11.19.2008

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

14 comments:

The Bomber said...

pssw: mza-garage.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Great cd Pablo;incredible we must wait 42 years to hear so good tracks.

Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot!
Cheers from Athens Greece!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting this great album. (Washington DC USA)

Roadrunner said...

Gracias pablo,excelente post..la verdad que no lo conocia y me gusto ,te felicito..

Caterina Micci said...

why I don't find anything about one of greatest garage bands, Kenny and the Kasuals?? anyway, you make a very good work! sorry for my bad english, greetings and garage from Italy
in fuzz I trust!!
Daphne

Anonymous said...

And thanx and greetings from France !

Outrpsych

Anonymous said...

Pablo, do you have LSD (The Light Sound Dimension, with Bev Bivens, ex-We Five)?

aldo said...

I'm looking forward to hear this one, The MOJO MEN recorded a lot of great stuff and yes, most it's been released 30-40 years after!

DAPHNE: I posted KENNY & THE KASUALS recently...visit
http://diveintoyesterday.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Si seƱor matricula de honor para este post, muchas gracias por seguir saciando nuestra psicodelicas mentes.

aldo said...

the first 4 or 5 songs are great and there's more to follow but after playing it few times i feel like it's a bit downhill after the initial excitement of those first tracks...
nonetheless a band that i always liked and certainly recommended for fans of Mojo Men and the SAN FRANCISCO SOUND 1966-67.
THANK YOU!

Anonymous said...

it's a wonderful collection you got here. thanx very much for sharing!!!

Betto Skin said...

Please, repost....

muldaur said...

please,rerost