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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

In Dan’s Garage…#82

82front
Greetings friends and followers! I hope everyone’s New Year is going well so far. Mine is rather dreary right now with the bitter cold weather and all, and the fact that my beloved New York Giants missed the NFL playoffs this year and I have to watch teams that they either beat the crap out of (San Francisco), or got beat up by (Baltimore), slug it out in what is the biggest sporting event of the season (here in the good ol’ USA that is…). Someone at work got real excited that Beyoncé was the half time show. I wonder if she’s going to lip-sync or not???? Maybe she’ll trip on stage like Madonna did last year (or was that the year before???) Personally I could give a shit about half time shows. Most, or rather all of them suck ass, even if the acts are decent guys like The Who or Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. I think they ought to have Paul Revere & The Raiders do it sometime, even if he is a Las Vegas schmuck now,at least he’d be better than Beyoncé lip-syncing her bullshit. Does she even really sing??? If it didn’t say BEYONCE in front of it, would you actually know it’s her????? Seriously, I can’t tell the difference. I don’t want to sound like an old fogy but who the hell is “Nickelback” and what do they really sound like???? As my good friend Chuck Irving would say… “they’re a generic alternative rock band” and that is what we have today my friends. “generic music”. It’s really sad. Us “older” Rock & Roll fans have slogged through some of the worst commercial crap in the history of humanity, but think about it, were “The Partridge Family” as bad as everyone thinks they were??????? How about The Osmonds, all clean and Mormon like? I listen to that stuff nowadays and marvel at the craftiness of it all. Something lost in today’s music.

    I just did one of those stupid Facebook surveys that asked how many “influential” albums you had in your collection, and I was surprised (well I shouldn’t have been) how much CRAP there was in their “selection”. One of the offending “LPs” was “Dexy’s Midnight Runners” who’s “Come On Eileen” video was famous for the mere fact that they didn’t wear any underwear while filming it. Holy SHIT STAIN BATMAN!!!!!! When I got to that part of the survey I knew it was a pile of horse dung.

  But seriously folks. To say that music, in the “Rock & Roll” sense, is evolving is folly. Rock & Roll is not dead by any stretch, but it has run it’s course in my humble opinion. What is heard nowadays is some mish mash of influences stirred up in a commercial pot and sold like Duncan Hines cake mixes on a grocery shelf. Which one do like?? White or Fudge?? Eventually there will be young people who will truly carry the torch of Rock & Roll into the mainstream again, kind of the way that guys like Harry Connick Jr. carried Frank Sinatra’s torch into the new millennium of “pop stars”. It will happen. It always does
That is not to say that there are no GREAT Rock & Roll acts out there today. They are just “under the radar"and the savvy amongst us go looking for them instead of having them handed to us on a silver platter. It’s weird. We used to wait for the next big thing on the radio, and usually it would be something that was actually fresh, even if we weren’t “down with it”. Nowadays we just wait for people like Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber to go away. Justin Beiber or David Cassidy???? Think about it.
   OK! Enough of that rant. I want to thank everyone out there for supporting me during this “transition” period where the feds are really cracking down on internet piracy. I’ll say it again. Blogs like this are the least of their worries. Go fry some BIGGER fish please. I’m thinking people sharing Katy Perry’s newest is what you want to watch out for. To quote Adam Corrolla, she really does “look like she’s always thinking about something stupid” Now there’s a REAL talent folks!!!!!!! Sorry, I got off track again. Old links will be replaced in time. Don’t hold your breath, I will eventually replace them all, but it is VERY TIME CONSUMING. I wish there was a quicker way but there really isn’t.
I can’t believe there’s 82 volumes here!!! WOO HOO!!!! I always thought I’d be finished after 50, but I think I’ll be well over 100 by next year. I’m glad everyone is enjoying what I do here, and I just want to give a shout out to the locals who follow this blog . I know who you are. Come see me sometime at a gig and we’ll have a drink together. In the meantime enjoy the latest offering. Adios!
Thee Midnighters – Whittier Blvd. / Evil Love (1965)theemidnighters
East L.A’s finest rumble through two classics on one 45. Areeba Areeba!!!!
Bartholomew +3 – She’s Mine / You’re Not There (1965)bartholomew3
A rather obscure act from Montreal, Canada who had a few other 45s. Nice moody folk/rock offering here.
Fenians – Got A Feeling / Tonight’s The Night For Love (1965)fenians
I gave my best shot at trying to find some info on this 45, but all I came up with was a website that led me to some horrific hacker’s site. YOW! Anyway…I can tell you that The Fenians were arranged and produced  by Tony Harris, who’s “Superman” is featured on IDG #9, so it’s quite possible that these two bands are the same.
Richie Dennis & The Group / Forever And A Day (1966)richie dennis
Another dead end on this one also. Very moody folk/rock with some nice “group” vocals propping it up and a thumping bass as well.
Bachs Lunch You Go On / Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1966)bachslunch
I’m not exactly sure who the Bach Lunch was, but this 45 was produced by Carole King and features a cover of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” as the A side and a wonderful pop/psyche number titled “You’ll Go On” as the flip, the featured song here. “You Go On” was apparently penned by Rick Philip and Dave Palmer who were members of The Myddle Class who also had a couple of classic 45s released on the same label so it may be possible that they were the backing band on this excellent 45.
Love Ins – Red Light, Green Light / Groove Me (1968)love-ins
Let’s jump to ‘68 where The Love Ins, most likely a “studio” group recorded this very nice bubblegumish 45.
Carpetbaggers – Let Yourself Go / Just A Friend (1966)carpetbaggers
Another dead end *sigh*. Good “protest” rock that apparently was produced by novelty song king Ray Stevens. I wonder if this is actually him singing this…….
Joys Of Life – Descent / Good Times Are Over (1967)joys of life
image
Look at these guys. a bunch of nice clean Midwestern boys from Indiana who got a break by releasing a 45, and on a major label no less. “Good Times Are Over” is typical Midwestern R&B a-la “The Fabulous Flippers” and other groups from the same region, but what sets this 45 apart from the rest is the flipside “Descent” which is featured here. Holy crap, talk about a tale of two bands. While “Good Times” is generic blue eyed soul, “Descent” is about as nasty a garage/punker can be. The Lyrics say it all… “You say my ways they weren’t the same, you criticized my looks but baby I can’t seem to stop those evil actions. By lying and any other means you made me prince of public scenes” and it continues from there. A tale of a guy who’s girl is so nasty, he has to shame her…”Now I’m the king and you’re the pawn, I can see you looking on, jealous of my new love and my freedom”. It gets better, but I’m sure after a few spins you’ll get the picture. A masterpiece.
Pretty Things – Progress / Buzz The Jerk (1966)progress
The Pretties at their “soul” best. Real cool “mod” sounds here, and the horns really don’t mess up the A side at all.
Shady Days – Little Girl / That’s How Strong My Love Is (1967)shady days
This actually is the Chicago band, The Revelles with a different moniker. “Little “Girl” is a lightweight folk rocker, whilst “That’s How Strong My Love Is” is a lightweight soul rocker. All kidding aside, this is a terrific two sider.
Just Rita – Tomorrow Is Another Day (1967)just rita
A Chicago area singer who had quite a bit of media backing via Billboard ads, but it looks like she really flopped big time, as well as her label. This 45 is a cool sitar inspired psychedelic song. Do a Google search on her and find some interesting Billboard ads and articles.
Springfield Rifle – I’ll Be Standing There / Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1968)springfieldrifle
A Pacific NW group who had a slew of 45 in the mid sixties including this Zombies inspired number and a very cool moody version of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”. Oops! I put two of these one here????? DOH!!!!
Company Front – I’m So Happy Now / Not Today (1968)company front
A Kentucky based pop group with awesome vocal harmonies, do justice to a Young Rascals tune.
Hamilton Streetcar – Confusion / It’s Your Own Come Down (1968)hamilton streetcar
Oh, so cool garage/psych from the guys who gave us “Invisible People”. This was their second 45 on LHI before they became a poppier band and released an album on Dot. These guys should have made it big and it’s a shame they didn’t.
Equals – Baby Come Back / Hold Me Closer (1968)eekwals
Yeah… I know this was a hit, but if all “hits” were this cool, the world would be a much better place.
Iota – R.I.P. / Sing For You (1969)
iota
A band from El Paso Texas recorded this 45 somewhere around 1969 and was released the Memphis based M.O.C. label. Very good heavy psychedelic sounds.

15 comments:

  1. Thanks again... keep this going - and thanks also for the brilliant announcement of replacing links. Man, you are fantastic. All best regards from Germany,
    Waldo

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  2. Thank you again dan for digging up these gems!

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  3. Another great post - mixing together some of my old favorites with a bunch I've never heard before. As to your comments, I will say that at the ripe old age of 61 I rarely go to gigs anymore but when I do, I love that fact that there can be this new young band opening up that still has the power to blow me away.

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  4. I just recently disvovered this fantastic and amazing blog. Many thanks for it to Dan. Of course i was trying to get all the older post from the very beginning. But more than 50% didn't work. Maybe it helps other newbies to know, which links are still working or not. I checked them all just this week. Many volumes of dan's garage could not be downloaded anymore. Mediafire says "permission denied". Using JD the status pretends file is online, but as soon as you start to downmload it says file not found. Here is the list of links showing status "file not found" (permission denied):
    Vol. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 41, 43, 44, 48, 49, 53, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 74, 74, and 75.
    There are also some "Obscure 60's garage" links not working. Affected are Vol. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 10.
    Links not mentioned above were still working fine while checking. I would appreciate to get some information wether there is any chance to get the missing posts.
    Thanks a lot and greetings from Germany.

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    Replies
    1. As I mentioned in the body of this post, I'll evenyually replace all the links, but IT TAKES TIME. Please be patient. I'll get around to it sooner or later.

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  5. Love your blog. I like many types of music. Loved country at one time, but today's pop country sounds like generic shit rolled off an assembly line. Gee, that also applies to today's rock n roll. I'm hoping the internet will somehow save music from the corporate butt-heads who don't know or appreciate real music. Where is Sam Phillips?

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  6. Cheers Dan! Yet another great compilation....you are most definately THE MAN.

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  7. Thanks Dan for another great collection and rant. Either we're close to the same age or you've been reading my mail :-)

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  8. Hey, I recognize that Iota single...someone had a copy up on eBay for quite a while.

    I got the Company Front single at a local record store recently. I like it!

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  9. Dan, according to MobTopMike, the Fenians were from Ireland and the master was acquired by the Triumph label by leasing.

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  10. .. which indeed explains the group's moniker....

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  11. .. Here's some more info on the Bach's Luch-group (friom Garagehangover):
    The deal Goffin and King had struck with Atco to distribute the Tomorrow label fell apart after only three releases (two by the Myddle Class and one by Carole King, “A Road to Nowhere” / “Some of Your Lovin’”). Goffin and King moved their distribution deal for Tomorrow to Cameo-Parkway, and their first release on a redesigned Tomorrow label was by the Bach’s Lunch, a girl group (with singer Darlene McCrea – I don’t know the other members) they produced, with the Myddle Class providing the instrumental backing.

    The band had some regional successes, including good receptions in Montreal and Boston, a short residency at Ungano’s on the upper West Side of Manhattan, and a show in Smithtown, Long Island promoted by DJ Scott Ross that attracted over 3,000 people. However, a number of discouraging developments hurt the band around this time. They had a good audition with Tom Wilson for MGM Records, but supposedly Al Aronowitz didn’t allow the deal to go through. In February of ’67 they opened a show for the Animals, but their set was interrupted by problems with the microphones, and it seems the band worried this performance hurt their reputation with the press.

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  12. RE Hamilton Streetcar: this was the info that came with their LP
    "The Los Angeles-based Hamilton Streetcar were apparently a studio project built around the talents of ex-Appletree Theater mastermind/vocalist John Boylan, singer/guitarist Buzz Clifford (who'd enjoyed an early '60s hit with "Baby Sittin' Boogie") and Ralph Plummer. The trio somehow attracted the attention of the eccentric Lee Hazlewood who promptly signed them to his newly established LHI label. Debuting with 1968's "Invisible People" b/w "Flash" (LHI catalog 17016), the group managed one follow-up single ("Confusion" b/w "Your Own Comedown" (LHI catalog 1206), before switching to Dot Records.

    1969's "Hamilton Streetcar" found the group working with producer Richard Delvy. Structurally the set was odd, largely forsaking conventional three minute song structures in favor of a pair of side long, multi-part suites that frequently interweaved main themes with shorter refrains (examples included "Streetcar" and a cover of Tim Buckley's "Pleasant Street"). Heavily orchestrated, tracks such as "Wouldn't It Be Nice (To Have Wings and Fly)" and the instrumental "Entre Acte" sounded a bit like Curt Boetcher and Gary Usher's work with Sagittarius. Elsewhere, tracks such as "Brother Speed", "Welcome into Your World" and "" were far less pop oriented, featuring a distinctive rock/psych sound. Definitely different, the set grows on you each time around. It's one of our favorite recent discoveries. (courtesy of Bad Cat)"

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  13. Hey, Dan, New LINK dan's garage # 82 and others not found, OK !!!

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    Replies
    1. All re-ups to dead links can be found at
      https://theegarage.blogspot.com/2019/03/re-ups.html
      and here
      http://theegarage.blogspot.com/2019/03/re-ups-part-2.html
      Just hit the DOWNLOAD button, unpack the file, and you're good to go.

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