In Dan's Garage...#43

I was having some random thoughts earlier this week about which era of the Rolling Stones was the "best". My brother always claims that the latter day Stones were better, but he pretty much based that on how many records they sold, and his logic was that if they sold more they had to have been better. Well, Justin Bieber sells a hell of a lot of records, but that doesn't make him any good. The latter day Stones definitely sold more but people these days are buying more than ever, and there is an expanded fan base which includes young people, as well as "mature" customers like myself. That being said, I think the last great Stones LP was "Sticky Fingers". I know there's lots out there that think "Exile On Main St." is better, but I never could sit through the whole two albums. For my money, you can't beat the 1964 to 1966 era. I know lots of you will disagree, and you're probably saying "there goes Dan again with his narrow minded myopic 'sixties' view of things...blah...blah". Well...what the hell is "Emotional Rescue" compared to say..."Satisfaction"??? How about "Miss You" compared to "The Last Time"???? Or even a fairly decent song like "Angie" compared to "Play With Fire"??? I could go on, but you get the point. It's not that they're horrible, er...wait...yeah, judging by their performance at the Super Bowl a few years back, I'd say they're horrible, and it's a shame. They were once a truly great band that really can't get it up anymore. Maybe it's not even that. I think they have an attitude problem. "Well we're the Stones and we really don't need to give a shit so we'll do whatever we want and people will pay $200 a ticket anyway so fuck 'em". I don't know, maybe I'm just being real cynical, but I see lots of "old guys"out there doing their thing and they're still bringing it. The Who (or what's left of them anyway) did the same Super Bowl halftime thing, and although they're not what they used to be vocally, they still have tons of energy. Same with Paul McCartney. He's got one of the best bands in the business, and he's not losing any steam. Tom Petty's no spring chicken and he's still rockin'. I saw the Moody Blues (or what's left of them) three years ago, and they were excellent. Hell, I saw Bad Co. (I band I hated for a long time) do a TV concert thing, and was really impressed that they could still "rock". Mick Ralphs looks like a curmudgeonly old dickhead though.  Enough of this blather. I think the Stones are cool and I guess I should give them some credit for still hanging around, even though Keith Richards should buy himself a guitar tuner. Did I mention I have a new "bunch" to post today??? I sure do! As the weather gets cooler, I'll probably have a little more time to do this so there'll  be more frequent posts. As usual, I offer up a diverse medley of cool sound for all of you, so you never know what's coming next. So without further adieu I present In Dan's Garage #43!!!!

Applejacks - Like Dreamers Do / Everybody Fall Down (1964)

A six piece from Solihull, UK which is close to Birmingham and thus considered a "Brum Beat" group, they had the distinction of having a female bassist, something quite rare at the time. On this, their second 45, they tackle the Lennon-McCartney cut "Like Dreamers Do', and they do it well, but the flip is the fantastic "Everybody Fall Down", a superb chunk of British Beat!

Unit Four plus Two - Hark / Stop Wasting Your Time (1965)

 Just like "Concrete & Clay", Unit 4+2 show some very diverse influences on "Hark" as opposed to the standard British beat formula. The flip is a more traditional affair, and really good.

Misfits - This Little Piggy / Lost Love (1964)

 From San Diego, this group's claim to fame is that it featured future Moby Grape member Bob Moseley on bass and vocals. He also "wrote" this decent rework of "I'm A Hog For You".

Bruce Duncan & The Impulses - Lonely Too Long / No More Movin' (1967)

 Great soul influenced garage from the Louisville, KY area. This is a great cover of The Young Rascals' hit with cool cheesy organ as opposed to Felix Cavaliere's Hammond B-3.

'D' Men - Don't You Know / No Hope For Me (1965)

 Good two sider from the band who would eventually become The Fifth Estate and release "Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead"

Lancers - Somebody Help Me / (You've Got To ForgetHer) (196?)

 Another obscure soul influenced garage band from the south. These guys might be from Mississippi.

Wylde Main-iacs - Why Ain't Love Fair / Not The One For Me

 Rumoured to be record collector Erik Lindgren, my guess is that's probably true given the good production on this one. Although this is probably a "neo-garage" band, it deserves inclusion on my blog because it's so true to the spirit of the genre. In this case they take the "Pushin' Too Hard" riff and expand on it nicely. True genius!

13th Power - I See A Change Is Gonna Come / Captain Hassel (1967)

 Allegedly this is Max Frost & The Troopers, but I'm not convinced. That would mean this is also Davie Allan & The Arrows, and it really doesn't sound like them, and by the way, Mike Curb's name is nowhere to be found on this 45. Anybody out there know the scoop????

Young Lions - We Better Get Along / Live And Learn (1965)

 Good pop from 1965 with a folk group feel to it and some deep fuzz in the background.

Id - Boil The Kettle Mother / Short Circuit (1967)

 Also from San Diego comes this awesome piece of demented psychedelic genius. Real great guitar stuff on this one. One of my personal all time favorites.

Truth - Wade In The Water / Love Locked (1970)

 One of the many bands who called themselves "The Truth", this very obscure hard psych act probably hailed from the Nashville area. But of course I might be wrong.......

Uglies - Hello Gooday / Previews (1969)

 A very popular act from Minnesota who were originally known as The Unbelievable Uglies", and had a bunch of records released in the mid 60's including the awesome "Get Straight" on Liberty records. This one here is a cool "post 1966" Beatles influenced 45. They continue with reunion shows to this day.

Underground Sunshine - Don't Shut Me Out / Take Me, Break Me (1969)

This Montello, WI group had a minor hit in 1969 covering the Beatles' "Birthday", a cool lightweight version with cheesy Farfisa organ. This, their second 45 features a bubblegummy A side with a great fuzzed out psyche number on the flip.

Aardvark - Salty Dog (1969)

 Here's a neat hard rockin' 45 from a southern group that has some wild fuzzed out guitar, and a rather amusing "southern rock" style vocal delivery.

Young Californians - Hey Girl / In A Garden (1969)

 Another tale of two groups. On the A side we have great bubblegum with nice organ fills, and on the flip we have a cool trippy pop tune. I wish I could tell you more about this one, but all I know is that they're from California. Most likely L.A.

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