In Dan's Garage...#146

 Greetings music lovers! As promised at the beginning of the year, I would at some point resume this blog, something I've neglected to do for way too long. I started this post last year and started ripping 45's and scanning labels. At some point I reshuffled stuff and the un-scanned 45's got lost in one of my many boxes of records laying around my workstation so I put it off until I could retrieve them. This week I got lucky and happened to find them so I resumed the task of ripping and scanning and this one came together quite nicely. Records haven't been pouring in, but whatever I do get seems to be of good quality and I'm happy to share some of them this time around. Good news is, as I've said before, I have LOADS of stuff yet to be posted. I'm just not as organized as I should be!!!! So please dig in to this newest edition of "Dan's Garage", I'm sure you'll all enjoy it.

P.S. Thanks to all of my friends and followers who have stuck around for this. You're what makes this blog worthwhile. 

Idle Few - Farmer John (1966)

The Idle Few were from Indianapolis and released this great version of "Farmer John" with a very lame flip side. Actually, the flip was the 'A', but this tune is way better IMHO. This also came out on Dunwich records.

Tri-Counts - You've Got It (1965?)

I can't exactly nail down a date on this particular 45. BRB Records had only three releases that I'm aware of, and trying to figure out where they are from also turns up a lot of dead ends. My best guess is that this is an east coast band, perhaps from Pennsylvania? I don't know, but I really love this cheezy re-work of the Bell Notes' "I've Had It" into "You've Got It"!

Jim & Monica - Slippin' And Slidin' (1964)

Jim And Monica were from the Chicago area, and from what I gather were a popular act. Somewhere along the way, people started thinking that this was Jimmy Gilmer from the Fireballs, but I guess that theory has been debunked. 

Ian & The Zodiacs - The Crying Game / Livin' Lovin' Wreck (1964)

Ian & The Zodiacs were a pretty good band from Liverpool, unfortunately, they never achieved the fame and fortune that The Beatles acquired, not that they weren't decent musicians, they just "were who they were", a really good band that played some really good songs that never quite made it. I, for one, think they were very good, in fact I have all their 45's that were released here in the U.S. and "Why Can't It Be Me" is right up there with any Beatles song from the pre Rubber Soul era. That being said, Ian & The Zodiacs will unfortunately be just a footnote in the history of "Merseybeat". It should also be noted that the band travelled to Hamburg to play the Star Club in '64 and became so popular there that they stayed on for another three years.

Volcanoes - Someone Like You / Two Of A Kind (1966)

Here's one that threw me off. Upon listening to this 45 I always assumed (when you ASSUME you make an ASS of U and ME) that this was a group from the south. Thanks to the fine people at garagehangover.com, I got the straight scoop. These guys were actually from Burlington, Vermont, not exactly a hotbed of garage band activity, but hey, even teenagers in Burlington needed to let loose once and a while, and I guess The Volcanoes were the band that delivered!

Jack Eely & The Courtmen - Louie Go Home / Ride Ride Baby (1966)

Ya gotta love Jack Eely. He was thee undisputed voice, of "Louie Louie", but when he got back from a stint in the armed forces,and was ready to resume his duties as The Kingsmen's lead vocalist, Lynn Easton kind of shut him out, soooooo, he formed the Squires and had a superb 45 on RCA (as Jake E. Lee) with "Love That Louie" which rivals "Louie", and then moved on to Bang records where he, and The Courtmen, released two 45's in typical Pacific Northwest form. The first being "Louie Louie '66" and the second, this rendition of the classic "Louie Go Home". Unfortunately Jack Eely's career faded at this point, but at least he left us with some true frat-rock classics. 

Lords Of London - Time Waits For No One / Cornflakes And Ice Cream (1967)

The Lords Of London were a group from Toronto, Ontario, Canada that released three 45's up north and two here in the U.S. I'm giving the 'B' side on this one feature status, not because it stinks, but because "Time Waits For No One" is clearly the superior track. "Cornflakes And Ice Cream" is pretty much what the title describes. Very good Bubblegum Rock.

Critters - No One But You / I'm Telling Everyone (1967)

Not sure what the real story is on this 45, apparently this record was released in '67 in the wake of the success The Critters had with "Mr. Diengnly Sad" as a cash in? These sides are supposedly either Critters demos from '65 or so, or not even them at all. There were also lawsuits filed to get it pulled off the market. I think this is better than anything else they ever put out, a nice moody garage band two sider.

Easybeats - Falling Off The Edge Of The World / Remember Sam (1967)

I love the Easybeats, one of the best beat groups from the'60's, a band that should have gone further even though "Friday On My Mind" was a smash in the U.S. The released two L.P.'s in the States, "Friday On My Mind", which was produced by Shel Talmy and "Falling Off The Edge Of The World" (Titled "Vigil" everywhere else) produced by Mike Vaughn an recorded here in the U.S. while they were on tour. Side 'A' is from the latter and side 'B' from the former. Personally, I consider the stuff produced by Talmy to be far superior and all the cuts he produced for them are my favorites, especially "Remember Sam" one of the best songs ever. A gem.

Nazar Blues - Ninety Nine And A Half / Hubie (1967?)

Heres one that I have a little bit of info on. The Nazar Blues were from the Columbus, OH area and I guess according to Buckeye Beat, were quite popular. Decent R&B/Soul with a blues instro on the 'B' side.

Group Therapy - Thoughts / Come On (1967)

Joe Renzetti was a session guitarist and producer that did a lot of work for Mercury, Philips, & Smash records including producing Keith's "98.6" and Sunny by Bobby Hebb. This must've been some kind of one-off studio concoction as both sides are quite different from each other. one's real psychedelic and the other is R&B/Soul. Renzetti was from Philadelphia by the way and did play guitar on a lot of Cameo/Parkway records including "Let's Twist Again".

Sidewalk Skipper Band - Strawberry Tuesday / Cynthia At The Garden (1967)

This group was from Milwaukee, WI and released two 45's on Capitol which were recorded at Universal Recording in Chicago and one on Teen Town, a local Milwaukee label. Very nice pop/psyche on this 45.

Ronnie Burns - All The Kings Horses / Coalman (1967)

Ronnie Burns was a popular guy in Australia during the mid-sixties and his career extended into the 80's although he apparently moved towards "Adult-Contemporary" music. He started his career with The Flies who were a pretty good beat group and went solo around the end of 1966. In 1967, he hooked up with the Gibb brothers of Bee Gees fame, that had recorded a bunch of material, and Ronnie laid vocal tracks over them. This excellent two sider is a great example and "Coalman" is the standout track here.

Fearn's Foundry - Now I Taste The Tears / Love, Sink, and Drown (1968)

Here's a real sad tale o' woe. I featured this song way back in 2018 on IDG #130 and was done by The Smiths. I guess this is the original version? It was written by Buzz Clifford, a guitarist, songwriter, and producer. He was also a member of Hamilton Streetcar and Carp with Gary Busey. Fearns Foundry was was a Mod/Soul band from the U.K. and was knowns as "Fearns Brass Foundry". As for Noel Walker who produced this, his name shows up on many Decca and Deram records so it's probably safe to assume he was a staff producer. A few of his credits include The Big Three, The Bachelors, The Eyes Of Blue, The Fortunes, The Amen Corner, plus scores of others.

Spectrum - London Bridge Is Falling Down (1968)

Pretty good pop/psyche from a band out of the U.K., even if it is a re-work of a nursery rhyme.

Brimstone - Blowin' In The Wind / Trinket (1969)

I'm not certain of where Brimstone is from, but they're not related to a band with the same name that was from Ohio. I've read some info that these guys were from Florida, but it's on a N.Y.C. label. "Trinket" is good Soul/Psyche and their version of "Blowin' In The Wind" has an interesting gospel flair to it.

Esko Affair - Morning Dull Fires (1969)

Of the four sides these guys recorded, two were blue eyed soul, one was "On Broadway" done in a heavy Vanilla Fudge style, and then this wicked ass piece of psychedelia which is by far their best song. Unfortunately, my copy is pretty scratchy, but plays well enough (I guess) to enjoy. I wish I knew what the words to the chorus were because I don't know what "Morning Dull Fires" refer to. From Philadelphia.

HERE