V.A. : It`s happening here (US, 60s Really Rare Garage Promo Recordings from N.Jersey)

I really like this compilation, one of my favs: "She wont have me".
Rare recordings, amateurs band pulling out all of their repertoire!.
Well... what do you think? *-

These gems are from a 12-track LP compilation of young, fledgling New Jersey rock bands from the mid to late 1960s, produced by Alyn Heim and Bill Neale.
hese gentlemen magnanimously provide 11 different amateur rock bands the venue to showcase their talents and original songs on this promotional record (only "The People" get two spots, with what sounds like two completely different bands anyway). Some are just OK, some outright awful, none are actually what you'd call proficient, but all are utterly sincere. The music is unfailingly charming on a ‘locals' level, and there are actually some decent tunes and arrangements buried underneath some often brutal performances and productions. The Avlons in particular should certainly get some kind of award for crafting a rather appealing pop record out of exactly two notes.

It sounds as though the bands were given one take, and then hustled out of the studio, which would seem to defeat the purpose of such a noble venture. Nonetheless, there is an abundance of youthful innocence and joie-de-vivre in these tracks. The true star is whoever wrote the liner notes, which make each of these bands (none of which ever amounted to anything at all) sound like the second coming of the Beatles.

LINK: HAPPENS HERE! (yes dedicated to all of you who visit daily this blog...and specially to those who drop comments all the time! thank you.)

The Mojo Men: Not Too Old to Start Cryin': The Lost 1966 Masters (US, 1966)

BAND INFO

One of the earliest San Francisco rock bands, the Mojo Men had local hits on the Autumn label with "Dance With Me," "She's My Baby," and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Off the Hook" in the mid-'60s. Their early sides displayed a raunchy but thin approach taken from the mold of British Invasion groups like the Stones and Them.

One of the earliest San Francisco rock bands, the Mojo Men had local hits on the Autumn label with "Dance With Me," "She's My Baby," and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Off the Hook" in the mid-'60s. Their early sides displayed a raunchy but thin approach taken from the mold of British Invasion groups like the Stones and Them.

ALBUM REVIEW
For a minor mid-'60s San Francisco garage/folk-rock/psych group with very limited national success, the Mojo Men certainly recorded a hell of a lot of material. This compilation contains no less than two dozen previously unreleased 1966 recordings, cut in the uneasy period between when their original label, Autumn, had bit the dust, and they had yet to release tracks with their next company, Reprise. It's no less than the fourth CD of material from the group that's been issued, with no duplication between the discs. For that reason, even some enthusiastic '60s/San Francisco collectors might wonder whether it's only of peripheral, completist-only interest. It's definitely not, however; a little surprisingly, it has much of the best stuff they ever did, with only a few of the songs that would be re-recorded at Reprise. Far more than their earlier, more garage/British Invasion-inclined recordings prior to the entrance of drummer/singer Jan Errico into the lineup, it has a folk-rock/slightly psychedelic feel somewhat akin to the pre-Grace Slick work of Jefferson Airplane. Too, it's nonetheless less precious and slick than their more polished (if occasionally fine), baroque rock-influenced Reprise material. Bittersweet, wistful folk-rock with mild garage and psychedelic tinges (and more than a touch of the Beau Brummels) is the main vibe on this strong set of mostly original material, highlighted by the ones on which Errico's stirring, yearning vocals -- the best qualities she brought into the band from her former outfit, the Vejtables -- are prominent. While some of the tunes are rather run of the mill, the best of them are really good, including the Beau Brummels-style "Is Our Love Gone"; "Not Too Old to Start Cryin'," represented by two versions (and later redone for Reprise); and, above all, "You Didn't Even Say Goodbye," where Errico's singing is a match for Signe Anderson at her best. Even the oddball cover arrangements of "She Cried" (formerly a hit for Jay & the Americans) and the late-'50s Bell Notes rocker "I've Had It" are cool. You could even make an argument for this as the best Mojo Men CD, despite the absence of their only two songs to make appreciable national noise, "Dance with Me" and "Sit Down, I Think I Love You."

LINK: DANCE WITH ME

John E Sharpe And The Squires: Maybelline + Singles (SOUTH AFRICAN Garage Pop/Rock,1966)

CBS, ALD 6962
+ BONUS TRACKS/EXTRA SONGS.
RARE AS HELL.

South African garage rock ... you're kidding right? Nope. To someone who doesn't know much about this niche, it's pretty friggin' impressive.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a great deal of information on namesake John E. Sharpe and company. Sharpe and bassist Les Goode had previously been in the Johannesburg-based The Deans. Inspired by The Beatles and The Stones in 1963 the two formed John E. Sharpe and the Squires. A popular draw on the city's club scene, in 1965 they were signed to CBS South Africa. Over the next two years they released a series four singles:

- 1965's 'Stop Your Sobbing' b/w 'High Heel Sneakers' (CBS catalog number SSC 545)

- 1965's 'I'll Explain' b/w 'Yours for the Picking' (CBS catalog number SSC-587)

- 1966's 'I Am a Rock' b/w 'Like a Rolling Stone' (CBS catalog number SSC-650)

- 1966's 'Monkey Shine' b/w 'Take It Easy' (CBS catalog number SSC-698)

Their sole LP, 1966's "Maybelline" offers up a sterling set of pop and raging garage rockers. All hyperbole aside, musically the album rivals anything put out by their better known US and UK contemporaries. Sharpe has one of those snotty voices that's perfect for the band's commercial moves which include one of the earliest Paul Simon covers I'm aware of ('I Am a Rock'). Also be sure to check out their weird pseudo-polka cover of Chuck Berry's title track. His voice is even better on tougher garage numbers like the catchy 'Monkey Shine' and their blazing cover of Bo Diddley's 'I'm a Man'.

"Maybelline" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Monkey Shine - 2:26

2.) What's Your Name - 2:12

3.) Maybelline (Chuck Berry) - 2:35

4.) L.S.D. - 2:56

5.) I'm a Man (Bo Diddley) - 4:00

6.) I Am a Rock (Paul Simon) - 2:28

(side 2)
1.) Walking The Dog - 2:21

2.) She's Fine, She's Mine - 4:20

3.) Bo-Diddley (Bo Doddley) - 3:59

4.) I Gave My Wife A Diamond - 2:13

5.) Back Door Man - 2:55

6.) Folsom Prison Blues - 3:07

I haven't been able to verify it, but someone who knew Sharpe in the early 1960s told me that he had died of cancer.

(internet source)

great info, reviews, pictures and interviews (and more) at
garage hangover site

LINK: cause IM A BACK DOOR MAN ! ! !

V.A.: America`s Hottest Garage Rock Songs (Perfomed by Danish 60`s garage rock bands!)

Ok, the words raw and crude are just great to describe this compilation, fast n furiuous covers, like the title says... Americas hottest garage rock songs ! ! !

While many of the original garage bands vanished into the dustbin of history, the songs they wrote were integral to the fabric of American popular music. (See the pic for the tracklist/bands)







LINK: DANISH GARAGE ROCK BANDS FROM THE 60S

Steve & The Board: ... and the Giggle Eyed Goo (AUS, Garage Beat 60s Comp)

BAND INFO

A pop band from Sydney who achieved some hits. Steve Kipner's dad , Nat Kipner was one of Sydney's top producers and also owned the production / record company Spin. Nat worked with The Bee Gees on many of their early records and he gave his son's band lots of free time in his studio to record and write songs.

Their album was one of the rarest and best of the sixties. Predominantly comprised of decent originals, it also had a splattering of tight cover versions of Rosalyn, Farmer John, Love's Made A Fool Of You and Little Miss Rhythm And Blues.

Colin Petersen had been a child actor and would later travel to England to join The Bee Gees along with Vince Maloney. Peterson's replacement, Geoff Bridgford went on to The Groove, Tin Tin and also worked with The Bee Gees for a while, whilst Carl Keats also wrote some songs for The Bee Gees.

ALBUM REVIEW

All 16 tracks released by the band are included on this CD reissue of their sole album, which adds both sides of their two subsequent non-LP singles. Steve and the Board weren't out of this world, but they were an energetic, slightly above-average British Invasion-inspired band, leaning closer to the Beatles and the Mersey sound than raving R&B. Their biggest Australian hit, "The Giggle Eyed Goo," is actually a bit in the novelty vein and not too representative of most of their repertoire, which was dominated by original material. "I'm to Blame" is a nice, innocuous mating of the Mersey sound and the Byrds, while "Margot" goes more into the harder-charging sounds of mid-'60s mod rock, and "I Want" will probably be favored by garage fans for its high, droning, distorted guitar riff. "I Call My Woman Hinges 'Cause She's Something to Adore" is certainly one of the more oddball song titles of the era, and is like several of their other songs, a respectable midpoint between the R&B and pop wings of the British-influenced sound. The highlight, though, is the brooding, sublimely melodic rockaballad "Lonely Winter," which, incidentally, was recorded by the Bee Gees (with better vocals and a slightly fruitier arrangement) around the same time.

There's another Bee Gees connection in a cover of an early Barry Gibb song the Bee Gees never released, "Little Miss Rhythm & Blues," though this slow interpretation is markedly inferior to the fine up-tempo version of the song issued by Trevor Gordon in the mid-'60s. Of the non-LP cuts, "So Why Pretend" is about the best in its sort of Zombies-meets-1965 British beat boom sound, though none of them are that great. Unfortunately, there's virtually nothing in the way of informative liner notes on this expanded re-release, though it has a complete discography.

LINK: GOO

Good Feelings (Canadian Garage Rock, 60`s Compilation)

Both sides of this Winnipeg, Manitoba, band's 45 can also be heard on Rough Diamonds, Vol. 8: Winnipeg 65-66 and Like I Love You has also got a second airing on The Midwest vs. Canada, Vol. 2. Both are pleasant but in no way outstanding.

Hackie was later guitarist with Petite and Nite People in 1983.

Rips from 45`s, eps and singles, no oficial album here. Let me know what you think about this canadian band.

LINK: LIKE I LOVE YOU !

The Gables: Snake Dance (US Very Rare Garage/Surf Rock, 1966)

Does anybody know certain dates about this band? year of the lp, gigs perhaps? another shows? anything?- dig it.

196?

LP

Fleetwood

GAB-1

This obscure mid-sixties garage album is now a minor collectors' item.



The Gables (1966)

The Dimensions: From All Dimensions (US, 1966)

From Park Ridge, Illinois. The album is a classic of the 'prep-rock' garage genre, rather like the Rising Storm album, only this supposedly had a pressing of just 100 making it a mega-buck rarity. The Eva reissue has an extra track and costs a lot less!

There were many obscure garage bands in the mid-'60s who released limited editions of all-cover albums to be given away at gigs and school. Most of these albums were virtually worthless except as time capsules, but there were a few scattered exceptions that proved the rule -- LPs of this kind by T.C. Atlantic and the Litter became valued collector's items. The Dimensions were another example. Nothing is known about this Chicago college group, whose derivative, but exciting, album achieved a much greater audience when it was reissued for the '60s collector audience in the '80s.


Album review

Not an original bone in their body on this 1966 album of 12 covers, but The Dimensions did a good job as aspiring Rolling Stones. Killer versions of "Carol" and "Do You Love Me" highlight this timepiece, with the kind of crudely amplified raw guitars and frenetic drums that could not be reproduced by the most exacting current scientific methods.






LINK: LUPE LU ! ! !

Gene Latter & The Shake Spears: Summertime (SA,1966)

As they should, these lads were one of the biggest bands to ever come out of Rhodesia, a former British colony in southern Africa turned into a quasi-apartheid state until nationalist struggles kicked out White rule and turned the land into the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. While the Spears spent their early years in Rhodesia, they made their mark while living in Belgium. Thus, their records, while sought out, are not too difficult to find. (crud-crud)

Pretty damn good songs here. Fast pop, beat rock, of course covers of all kinds. Dig it.



LINK: and the living is easy...

The Victors: Victorious (US Garage, 1964/66)

Dan Dailey, Jim Kane, Terry Knudsen and Gary Leach were memebers of the Scotsmen. Also related with the Litter.

This Minneapolis group later became The Litter and they can also be heard on the Get Hip album (GHAS 5066), Electras vs. Scotsmen / Victors (1993). It contains tracks from 1965 to 1968. All bar Denny Waite were previously in The Scotsmen.

Yes.. these guys were young.. and their covers were so raw and crude !! really garageones !. Pay attention to all the songs, from "midnight hour" to "good golly miss molly"(rawest version ever!) and a couple of more songs that are really interesting. Really like this kind of songs/sounds/style (simple songs, raw voices, crude instrumentation, easy to play, hee... jjeje) , so hope you can understand me.


LINK: I AINT GONNA EAT OUT MY HEART ANYMORE !