In Dan's Garage... #4

Thanks for all the comments and support! I'll try to get covers for #1 & #2 made up by the weekend. I took off from work early today to get some dental work done, so now that I got that over with, heres a new edition of "Dan's Garage"!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Creation - Making Time / Try And Stop Me

 

I can't think of a better way to start this one out. This was the first Creation single, and in my opinion their best (or my favorite anyway). They had a three 45s released in the U.S.. none of which made the charts which is unfortunate because this should have been a hit right up there with The Who's "My Generation". This example is on Barry Records a Canadian label.

Zakary Thaks - Bad Girl / I Need You

YOW! Wild, frantic, craziness from one of Texas' most legendary bands. The "Thaks" were from Corpus Christi and put out a bunch of 45s in the 60s all real good (IMOH) but this one is the topper. Originally released on J-Beck records, this became a local hit and was picked up for national distribution by Mercury. Dig it.

Raves - Don't Chop Down My Tree / Think Of Your Love

What a great 2 sider! These guys were from Brooklyn, NY and put out three very good 45s, all worth searching out. They remind me of a cross between The Blues Magoos, and Bohemian Vendetta, who were both from the NYC area.

King Bees - What She Does To Me / That Aint Love

This is an interesting 45. Danny Kortchmar ended up being a session guy playing with James Taylor, and John McDuffy ended up in the Blues Project, none of which explains this screamin', pounding R&B punker (well I guess I can see the Blues Project thing). How Kortchmar went from this to Jo Mama and James Taylor is confounding.

Shillings - Laugh

The Shillings were from Allentown, PA and put out four 45s, this being their first. Great moody folk/punk. Sorry for the lame condition of the 45 though....

Shades - Ballot Bachs / When You Said Goodbye

From Webster City, IA. The Shades released this sole 45 of which the instrumental flip, "Ballot Bachs",  is the real stunner. Wild fuzz dominates this cut, while the top side, is a pretty good soul influenced pop number.


Dave Berry - Don't Gimme No Lip Child / The Crying Game

A legend in Holland, British singer Dave Berry released a bunch of stuff in the 60s and had a relatively successful career. The top side of this 45 is "The Crying Game" a great British Invasion style ballad, but you can't beat "Don't Gimme No Lip Child".


Max Frost & The Troopers - Paxton Quigley's Had The Course

The "Troopers" were a fictional group best known for "Shape Of Things To Come" from the film "Wild In The Streets". This tune written by Chad & Jeremy was featured in the film "3 In The Attic" which I remember seeing quite a while ago late night after a bender with The Projectiles. All I can recall about the film was Quigley getting laid a lot, and this song....which I think is perfectly crafted psych/pop


Mark Seven - Working On Love

Tough, sax driven rocker from a group I know absolutely nothing about.
(Just came across some info on this label and "Doug Hewitt Productions". Piece was a label out of Tacoma, WA, which probably explains the "tough sax driven sound". So I guess the Pacific NW would be a good assumption)


Lime - Hey Girl / Love A Go Go

For a label that specialized in the greatest blues ever, Chess managed to put out some really cool garage/psyche 45s. This is one of them. All I know about The Lime is that they were from Akron, OH, and had at least one other record.


Gaylan Ladd - Her Loving Way

Gaylan Ladd was from Waco, TX and his real name was Gaylan Latimer. I guess he's better known for "Repulsive Situation" which is pretty good, but this raving punker, the "b" side of a lame ballad, is his best.


Stingrays Of Newburgh - Fool / If I Needed Someone

From Newburgh, NY (duh), The Stingrays had two 45s on Columbia. This one is great! "Fool" is a really tough punker with a fantastic guitar break, and the flip is a frantic garagey version of the Beatles' hit. Their second 45 (which I'll post later) isn't quite as good. Produced by late jazz guitar great Howard Roberts.


Galaxies IV - Don't Lose Your Mind / Piccadilly Circus

From Trenton, NJ. This group had four 45s, of which I have two. This one is a classic two sider. The top is a perfect psych punker, and the flip is a cool rip off of The Stones' "2120 S. Michigan Ave"


John Fred - Fortune Teller / Making Love To You

Before John Fred and his "Playboy Band" had a huge hit with "Judy In Disguise" he released some pretty fine garage/R&B records, this being one of them. I've never seen this particular 45 on any comp, and I wonder how rare it is. This one is really good and nothing like "Judy"


Bougalieu - Let's Do Wrong / When I Was A Children

For those who aren't familiar with this tune, it was released twice. The first was a "clean" version, and the second was a raunchier, fuzzier version which appears on most comps. This is the first "clean" version which I really like a lot. From Albany, NY.

Bob Seger System - 2+2=? / Death Row

Finally we have another Bob Seger 45. By this time he had started the"Bob Seger System" and was well on his way to becoming one of Chevy's greatest spokesmen. But before he cashed in, he put out this monster. A lot of my friends and colleagues may poo pooh this one, but I think both sides are fantastic, especially the screaming "Death Row".

Get It All HERE

Comments!

Hello friends. I think in all the chaos of trying to spruce up my blog (there were at lest a dozen attempts, and finally settled on the good old simple template), I messed the comments section up. Maybe some of you tried to post one but couldn't? It's all fixed now. Feel free to drop me a line and tell me your thoughts....
Dan

In Dan's Garage... #3

Hey!!! I hope everyone is enjoying the new posts. This blog not only gives me a chance to share my stuff with all of you, but it gives me a great opportunity to listen to all the records I've been collecting over the years. I've made covers for this post, and I'll continue to do that for future ones, but I'll also include the label scans too. I think a lot of you will like both. This post has a lot of major label stuff. Not quite as "punk" as the last two. What I do is grab a stack from the box I'm working on and whatever comes up, comes up. I guess every post will be a nice "grab bag" so to speak. So sit back and enjoy...Dan's Garage... #3!!!!!

Jaguars - The Gorilla / You'll Turn Away

I could have sworn these were the same East L.A. Jaguars that did "Return Of Farmer John", but I guess they were a different band from San Jose. Great version of "The Gorilla" and the flip sounds just like "Moulty"!

Scuba Crowns - Concentration / Scuba Dive

Probably The Champs, but I might be wrong. Cool cheezy surf tunes about a new dance craze that never really caught on, and scuba diving of course.

Jay Bentley & The Jet Set - Watusi '64

More dance craziness. Great party atmosphere on this one. The flip's kinda lame so I left it out...

Mojo Men - Dance With Me / Loneliest Boy In Town

A real classic here! Jimmy Alaimo was the cousin of Steve Alaimo, local Rochester, NY native. This was their second 45 on Autumn. It should also be noted that "Sly" is indeed Sly Stone who produced this and apparently played organ on it too.

Pilgrimage - Do You Love Me

The same group that did the fantastic "Bad Apple". This is a great movin' version of the Contours hit.

Gants - I Wonder / Greener Days

One of, if not the best Gants tune IMHO. "I Wonder" was actually the 'B' side of "Greener Days", which was written and produced by "Bread" master David Gates. It's kinda mushy, but I really like it, so I included it here anyway.

Bob Seger & The Last Heard - East Side Story

Seger's first single. The first time I heard this I couldn't believe it was the same guy, but those vocals..... Yeah, it's too bad he couldn't continue to put out stuff like this, but I guess he had a lot of bills to pay.

Plebs - Bad Blood / Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You

A British group that I have no info about (can anyone help???). Terrific organ driven two sider released in early '65. The version of "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" is unlike any I've ever heard.

Sir Raleigh & The Coupons - Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day / Whitcomb Street

Nice pounding version of this tune. From Seattle, Sir Raleigh was actually Dewey Martin who became the drummer for The Buffalo Springfield. "Whitcomb St." is a great instrumental that sounds like a backing track that never had any vocals put on it, in fact after closer inspection (with my ears of course), it turns out it's a version of  "If You Want Me It's Alright" by Adam Faith & The Roulettes, without vocals!!!!.

Liverpool Five - She's Mine / Sister Love

I love The Liverpool Five. I can't figure out why these guys weren't more popular 'cause the vast majority of their 45s are great two siders. Originally from England, they settled down in the Pacific Northwest, and released 4 or 5 albums, and 8 45s all worth seeking out.

Plebeian Rebellion - Good Sweet Love / Stick To Your Guns

Great bubblegummy psych pop with some killer fuzz guitar. Probably a studio group, but I can't say for sure.

Noon Express - Flashback / Key To Love

I think these guys are British, or maybe from L.A.???. I can't say for sure. A side is cool psych with a bit of horns, that don't screw it up because the rest of it is so good. The flip is a cover of the John Mayall classic. Also real good.

Knack - Time Waits For No One / I'm Aware

Awesome psych/pop. Not to be confused with the 70's power poppers. I just love this 45, it's got all the great elements. Should've been a hit.

? & The Mysterians - Make You Mine / I Love You Baby(Like Nobody's Business)

A perfect example of a band sticking to it's formula and saying "screw you" to the current trends. As you can  see by the date on the 45, this gem was released right in the middle of the flower power psychedelic era, but Rudy and Co. stayed with their signature sound for better or for worse. I'm glad they did because this is truly one of their best.

Whatt Four - You're Wishin' I Was Someone Else / Dandelion Wine

Superb! "Wishin" is perfect fuzz driven pop/psych/punk, and Dandelion Wine is also a great trippy psych number. If you want more detailed info on this band check out the awesome Garage Hangover site.

Rainy Daze - In My Mind Lives A Forest

Fantastic flip side of the goofy "That Acapulco Gold". Great stuff!!!!

Get it all HERE

In Dan's Garage... #2

 Cowsills - All I Really Wanta Be Is Me / And The Next Day Too

Can  you believe this??? The Cowsills. The model for the Partridge Family (one of my guilty pleasures I must admit!) before Mom and sis joined. A fantastic folk rocker with an invasion styled flip!

Sonics - The Hustler / Boss Hoss

Yeah I know the Sonics have been on every comp and reissue blah, blah, blah... But this is positively one of the best 45's they put out. The line..."I Got The Money Workin' After School" in "Boss Hoss" is one of the best ever!

Runaways - Love / What's Happening Baby

Not the infamous chick band, but real cheezy garage stuff from Connecticut (I think...). The flip is a doo woppy kind of thing...

Substantial Evidence - Death Angel / Hang Loose Mother Goose (You Got Soul)

A tale of two sides. The 'A' side is an extremely cool ode to an evil chick, while the 'B' is a decent white soul number. From Biloxi, MS

Split Ends - Rich With Nothin' / Endless Sea

Here's a real tough one to find. There's two versions of this. One with a wacky echo during the solo (I find this one every comp including Pebbles), and one without. This is the one without the echo. Kinda scarce in my opinion....

Catalinas - Someone To Love / Barbara

I remember when I was 6 or 7 (I'm not sure, probably six) my brother Vinny got this 45 from a department store or something, and we thought it was cool as hell because my father drove a Pontiac Catalina. (A 1960 in coral pink!!!) I thought these guys were the same "Catalinas" from Rochester, NY, but a very reliable source (my good pal Chuck) told me they're not! So I don't know where the hell these guys are from. A great garage two sider with an awesome maraca player!!!

Roaches - Someone With A Heart / Night Life

You gotta respect a band with enough guts to call themselves "The Roaches". REAL lo-fi cheesy garage on the 'A' side with a cool instro flip. From Virginia.

Satisfied Minds - I Can't Take It / Think About Me

Great fuzz drenched 45 from the West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky area. Read more about them on the fabulous Garage Hangover site

Romancers - She Took My Oldsmobile

A near perfect punk tune from the East L.A. legends. You have to feel for this guy, because it sounds like his car was more important than his crummy girlfriend.

Nickel Bag - Come On Back / The Woods

This one's from Chicago. Both sides are great organ driven punkers.

Cliches - Why, Why, Why / Save It For Me

Terrific lo-fi garage from somewhere in Ohio.

Sparkles - Daddy Gonna Put The Hurt On You / Something That You Said

Before The Sparkles released the awesome "No Friend Of Mine" and "Hipsville 29 B.C.", they had several 45's that were clearly not as aggressive. That being said, this one is still very cool. "Daddy" is a nice funky soul inspired number, while the flip is a great folky rocker.

Corporate Image - Not Fade Away / I'm Not The Same

Very interesting take on the Buddy Holly classic. They dispense with the Stones style Bo Diddley thing, and turn this into a real mover. The flip is great pop/psyche.

Rainy Daze - Make Me Laugh / My Door Is Always Open

The best offering (IMHO) from this Denver, Co outfit. Fantastic psych/pop on both sides. We used to cover this in my days as a member of The Riviera Playboys.

Denims - Adler Sock

I'm not sure what an "Adler Sock" is (I know at one time I actually did a Google search on this) but I guess they were real popular in the 60s. A two sided promo for socks. This band was originally thought to be from Ohio, then reports came in that they were from Elmira, NY, but according to "Fuzz, Acid, & Flowers" they were from Manhattan.

Get It HERE