here's a great US sounding sunshine pop, not unlike The Groop. On a UK label and with Chris Spedding on guitars, so not sure if this was actually a UK band.

Eric Harris - Sweet Time

2009-11-09T08:41:00.003Z

Eric Harris - Sweet Time (GNP 442)

This has long been a favourite of mine. I hoped to find something out about Eric before posting this, but haven't come up with anything.

Anybody got any info on this guy?

Ark - Living In Comfort

2009-11-05T16:12:00.006Z

Ark - Living In Comfort

Ark were from North Devon, started by songwriter Reg Meuross along with Chris Kausman, Harry Williamson and Paul Hayles. The band also featured Harvey Bainbridge, who would later join Hawkwind.

A popular West Country band they played throughout the South West. Through the bands friendship with Davbe Brock they often backed up Hawkwind on many of their trips to Devon & Cornwall.

The band were picked up by Cornish Legend Music and asked to contribute to the Made In Cornwall LP (CLM1, 1976). Despite residing the other side of the Tamar the band made the trip down to the Roche Recording Studios at Tremodrett and laid down two tracks for the LP, 'Living in Comfort' and 'When You Go' (billed as Reg Meuross and Ark).

'When You Go' was quite acceptable early 70s pop-rock, but 'Living in Comfort' was a superb prog-psych track, hinting at what their live shows might have been like. Released locally the LP showcased some of the bands around at the time and while nothing matches the Ark track it isn't quite as bad as the review in Galactic Ramble makes out.

The line-up for the "Living In Comfort" track was Chris Kausman (vocals/rhythm/lead guitar/lyrics/arrangement), Colin Scott-Mitchell (lead/rhythm guitar), PaulHayles (keyboards), Harvey Bainbridge (Bass), Martin Griffin (drums), Reg Meuross and a pretty girl with a sweet voice [name forgotten!) (back-up vocals).

Live, the band would play a mixture of a strange cross section of covers, originals and long extended free form improvisations. The line-up was at times quite fluid, and could range from seven up to 12 members of stage at any time! This would often also include Lois, a dancer who would later dance with Hawkwind.

Live at the Queens Hall, Barnstable. Left to right : Alistair Merry (percussion), Colin Mitchell (guitar), Harvey Bainbridge (bass), Chris Kausman (guitar), Martin Griffin or Keith Jones (drums), Paul Hayles (keyboards)

Many of the players on the LP got together for a Christmas concert, and while Ark continued for a short time afterwards they would make no more recordings. Reg Meuross would go on to have a successful solo career. Chris Kausman runs a tribal art and antique gallery in Thailand.

"Fantastic Expedition"

2009-10-25T07:12:00.002Z

The debut issue of "Fantastic Expedition" is just out.

As well as an in-depth feature on Dillard & Clark it features some previously unseen pictures from the Dillard & Clark Expedition show at the Troubadour in '68. Also includes a new interview with Dan Peek of America and plenty of other West Coast goodies.

Contact Jason Smith for details - helen.jason@btinternet.com

Billy Batson

2009-10-19T07:24:00.001Z

Just updated the Billy Batson story - Here

The Crickets - All Over You

2009-06-19T07:14:00.004Z

The Crickets - All Over You (Liberty 55696. 1964)

Yes, this is Buddy's old pals. Tucked away on the flip of La Bamba is this mighty fine harp wailer.

Hugues Aufray

2009-06-18T11:58:00.004Z

Hugues Aufray

Quick post today...Hugues was a big star in France in the 60s. I picked up a stack up these EPs in a charity shop recently. Unfortunately most were straight pop

Search - Everybody's Searchin'/Too Young

2009-06-11T07:15:00.003Z

Search - Everybody's Searchin'/Too Young (Era 3181. 1967)

Not a patch on the San Diego band's second 45, but still enjoyable.

Cherokees - Ain't Gonna Cry No More

2009-06-08T07:36:00.004Z

Cherokees - Ain't Gonna Cry No More (Go!! 5045. 1966)

The Cherokees released quite a few 45s, mixing pop and beat.

Henchmen - Baby What's Wrong

2009-06-08T07:30:00.003Z

Henchmen - Baby What's Wrong (Swan 4249. 1965)

First of a couple of Aussie's today.

This is the US release of the Henchmen's debut. Top side is the Rock & Roll sounding cover of Rockin' Robin, flip side is the Jimmy Reed song, also covered by the Pretties of course.

Gary Warren - Lucky Guy/Jennifer Please

2009-06-05T07:30:00.003Z

Gary Warren - Lucky Guy/Jennifer Please (President PT334. 1971)

Here's a catchy piece of pop I've been enjoying a lot lately. Sounds more '68 than '71.

Anyone clue me in on who Gary Warren is??

Nashville Teens - The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian/Looking For You

2009-06-05T07:27:00.003Z

Nashville Teens - The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian/Looking For You (Major Minor MM 599. 1969)

Here's a later and lesser known 45 by the Nashville Teens.

Ty Bach - Tir Na Og/Sciobol

2009-05-20T12:07:00.007Z

Ty Bach - Tir Na Og/Sciobol (Ceirnini Outlet OUT 062. 1975)

Thanks to Colm Mac Séalaigh for the update on Ty Bach

The background to the forming of this group was two week long visits by a group of Irish-language enthusiasts to the Eisteddfod (Welsh language festival) in 1973 and 1974. Gearóid Ó Murchú, Colm Mac Séalaigh and Ken Mac Diarmada were already playing and learning traditional songs in Irish accompanied by acoustic guitar and mandolin. They were so impressed by what the Welsh were doing with regard to writing new material in Welsh in a modern style, that they decided to form a group and try to imitate the Welsh approach. The Welsh influence was so strong that they decided to call the new band Tŷ Bach from the Welsh for ‘little house’ or ‘bathroom’.

Having put a repertoire of songs together, on the advice of friend and poet/songwriter Gabriel Rosenstock the band contacted Billy McBurney of Outlet Records in Belfast. The result was the recording of Tŷ Bach’s one and only album called Téanam Ort (‘Let’s Go’). The songs on the album are a mixed bag of traditional songs, tunes borrowed from Welsh with new lyrics in Irish and newly written songs by Gabriel Rosenstock and Eugene Maloney and Aodh Ó Domhnaill.

Soon after the release of Téanam Ort, Ken Mac Diarmada left the band to join up with Aodh Ó Domhnaill’s group called Na hUaisle who had a regular slot on Irish language television programmes.

Ó Murchú and Mac Séalaigh continued on as a two-piece and played as Tŷ Bach at Irish language events organised for young audiences, and at the same time trying their hand at writing new material in Irish, and trying out amplification of their instruments, something that was very rare in Irish language music in the nineteen seventies. On one occasion they were told midway through their set to ‘turn it down’ even though the young audience loved it!

Tŷ Bach played an eclectic set which included songs set to Welsh and Breton tunes (Mairéidín, Téanam Ort, Déanaimis Arís é), traditional Irish songs (‘Bhí Fear Laistiar in Allihees’, ‘an tSeanbhean Bhocht’ among them), newly written songs by Aodh Ó Domhnaill (‘1984’, ‘E.E.C.’, ‘Briotánach, Breatnach, Éireannach’) and Gabriel Rosenstock-Eugene Maloney (‘Scioból’, ‘Spéirling’, ‘Dul amú ort’, ‘Fíon Fionn na Gréige’), ‘An Damhan Alla’ a song by Conamara group ‘Na Cloigne Folmha’ (The Empty Heads), as well as a few compositions by Ó Murchú and Mac Séalaigh themselves (‘Róisín’, ‘An Grá atá Fíor’).

In 1974 Mac Séalaigh wrote the lyrics to which Ó Murchú added the final chorus of what was to become Tŷ Bach’s, and later Na Fírein’s, best known song Tír na nÓg. In 1975, Tír na nÓg, which took its tune from the Welsh hit Nia Ben Aur also based on the Ossianic tale of Oisín and Niamh in the “Land of Youth”, was released with Scioból (Rosenstock/Maloney) as a single on the Outlet label. It was to become a favourite among teenagers learning Irish in school and in Irish Summer colleges.

Although Tŷ Bach did not receive the same recognition as many of their contemporaries, probably due to performing exclusively in Irish and to a certain naivety in their music, Mac Séalaigh and Ó Murchú continued in their efforts to produce a contemporary sound using Irish lyrics for some years. Eventually, the opportunity to perform and write rock songs came with an invitation from Séamus Ó Maitiú to participate in a Celtic Rock Festival to be held in Rath Chairn in County Meath in 1984. In order to strengthen and deepen their sound, Mac Séalaigh invited his cousin Eoin Smith and his fellow rockers Mick Brady and Franny McBride, to back Tŷ Bach for the festival. The result was the formation of a new rock band, Na Fíréin, Ireland’s and the Irish language’s one and only band to write, perform and release records in the rock genre in Irish for any significant period. Between 1984 and 1996, and intermittently since then, Na Fíréin have gigged all over Ireland and released two albums and two single records.

Tŷ Bach
1974 ‘Téanam Ort’ fadcheirnín Ty Bach Outlet Records
1975 Tír na nÓg / Scioból. Tŷ Bach. Ceirnín singil. Ceirníní Outlet

Na Fíréin
1986 ‘Sin mar a Bhíonn’ LP and cassette (Gael Linn)
1986 ‘Deireadh na Seachtaine’ / ‘Dúnta i nGrá’. Single (Gael Linn)
1986 ‘Sin mar a Bhíonn’ / Tóg Mé’. Single (Gael Linn)
1990 ‘Beagáinín níos Fearr’. Albam on cassette (Gealt)
1991 ‘Na Fíréin’. CD of 20 best songs (Gael Linn)

Tír na nÓg

Scioból

Incredible Fog

2009-05-15T13:37:00.001Z

Added new information for The Incredible Fog

Trevor Gordon

2009-04-14T11:58:00.004Z

Here's a couple of cool pop 45s from Trevor Gordon.

Trevor was from the UK, but made the trip to Australia in the mid-60s, where he became good friends with the Gibb brothers. He released three 45s on Leedon, one of which ("House Without Windows") was recorded with the Bee Gees. He also had his own kids TV show.

In 1967 he returned to the UK to join the band The Marbles with his cousin Graham Bonnet. The band would go on to international fame with Gibb penned and produced material.

Trev put out these two 45s for Pye in late 1966. I'm not sure if these were recorded with any input from Graham Bonnet, and without songwriting credits I don't know if they had any Gibb input. Anybody???

Trevor would go on to record an LP, Alphabet, in 1970 which I'd love to hear if anybody has a rip?

Love Comes and Goes/You're An E-Type (Pye 7N 17113. 1966)

Floating/Everyone Knows (Pye 7N 17168. 1966)

Delirium - King's Road

2009-04-02T07:22:00.005Z

Delirium - King's Road (Fonit SPF 31293. 1972)

Delirium were from Italy and are another one of those prog band I just don't get.....This however is the cool and funky flip to their big hit 'Jesahel'.

Triangle - Golden Screen

2009-04-02T07:20:00.004Z

Triangle - Golden Screen (EMI Odeon C 006 10 415)

I can't say that I'm much a fan of prog. Thankfully this 45 from French band Triangle veers on the psychedelic side of progressive.

Henry Stephen - Hang On Sloopy

2009-04-02T07:16:00.003Z

Henry Stephen - Hang On Sloopy (RCA 3-10347. 1968)

Do you need to hear another version of this old chestnut?

Mike Wallace - Natural High/Mandarin

2009-03-17T08:29:00.005Z

Mike Wallace - Natural High/Mandarin (Philips 6003 067. 1970)

I don't know anything about this guy. This 45 got a release in the UK & Europe on Philips and a US release on Atco. I assume he's from the UK. Natural High is a superbly catchy number, whether you agree it's the best kind of high or not! Flip side is more folky and I didn't dig it at first, but its really growing on me.

James Lawton and the James Boys - Music

2009-03-09T08:46:00.003Z

James Lawton and the James Boys - Music (MGM 13978)

Produced by Charlie Calello, who also arranged the Four Seasons.

Reasonable Facsimile - Every Day

2009-03-09T08:34:00.003Z

Reasonable Facsimile - Every Day (Verve KF5009. 1966)

Top side is the band's take on He Was A Friend Of Mine, which has been comped. I prefer the flip, which has that Mama's & Papa's folk rock vibe.

Six Mile Chase - Sunday Kind Of Sunshine

2009-03-09T08:27:00.003Z

Six Mile Chase - Sunday Kind Of Sunshine (Dot 17131. 1968)

There's lot's a great sunshine pop on Dot. I guess a lot of these 45s were studio concoctions. Bernstein & Millrose would also write for Garry Pucket and release a bizarre version of Light My Fire under the name MBP Mix.

Golden Bough - Everybody's Gotta Be Someplace/25c

2009-03-09T08:16:00.004Z

Golden Bough - Everybody's Gotta Be Someplace / 25c (A&M 868. 1966)

Possibly a studio vehicle for Anne Phillips & Hilary Lipsitz. Anne was also involved in Queen Anne's Lace.

Lovin' Couple - The Sun Is A Wanderer

2009-02-09T13:21:00.003Z

Lovin' Couple - The Sun Is A Wanderer (Amy 11,021. 1967)

Last one for today and another pop 45, this one's a bit more folky than the others. Geld-Udell wrote and produced a huge list of mainstream records, including Brian Hyland, Jackie Wilson, Gene Pitney and the Carpenters.

Johnny Tillotson - Don't Tell Me It's Raining

2009-02-09T13:15:00.003Z

Johnny Tillotson - Don't Tell Me It's Raining (MGM K-13738. 1967)

Here's another pop 45. Johnny is most famous for 'Poetry In Motion' of course. Not one for everybody, but if you dig light summery pop you might well enjoy this one.

Mission - You Bring It All Together

2009-02-09T12:57:00.004Z

The Mission - You Bring It All Together (Ranwood 881. 1970)

Written by famed songwriter Jeff Barry, this is a catchy 60s pop number put out under a fictitious band name.

LD Mitchell & the Amalgamated Taxi Cab Service - Planet Of Union/Roses Roses

2009-02-09T12:47:00.005Z

LD Mitchell & the Amalgamated Taxi Cab Service - Planet Of Union/Roses Roses (Alley 1053. 1970)

LD was Larry Mitchell but I don't know who the Taxi Cab were, presumably a studio concoction. Larry would go on to become a preacher. Sounds earlier than '70.

This 45 was featured on the superb "Psych Of The South" compilation, which is well worth checking out.

Pete Stanley and Wizz Jones - The Ballad Of Hollis Brown

2009-02-02T08:59:00.003Z

Pete Stanley and Wizz Jones - The Ballad Of Hollis Brown (Columbia DB 7776. 1965)

Here's an early 45 from Pete Stanley & Wizz Jones, with a great take on Bob's "Hollis Brown".

Dave Lee & The Staggerlees

2009-01-22T12:42:00.008Z

Dave Lee & The Staggerlees - Love Me (Oriole CB-1864. 1963)

Dave Lee & The Staggerlees - Sweet & Lovely (Oriole CB-1907. 1964)

The Staggerlees were well known around the South West during the early-mid sixties. As the "Staggerlees Rock Unit" they competed in, and won, Truro's annual Rock and Rhythm contest in 1962. The band soon built up an extensive following within Cornwall & Devon and became one of the first professional Cornish beat bands. The band turned pro and moved to Torquay, gigging around the Devon area.

The band ventured further afield, playing around the more lucrative Northern Working Men's Club circuit while based in Sheffield. This also lead to gigs around Germany were they share the bill at the Top Ten Club with Dave Dee and The Bostons (who became DDDBMT) and Jimmy Powell & The Jumping Jacks amongst many others.

Through the bands involvement with an agent in Sheffield the band scored a deal with Oriole records, where they recorded two singles. Unfortunately neither singles recieved much airplay failed to take off.

By 1967 Dave Lee had quit the band, which continued as The Staggerlees. The three peice continued playing the club circuit until fairly recently. Dave set up a folk club back in his native Redruth before embarking in a succesful 25 year career in photography.

The following singles are often attributed to the band, but are in fact not related to the Cornish Dave Lee & The Staggerlees:

Take Four / Five To Four On (Decca F11600) 1964
Adam Adamant / Georgia's Theme (Fontana TF723) 1966

Psych Trail Mix

2009-01-18T07:09:00.002Z

Be sure you check out the latest issue of Psych Trail Mix. In the age of websites and blogs the good old paper & staple 'zine needs your support!

Issue #3 of Psych Trail Mix is ready to go! This one is a monster folks, 50 pages full of psych to feast your eyes on. It's $3 for all orders within the USA and $5 for International orders. This fee is only to cover the cost to produce the zine and shipping, I'm still not profiting off of it.

I accept paypal as the easiest/safest form of payment, you can send payment to me at: johnsmoke104@hotmail.com for paypal, or if you'd like to pay another way, please e-mail me at: psychtrailmix@yahoo.com

Here are thecontents of issue #3 below:

*60's Psych and Beyond Cd Reviews

*DVD and Book Reviews

*Exclusive Interview with Rick Brown of The Misunderstood
*Helios Creed: Legendary Psychedelic Guitarist At Work
*Rant: Snooty SUV Driving Suburbanite Slobs
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Rustiks - Hallo Anne

2009-01-16T08:21:00.003Z

Rustiks - Hallo Anne (Decca F 11960. 1964)

Here's a cool beat ballad from the other side of the Tamar. Paignton, Devon to be precise.

After entering a Beat competition on the regional ITV 'Westward TV' they were offered a deal with NEMS by one of the competition judges, Brian Epstein. Epstein lined the band up with Decca where they recorded two 45s "What A Memory Can Do/Hallo Anne" and "I'm Not The Loving Kind/Can't You See", both of which failed to set the world alight and the band dissapeared from sight.

Hart Rock '71

2009-01-13T12:23:00.006Z

Hart Rock '71 (Abreaction MLT-BA-TY. 1971)

Keith Fisher of Yellow kindly got in touch to share some recollections of Hart Rock '71:

This was the sixth and final incarnation of Yellow; the original formed in ’69 and featured Vic Malcolm on lead guitar, who went on to form Geordie with Tom Hill who had joined the fourth inc’ of Yellow along with me and Bob Barton in August of 1970.

Bob, Kenny Mountain and myself would re-unite in ‘73 with Beckett. Co-incidentally: Beckett’s bass player was Frankie Gibbon, who played in Brass Alley at the time of the EP.

The first inc’ of Yellow recorded a single on CBS in early 1970: Roll it down the hill/Living a lie, that disappeared without trace (a very rare record: S4869) then the drummer [Tommy Sloan] was replaced by Paul Thompson, who had been playing with John Miles and would go on to join Roxy Music.

The Yellow on the EP featured Kenny, myself and two others: Brian James Ingham on bass, and Micky Balls on lead guitar.

A typically incestuous and nepotistic family tree, eh?

Lucas Tyson morphed into Cirkus. Trilogy became Prelude and had a minor hit by covering After the Goldrush. Brass Alley remained a very popular local band until Frankie left, when they became Long-Vehicle.

Yellow’s manager (until Tom and I joined) was Ian Lish from Sunderland: a local promoter. He had been approached [in 1971] by Hartlepool football club to promote an all day music festival in order to – hopefully – boost the club’s declining funds. Kenny and I teamed up with Ian and helped to promote the festival. I don’t remember who’s idea the record was but Multicord was a popular studio in Sunderland and Ken McKenzie – who owned it – agreed to record the tracks for a very nominal sum.

The EP became a collectors item overnight.

The festival was a bit of a shambles and the headline bands – Arrival and The Roulettes (if my memory serves me well – the drugs were much better in those days) only pulled around a thousand punters. The club got professional help the following year and made a decent fist of things.

The Hi-Noons - It's Our World / Want It To Last

2009-01-07T12:56:00.005Z

The Hi-Noons - It's Our World / Want It To Last (Hi-Noon 100)

In January of 1970 Mike Lachney had just put out his first recording for Eddie Shuler of Goldband Records ("This Valentine"). He hit the road around South Louisiana promoting the single and during this time met up with Frankie Bordelon, who was a DJ and KVPU in Ville Platte, Louisiana.

Like Mike, Frankie was a budding songwriter, although he was yet to make any recordings. Frankie was managing a band of High School teens from the Ville Platte and Eunice area called the Hi-Noons. Frankie and Mike set about writing a couple of songs for the band and Mike convinced Eddie Shuler of Goldband to record them.

The resulting single was "It's Our World/Want It To Last" (Hi-Noon 100). Despite sounding vintage 66/67 the songs were recorded in September 1970, with the 45 appearing a month later. While being a Goldband recording the record was released on the bands own Hi-Noon label (inspired by the band Rare Earth whose hits were coming out on their namesake label).

The record did well in their own stomping ground of Ville Platte and Eunice, but failed to take off any further afield. After sticking it out for another year, a few line-up changes saw the band re-emerge as Madison Fog, who were active up to the late 70s.

Tikis & Fabulons

2009-01-07T12:38:00.001Z

R.I.P Ron Ashton

2009-01-06T17:57:00.002Z

In my late teens barely a day would go by without listening to either of the first two Stooges albums. Another sad loss. There seems to be too many of them at the moment....

Butch, Peggy and Little John - It Must Be Love

2009-01-05T13:08:00.004Z

Butch, Peggy and Little John - It Must Be Love (Old Town 1165. 1964)

"Little John" (John Lindemann) has kindly been touch and provided me with some more information on the band:

The band was from Fort Salona, Long Island, NY and made up with three siblings, Butch, Peggy & John Lindemann. John was somewhat overweight at the time, hence the "Little John" nickname.

"It Must Be Love" was recorded 'live in the studio', which is evident in the raw quality. The mean harp blowing is courtesy of Peggy. Both sides of the single were written and produced by a friend-of-a-friend Steve Verroca, who would later produced Link Wray. The bands manager took the demo to Old Town who were suitable impressed and pressed up the single ("It Must Be Love" b/w "Tomorrow Night", Old Town 165. 1964)

This top side "It Must Be Love" is a superb raw harp driven pounder, quite different to a lot of the tamer sounds of the time. Unfortunately this was a one off and the bands sound was better represented by the poppy b-side, Tomorrow Night. The band gigged around the New Jersey area and shared the bill with Neil Sedaka and Bruce Morrow at Palisades Park.

They would release one more 45, "Lucille" on Theme Records, which again was in the same pop style of the Old Town's flip side.

Jay Hawkers - Send Her Back

2009-01-05T13:03:00.003Z

Jay Hawkers - Send Her Back (Deltron 1228)

I love my moody 45s and here's another cool one from the same Detroit bunch who cut the 'Dawn Of Instruction' single.

Tikis & Fabulons - Take A Look

2009-01-05T13:00:00.003Z

Tikis & Fabulons - Take A Look (Tower 181)

Let's kick off the New Year in the PNW.

Flip side is a cover of Skip & Flip's 'Cherrry Pie', but the other side is a cool PNW mover from this Portland, Oregon band. A popular live draw they cut one more 45 as The Fabulons before calling it a day.

Carnegy Hall - The Bells Of San Francisco

2008-12-15T12:07:00.004Z

Carnegy Hall - The Bells Of San Francisco (Atco 6540. 1968)

I've been digging around for something festive and this is the best I can come with. Keep an eye for that psychedelic sleigh on Christmas Eve!

Cliff Adams - When It Comes To The Crunch/Rhythm and Crunch

2008-12-11T13:46:00.004Z

Cliff Adams - When It Comes To The Crunch/Rhythm and Crunch (LYN1022. 1966)

This promo, for Smiths Crisps, was recorded by advertising jingle composer Cliff Adams and is a very cool mod mover.

I'm not sure if this was issued as a promo or whether you had to collect tokens and send away for it. If you had to eat an artery clogging amount of crisps to send away for this chances are you'd need to do more than The Crunch to get your health back on track!

Manfred Mann and Mike Hug - Ski "Full of Fitness" Theme

2008-12-11T13:38:00.006Z

Manfred Mann and Mike Hug - Ski "Full of Fitness" Theme (Ski 1. 1970)

After the break-up of the original Manfreds it's two founding members recording some funky promo disks before forming Chapter 3. This is the first, for Ski Yoghurt. Ever so slightly repetitive, but still cool. The pair also recorded similar disks for Michelin tyres and Maxwell House coffee, but i've yet to hear those.

The Free - (A Day Of Decision) For Lost Soul Blue/What Makes You?

2008-12-09T13:11:00.004Z

The Free - (A Day Of Decision) For Lost Soul Blue/What Makes You? (Atco 6662. 1969)

Some more heavy sounds, this time out of Michigan. This originally came out on Marquee and was picked up for national distribution by Atco.

Inner Lite - All The Way In/If I Only Knew

2008-12-09T13:07:00.003Z

Inner Lite - All The Way In/If I Only Knew (ssExx 667. 1970)

Here's some heavy sounds from Iowa. This is the 2nd and final release from this bunch.

Royal Guardsmen - Magic Window/Mother Where's Your Daughter

2008-12-09T08:19:00.003Z

Royal Guardsmen - Magic Window/Mother Where's Your Daughter (Laurie 3494. 1969)

Despite the terrible 'snoopy' novelty records the Royal Guardsman did cut a few good sides.

Here's one of their later singles and a great double sider.

Philosophers- The Law Of Love/Do Fuga

2008-12-09T08:16:00.003Z

Philosophers- The Law Of Love/Do Fuga (Philo Spectrum 31180. 1969)

Here's some more late 60s stuff. The Philosophers were a group of vietnam vets out of LA. They also cut an LP which Acid Archives describe as having a "Hammond, fuzz and a swank r'n'b club groove" (??!).

Stoned Hinge - Violet Lady

2008-11-24T13:19:00.003Z

Let's dip into the late 60s/early 70s for a couple of 45s.

Stoned Hinge - Violet Lady (Candid 959C 2805. 1971)

First up is Stoned Hinge out of Edgerton, Wisconsin with Voilet Lady, the B-Side of their only single Janis.

Not everybodies cup of tea and perhaps a bit too Marshall Tucker Band for some, but I dig it.

Detriot Gold - Down By The River

2008-11-24T13:14:00.002Z

Detriot Gold - Down By The River (Lobo AR 4132)

I assume from '69 or the early 70's comes this bunch with a nice Neil Young cover.

RIP Mitch Mitchell

2008-11-13T06:05:00.003Z

Sad news this morning that Mitch Mitchell has now departed. I was obsessed with The Jimi Hendrix Experience as a teenager and Mitch has always been my favourite drummer, he also always seemed like a thoroughly nice chap. Sadly now all the Experience are gone, along with Buddy Miles.

Chateaus - Summer Has Come And Gone

2008-11-11T12:49:00.003Z

Chateaus - Summer Has Come And Gone (Jam 114)

A cool sombre 45 from The Chateaus.

Tommy James and The Shondells - Say I Am / Lots Of Pretty Girls

2008-10-27T13:58:00.005Z

Tommy James and The Shondells - Say I Am / Lots Of Pretty Girls (Roulette 4695. 1966)

Tommy put out a LOT of records, most of them fairly straight pop, but he did record the odd cool rocker.

Fred Milander - I Want Your Loving

2008-10-27T13:46:00.003Z

Fred Milander - I Want Your Loving (Center City 701. 1966)

This one owes more to 'Some Kind Love' than 'Louie Louie', but still cool. Fred Milander was DJ Freddie Fredericks from the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania.

This record came out in 1966, but looks like it was recorded in '64.

Buddies - Only My Friend

2008-10-27T12:59:00.003Z

Buddies - Only My Friend (Swing 102. 1964)

Heavy on the Beatles harmonies and possibly out of New York.

Tommy Flanders - Between Purple And Blue

2008-10-06T12:28:00.004Z

Tommy Flanders - Between Purple And Blue (Verve PB 3075. 1968)

I've been really digging this track lately from the ex-Blues Project guy. It's such a great song.

United Nations - Cause I Love You / In My Dreams

2008-10-06T12:20:00.003Z

United Nations - Cause I Love You / In My Dreams (Cha Cha C-771)

Let's have some garage pop today, although the emphasis in clearly on pop.

First up are the United Nations. In My Dreams is very nice catchy tune.

St George IV - What'cha Doin' To Me / Love Has No Place For A Clown

2008-10-06T12:15:00.003Z

St George IV - What'cha Doin' To Me / Love Has No Place For A Clown (St George 157)

With a Hollywood address on the label, I'm guessing this was a LA band. Pop with some folk rocking touches.

Up With People

2008-09-17T07:26:00.003Z

I'm sure the US folks can fill us in with more details about Up With People. While pretty much unknown in the UK this clean cut, god fearing bunch are well known in the US, taking their brand of positive squeaky clean, bland music to a huge audience through events such as the superbowl (they were spoofed a superbowl episode of the Simpsons as "Hooray for Everything").

While the majority of their output is to be avoided like the plague, this s/t LP from 1970 contains some nice groovy pop, including some unpexpected fuzz on A New Dimension.

The Floro Brothers

2008-08-28T13:35:00.005Z

Here's the top sides of 2 45's out of San Gabriel, LA. You've guess it, I don't know who the Floro Brothers are...'Tomorrow' is a quirky and infectious little garage popper, while 'Trend Of The Times' is a cool moody psych tinged protest number.

Tomorrow (Is Going To Be Me Without You) (Kangaroo 33. 1968)

The Trend Of The Times (Kangaroo 34. 1968)

Shillings - Lying and Trying

2008-08-15T12:58:00.004Z

Shillings - Lying and Trying (Three Rivers 701. 1966)

Last one for today is this pleasant and catchy folk rock 45 from this Allentown, Pennsylvania bunch.

Little Joe - The Puppet / Walking So Alone

2008-08-15T12:50:00.004Z

Little Joe - The Puppet / Walking So Alone (Technique 100)

Little Joe is presumbly Joe Horton. A cool mean folk rocker. Anybody know anymore about this guy?

Fugitives - I Miss You Girl/This Is It

2008-08-15T12:42:00.005Z

Fugitives - I Miss You Girl/This Is It (Clevetown CTXP 129. 1965)

Here's some cool Mersey influenced beat from Warren, Pennsylvania.

Flip side 'This is It' has some of the worst fake-brit accents I have ever heard.

The Berrys - Sand and Sea

2008-08-04T12:52:00.005Z

The Berrys - Sand and See (Apex 77043. 1966)

Out of Albuquerque, New Mexico comes (yet another) cover of Midnight Hour, but flip it over and you get to hear a cool moody ballad.

Produced by Lindy Blaskey this was orignally released on his own Lavette label, then picked up for national distribution by Challenge. It also made it over the border and recieved a Canadian release on Apex.

The Berrys were previously known as The Viscount V, who's jangler "She Doesn't Know" appeared on the Teenage Shutdown 'Nobody To Love' comp.

The Dolphins - I Should Have Stayed

2008-08-04T12:43:00.004Z

The Dolphins - I Should Have Stayed (Yorkshire 520652)

I also love my moody garage. 'The Moody Folk', there's a great garage comp in the making.....Here's a 45 I can't get enough of at the moment.

The Dolphins were from New York and had a number of releases prior to this 45 and scored a minor local hit with the top side "Surfin' East Coast". They then relocated to Texas and became The Chains, gaining the tag 'The Beatles of El Paso'.

60sgaragebands.com have put out a CD of Chains and Dolphins material which is well worth checking out.

King Charles and The Counts - I Don't Wanna Cry

2008-08-04T12:29:00.005Z

King Charles and The Counts - I Don't Wanna Cry (Astor 7059)

I love my folk punking 45s and here's a great one from King Charles & The Counts. I think the band were from the PNW and "King Charles" was in fact Charlie Bieker, who also played with Easy Chair. They also released the great "It's True It's You/Salt 'N' Pepper (Crusader 117)" 45.

This is an Australian release on Ascot, and it's anybodies guess how it made it to the otherside of the world.....Also recieved a US release (Crusader 121).

Mongrels - Funny Day/Good Good Man

2008-07-04T12:05:00.004Z

Mongrels - Funny Day/Good Good Man (Nico 107. 1969)

Flip side was comped on Heavy Dose Of Lyte Psych, but top side is uncomped and is a cool and catchy upbeat pop-psycher which I dig more than the b-side.

The Mongrels hailed from Winnipeg and released numerous 45s on several labels. Funny Day recieved a review on American Bandstand and was a minor regional hit. Lead singer Joey Gregorash went on to become a popular Canadian entertainer.