Here are some of my random thoughts and words about obscure and in-demand 1960s garage and psychedelic singles over the years.
The Raves – ’Everything’s Fire’ / ’Sing Children Sing’ (Smash S-2162) April 1968
1960s Garage and Psychedelic singles: This was the third and last single by The Raves after which they disappeared. Hopefully someone who knows the details about this combo will get in touch with information as they really were a hot band and unjustly ignored by probably everyone outside New York.
I’ve read elsewhere that they were regulars at the famous Cafe Wha? and Keith’s backing group. He had a big hit with ”98.6”. David Jimenez from The Raves was definitely involved and played guitar and co-wrote several songs on the album ”The Adventures Of Keith.”
Getting back to this disc then! ”Everything’s Fire” is a terrific blast of heavy mod beat and has a very English sound. It’s perhaps the rarest Raves 45 to find and may prove difficult to locate.
The white label promo had ’Everything’s Fire’ on both sides (mono / stereo) but my stock copy has the soulish ’Sing Children Sing’ on the flip.
The Raves – ’Don’t Chop Down My Tree’ / ’Think Of Your Love’ (Smash S-2105) July 1967
By their second release The Raves were if anything even more commercial sounding. Can’t believe these two records were not big hits. I’d call this punk bubblegum. Way better than that watered down poppy stuff that followed in 1968/69.
’Think Of Your Love’ is genius.
The Raves – ’Mother Nature’ / ’Mister Man’ (Smash S-2088) April 1967
The Raves hailed from Brooklyn, New York and released three 45s on Smash. All are great garage pop classics with a slight bubblegum sound. Their debut 45 ’Mother Nature’ is a pounding fast paced fuzzy popper with eastern promise.
The flip ’Mister Man’ treads similar ground. Both sides are insanely catchy and would have obviously sounded cool coming out of those small 60s radios because they are very well produced and mastered loud.
The producer for The Raves was Ron Haffkine. He was also producer for another New York band The Gurus. He also produced and managed Dr Hook & the Medicine Show. They of course became simply Dr Hook by the start of the 70s.
1960s Garage and Psychedelic singles
The F.B.I. – ’Day-Time Nite-Time’ / ’What Am I To Do’ (Gemini G-500 / G-501) May 1967
I enjoy trying to solve the mysteries behind obscure mid sixties groups and the records they left behind, after all, this is what my site ”Flower Bomb Songs” is all about. Under my scrutiny at this moment in time is a combo called The F.B.I. a.k.a. Four Boys Inc.
Just who were they? and where did they come from? This is my quest, my aim is to find out the accurate details because a complete lack of information exists online and the few scraps of data in a couple of music guides I have, give a conflicting picture.
It seems that The F.B.I. released ”Day-Time Night-Time” / ”What Am I To Do” on Gemini during May 1967 (according to Teenbeat Mayhem). Both songs were written by Dennis Tracy and both songs are simply wonderful examples of folk jangle, a genre of music that is my absolute favourite.
eight miles high
”Day-Time Nite-Time” owes a lot to The Byrds ”Eight Miles High” but this pastiche is no mere imitation. The beautiful jangle is frantic and earnestly flows throughout, the backbeat is simple and rhythmic with organ bursts, all culminating in a genius recording.
The other side ”What Am I To Do” is one of the most delicate jangle ballads I’ve ever heard, the guitar rings out it’s gorgeous chime and the spoken mid section is sublime and elevates the song to pure pop perfection.
The record label indicates a Universal City, California address and raises yet another question. Was that the location of The Four Boys Inc or the address of the Gemini record label?
For whatever reason, the single was repressed with exact label details apart from the name of the group which was given as The Band Of Wynand. According to an online source the re-release occurred during October 1967.
”Day-Time Nite-Time” has been compiled on ”Fuzz, Flaykes & Shakes – Volume 1”, their liner notes suggest that the Band Of Wynand hailed from Los Angeles. More recently both songs from this 45 appeared on a CD only release ”The Cicadelic 60s – Volume 3” – I don’t have this so can’t compare the music but they may be demo versions according to ”Fuzz, Acid & Flowers”
His Majesty’s Coachmen
I have a 45 by His Majesty’s Coachmen and I’ve always wondered if they were they same group as the Band Of Wynand. Both songs on this disc ”I Don’t Want To See You” / ”Where Are You Bound” are written by Dennis Tracy and are both folk janglers. The record was even released on the Gemini label and both ’groups’ share the same Producer, Dick Shepp.
According to ’Teenbeat Mayhem’ His Majesty’s Coachmen hailed from Santa Barbara, CA.
ARSA has this song charting for one week in Santa Barbara (KIST) in August 1966. Teenbeat Mayhem lists the release as August 1967? meaning that the F.B.I. record is perhaps May 1966.
I did some research on Dick Shepp and he was given production status on a record released by Joey Martin on Imperial Records. ”Joey’s Prayer” / ”Joey’s Letter” was released December 1967.
The Music Combination – ’Mechanical People’ / ’Bambi’ (American Music Makers AMM-0012) 196?
The Music Combination were an obscure pop rock group from Pennsylvania, perhaps the outfit may be pin-pointed to Pittsburgh. I don’t know for sure. What I do know, however, is that they released three singles on American Music Makers, with ”Mechanical People” / ”Bambi” being their debut disc.
Both sides are pop fare with brass with just a hint of psych, the latter being the strange studio FX added by Producer Lou Guarino.
In late 1962 Lou Guarino formed World Artist Records, anticipating the British invasion, he conducted a talent search trip which yielded and launched the careers of “Chad & Jeremy” and “Christine Quate” among others.
Their hits included “A Summer Song”, “Willow Weep For Me”, “Yesterdays Gone”, “Tell Me Mama” and “In The Middle Of The Floor” on the World Artist label.
Christine Quate
Unfortunately the brilliant career of Christine Quate was cut short due to an automobile accident. Although intended for Chad & Jeremy, Lou Guarino withheld the release of “A Very Good Year” due to production interference by the duo and he offered it to Frank Sinatra, which he accepted graciously.
World Artist continued its success with “Joe Sherman, his Orchestra & Chorus”, “Reparata & The Delrons”, “Phillis Hyman”, “Shavells” and a host of artists from around the world. Reparata’s charted hits included “Tommy”, “Whenever a Teenager Cries”, “Captain Of My Ship” and “Shoes”.
The Joe Sherman Orchestra & Chorus releases included motion picture theme songs, such as: “Mad Mad World”, “The Seventh Dawn” and the American Canadian hit “Toys In The Attic” from the Dean Martin motion picture of the same name.
Among many of the hits on Lou Guarino’s three nationally acclaimed labels “A Mumbling Word” by The Stereos became a highly sought international collector item.
Hi, I am Larry Patterson, and this was my band. We recorded for AMM/Lou Guarino under various names. The Upsets, The UP-SET, Joey Dallas, Joey Conti and The Music Combination:
Joey Guerino (lead vocals) Larry Patterson (sax/vocals) Bill Sparks (bass/vocals) Tom Somich (drums/vocals) Denny Gill (trumpet/vocals) Frank Donahue (guitar/vocals)
Our first release was Moulin Rouge as The UP-SET we also backed up other artist in the studio and on stage. contact:patterson.larry@gmail.com I went on to manage the 10 piece horn/rock band, MOM’S APPLE PIE
1960s Garage and Psychedelic singles
The Rooney Brothers – ’Geordie’ / ’Just A Friend’ (Columbia 4-44393) December 1967
The Rooney Brothers were fronted by Mickey Rooney JR, the eldest son of actor Mickey Rooney and fair dues to him as he was involved with this excellent single, both sides featuring an interesting jangle sound.
”Geordie” is a little known psych tinged folk rocker clearly with a huge Byrds influence which is evident on this olde English traditional folk song. The flip ”Just A Friend” is also worthy and features a wonderful jangling guitar break.
Updates:
Teddy Rooney died 02/07/16 – aged 66
Tim Rooney died 23/09/06 – aged 59
Mickey Rooney Jr. was later in the group Song that cut a s/t LP on MGM, produced by Curt Boettcher and Keith Olsen.
It’s an Italian old song by Fabrizio de Andrè.
Ronnie Dante – ’Janie Janie’ / ’I’ll Give You Things’ (Columbia 4-43862) November 1966
Well how about that! I’ve been after this 45 for years and have had it in my eBay searches to get an email when a copy is put up for sale, but NOTHING in all that time.
Then, yesterday I looked on a UK dealers auction list because he was selling something else I was interested in and he had a copy of ”Janie Janie” with a starting price of 99 pence!
He listed it as ”Ron Dante” – I was searching for ”Ronnie Dante” all that time. It appears that a few letters make all the difference on eBay…
Anyway, I charmed the record to EXPO67 Headquarters for a measly 99 pence – ”Janie Janie” is a quite brilliant bubblegum psych tune with an eastern vibration. The song was co-written by song writing team Gene Allan & Ron Dante and Produced by Neil Levenson.
Despite having a catchy and commercial sound the record got nowhere fast and as such is a difficult disc to locate.
Perhaps the timing wasn’t right for the record because I think this would have been a SMASH had it been released in mid ’68 when bubblegum was at it’s height of popularity.
After the demise of the release Ron Dante would write almost an albums worth of songs for The Eighth Day and even further down the line would become singer / songwriter for cartoon band The Archies.
The New Sound Spectrum – ’Summer Girl’ / ’Love’s No Crime’ (Take 6 Inc 1003) September 1967
This 45 is a recent purchase and despite spending an hour researching the record I have come up with absolutely nothing.
Who were The New Sound Spectrum? and where did they come from in USA?
I did find out that the record was probably released sometime in September or perhaps even October 1967 as it is listed as a ”Kacy Contender” on a Sept ’67 radio sheet from KACY 1520 Oxnard, California.
Given that the release is on Take 6 records and with a mention on the Oxnard radio survey leads me to believe that The New Sound Spectrum hailed from somewhere in California.
Both sides are lovely sunshine pop with perhaps the strongest being the A-Side ”Summer Girl”. This has a gorgeous melody and harmonies. The white label promo was titled ”Summer Girl (Now That Summer’s Over)” with the group name The ”New” Sound Spectrum.
Both sides have never been compiled.
The Renaissance – ’Mary Jane (Get Off The Devil’s Merry-Go-Round)’ / ’Daytime Lovers’ (Cameo Parkway P-146) April 1967
Here’s a kool 45 by The Renaissance from April 1967. ”Mary Jane (Get Off The Devil’s Merry-Go-Round)” has obvious drug connotations as ”Mary Jane” was a slang word for Marijuana.
The song was co-written by Mark Barkan who wrote many of the songs used in the Banana Splits TV Show.
Production by Claus Ogerman who also worked with The Marshmellow Highway and The Gates Of Eden.
1960s Garage and Psychedelic singles
A look at The Magicians and the songs of Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon.
This weekend I had a MAGICIANS freak-out …. not only the fabulous sounds of this NYC combo but the songs written by members Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon. This is an all too brief update of my findings.
The MAGICIANS first single was ”An Invitation To Cry” / ”Rain Don’t Fall On Me No More” on Columbia November 1965. Some copies came housed in a picture sleeve.
They came from the folk-rock scene in Greenwich Village and were regulars at ”The Night Owl”. According to the liners of the Sundazed CD, the Magicians took their name from the Lovin’ Spoonful song ”Do You Believe In Magic”
Both sides are GREATNESS but as with most of the worthy 45s released in the 60s it got no where fast and failed to chart, although they remained a popular group in New York.
”An Invitation To Cry” was comped on the Nuggets box but the folk rockin’ ”Rain Don’t Fall On Me No More” has not been compiled and is not on YT either.
The Magicians – ’Lady Fingers’/’Double Good Feeling’ (Columbia 4-44061) 1967
One of THEE very best psych tinged folk rock records was ’Lady Fingers’ recorded in January 1967 and released as their final single on Columbia (after it flopped The Magicians were dropped by the label).
Written by Magicians Alan Gordon and Garry Bonner ’Lady Fingers’ is an absolute jewel complete with complex and sublime harmonies.
BOBBY DARIN cut a version of the Magicians ”Lady Fingers” on his ”Inside Out” album from 1967, complete with a baroque psych feel and sitar – kool one!
The Gospel – ’Redeemer’ / ’I Won’t Be Sad Again’ (Vanguard Apostolic VRS 35084) 1968
This 45 is a product of the late 60s religious vibe that seemed to be rubbing off on a whole load of rock musicians and hippies to varying degrees.
The music on both sides of the disc is way-out. ’Redeemer’ is a hippie psych gem kind of loosely based on The Yardbirds tune ’Tune Into Earth’ with that strange Gregorian(esque) vocal delivery.
The flip ’I Won’t Be Sad’ sounds much more in the traditional folk format with banjo and fiddle but the hippie laid back approach gives it a late 60s feel.
Both songs were written and produced by ex Magicians bass guitarist John Townley.
The Family of Apostolic
To my knowledge The Gospel have not been compiled before. Curiously both songs were included on an album by The Family Of Apostolic and is perhaps the same outfit.
Both sides of this Gospel 45 are on the Family Of Apostolic self-titled double LP (Vanguard VSD 79301/2). Another 45 from their LP was ’Saigon Girls’ / ’Water Music’ (Vanguard Apostolic VRS 35081) – it was credited to The Family on the labels.
Another version of ”Lady Fingers” was recorded by a group called Barracuda. This 45 on RCA was released November 1968.
The plug side ”The Dance At St. Francis” was also written by ex Magicians Gordon & Bonner and was actually a small hit in some regions of USA.
This 45 was actually post-Gandalf. The album was recorded for Capitol at least a year prior to the release. Barracuda was their next project.
The E Types
A teenbeat group called The E Types recorded a Gordon – Bonner song called – They hailed from Salinas, CA. This 45 was released March 1967.
This trippy pop swinger was compiled on Nuggets #04 then chosen for the Nuggets box set that came out in the late 90s on Rhino.
It’s such a shame that The MAGICIANS didn’t hang around long enough to release an album or for that matter record their own songs in ’67 with the group.
Here’s another Gordon – Bonner song ”She’d Rather Be With Me”
The Turtles had a huge hit with this one in 1967. Another TURTLES hit penned by Bonner – Gordon was ”Happy Together” from Feb 1967….one of the greatest 60s pop songs ever written… terrific.
”You Know What I Mean” from July 1967 is yet another Gordon – Bonner composition recorded perfectly by the classy TURTLES.
Another obscure song was recorded by Gene Pitney. check out ”Animal Crackers (In Cellophane Boxes)” Gene was hitchin’ a ryde with some psych here.
1960s Garage and Psychedelic singles
$300 Fine
This compilation from July 2006 is probably the most enjoyable set I’ve ever pieced together. On a now defunct ’Garage Forum’ someone came up with the great idea of making a garage comp from their 45s bought between April – June 2006.
Those who entered the task had three months to come up with a decent set of records to compile but no one could spend more than $300. This was quite a stiff budget but it meant looking around and finding good deals and cheap 45s.
From memory I think I was just within budget, spending about $290 on the records on this comp. I chose to call my set $300 Fine which is obviously a nod to The Litter LP titled $100 Fine. Just my way of sticking with the garage theme. I also used a rather cool picture of The Wailers from 1966 to adorn my sleeve.
- MOONRAKERS – I’M ALL RIGHT
- BRAVE NEW WORLD – CRIED
- FUGITIVES – MEAN WOMAN
- MIDNITERS – NEVER KNEW I HAD IT SO BAD
- CHOIR – I’M GOING HOME
- BLUE BEATS – BORN IN CHICAGO
- GREEN BEANS – WHO NEEDS YOU
- GAYLAN LADD – HER LOVING WAY
- ANGLO-SAXON – YOU BETTER LEAVE ME ALONE
- BAD SEEDS – KING OF THE SOAP BOX
- EXOTICS – FIRE ENGINE RED
- MAGICIANS – LADY FINGERS
- EMERGENCY EXIT – MAYBE TOO LATE
- POWER PLANT – SHE’S SO FAR OUT SHE’S IN
- FLOWER CHILDREN – MINI-SKIRT BLUES
- ESCAPADES – MAD MAD MAD
- PAT FARRELL & THE GREAT BELIEVERS – GOTTA FIND HER
- LORD AUGUST AND THE VISIONS OF LIGHT – LET ME BE ME
- COUNTDOWN 5 – ELEVATOR
- WAILERS – YOU WON’T LEAD ME ON
Emil Richards & the Factory – ’No Place I’d Rather Be’ / ’Do Biddely’ (UNI 55027) August 1967
Another addition to my far-out psychedelic 45 record collection is this one by Emil Richards & The Factory on UNI. For some reason this single was not compiled on the Lowell George & the Factory collection released by Edsel in the early 90s.
The acid tinged Eastern sounding folk of ”No Place I’d Rather Be” is pure L.A. Sunset Strip ’67 style. I’ve always loved this kinda sound so was chuffed to find a copy of this rare single.
Check it out on ”Soft Sounds For Gentle People #04’
Shame that the flip ”Do Biddley” is a waste of time and effort, being a dreadful instrumental. Instead, UNI should have just gone for a stereo version of ”No Place I’d Rather Be” on the other side.
Gray Newell: The flip side is mainly a showcase for Emil Richards’ xylophone virtuosity – he’d release two albums for UNI in 67, a collection of covers, plus the more interesting ”Stones” LP, twelve bizarre instrumentals based on the theme of birth stones. I expect UNI were just getting their money’s worth.
The xylophone on ’No Place I’d Rather Be” gives it somewhat of a unique sound. ’Do Biddley’ and ’When I was a Apple’, the flip of the other Factory 45 for UNI, both got left off the Factory CD as neither were credited to Lowell George.
The Whether Bureau – ’Why Can’t You And I’ / ’White And Frosty’ (Laurie LR 3431) February 1968
I bought this 45 a couple of months ago and it’s only now that I’ve had some spare time to research The Whether Bureau and upload ”Why Can’t You And I” to my YouTube Channel.
Not a great deal has been written about the group, although both sides of this disc have been compiled. ”Why Can’t You And I” can be found on ’Fading Yellow #06’ whilst ”White And Frosty” surfaced on ’Mindrocker #10’ back in the 80s.
It is believed that The Whether Bureau came from New York, this was their only 45. Perhaps they were a studio group put together by successful Producer Bobby Susser, who was also a member of his own group Think.
”Why Can’t You And I” is a fabulous psychedelic nugget with a complex arrangement, prodding organ bursts and guitars that sound like sitars. It’s all perfectly hypnotic. The other side ”White And Frosty” offers a more Doorsian sound and this one reminds me of the kinda bag Beacon Street Union and The Ultimate Spinach were creating.
The Roman Rebellion – ’Every Groovy Day’ / ’The Weather’s Getting Bold’ (RCA Victor 47-9443) February 1968
Here’s a fairly obscure combo that I know nothing about apart from what has been written in ”Fuzz, Acid & Flowers” where the suggested location of The Roman Rebellion is Rochester, New York. Two names have also been confirmed as Thomas Alessandro and Rosario Rizzo who are credited as songwriters on both cuts of this single.
”Every Groovy Day” is a summery flower pop tune with some pleasant bah bah bah background vocals. It’s a lyte psycher that begs for repeated plays. The flip ”The Weather’s Getting Bold” is similar in structure.
Find ”Every Groovy Day” on Misty Lane’s compilation of the same name!
1960s Garage and Psychedelic singles
The Countdown 5 – ’Elevator’ / ’Time To Spare’ (Toucan Records TC-1) September 1967
Obscure release by The Countdown 5, an outfit from Galveston, TX on a rather charming lookin’ label. ’Elevator’ is fuzztoned garage pop, reminds me of some of those Five American records.
There next 45 ’Uncle Kirby (From Brazil)’ is perhaps their most well known song appearing on several compilations. The latter single came housed in a smart picture sleeve.
The Best Things – ’Chicks Are For Kids’ / ’You May See Me Cry’ (United Artists UA 50027) May 1966
This combo were from Mankato, MN and recorded under the name of The Madhatters releasing a couple of 45s on the local label Cardinal. For some reason this United Artists record is a re-release of a Madhatters single that came out months previously during February 1966 but with a name change to The Best Things.
’Chicks Are For Kids’ is perhaps their best known song but make an effort to hear the sombre teenage testament of ’You May See Me Cry’ on the flip with it’s beautiful snaking guitar runs by former Gestures member Dale Menten. Indeed, the latter wrote and played guitar on both sides of this disc.
Dale Menten left The Gestures in 1965 and proceeded to play with several local groups over the next few years including The Only Ones, The Madhatters / Best Things, The Escapades, The Serophic Street Sounds and Blackwood Apology. He also did a lot of arranging and A&R work for numerous bands including T.C. Atlantic, The Boys Next Door, Danny’s Reasons, The Puddle, The Shambles, The Soul Seakers, The Nickel Revolution and C.A. Quintet.
The Black And Blues – ’Come To Me’ / ’Bye Bye Baby’ (United Artists UA 50245) November 1967
Here’s a new addition to my collection rec’d last week, the first single by Anderson, IL group The Black and Blues. I’ve seen this for years on dealer lists but never got around to securing a copy.
They started life as The Chalets but decided on a name change to The Black and Blues sometime in ’67. A one-off record deal with United Artists followed with their music produced by the in demand Paul Leka who worked on the The Lemon Pipers hits.
Both songs are group originals with perhaps ’Come To Me’ the best, at least I dig it the most. It’s hard and fuzzy with a perfect ’67 trippy raga guitar sound. Pure ’Flower Bomb Songs’ material, that’s why I played it on my latest podcast. On the other side is ’Bye Bye Baby’, a Bo Diddley inspired shaker.
Both sides were compiled in the mid 80s on the Eva released ’Finest Hours Of U.S. Punk’ and further Black and Blues reading material, including a picture of the band can be found on the highly recommended blog ’60s Indiana Band Szene’
Great Find! I’ve heard and really like ‘Come To Me’, it was comped on Pebbles Trash Box on CD 5.
Big Brother – ’E.S.P.’ / ’Brother, Where Are You’ (All-American 5718) July 1970
When Santa Barbara, CA combo Giant Crab’s contract with UNI expired Ernie Orosco changed some members of his band and renamed the new outfit Big Brother and signed to All-American Records. Ernie Joseph’s name was added to the label…..as Big Brother featuring Ernie Joseph.
Their first single featured ’E.S.P.’, which was a song also recorded by The Giant Crab and released as their final single during September 1969.
This record was backed with ’Hot Line Conversation’.
Big Brother’s version was remixed with additional phasing, the original intro and cold ending were not used for this new and heavier version. The backing vocals are also lower in the mix.
Shindig #28 has a feature on Ernie Joseph and is well worth the read.
The Beach Boys – ’Barbara Ann’ / ’Girl Don’t Tell Me’ (Capitol CL 15432) December 1965
One of my fave rave Beach Boys cuts is ’Girl Don’t Tell Me’ released first on their album ’Summer Days’ in June 1965, then selected as the B-Side of ’Barbara Ann’ during December 1965.
The song was recorded way back in April 1965 at Western Studios in Hollywood so it took eight months for it to be released on a single. It deserved to be the lead tune but it was hidden away on a flip.
’Girl Don’t Tell Me’ has a folk-rock guitar throughout but is a little buried in the mix that is until the all too brief solo. Carl Wilson performed lead vocal duties.
ticket to ride
It’s believed that Brian Wilson wrote it heavily based on The Beatles ’Ticket To Ride.’ The label credit gave Brian the song writing accolade but during the 90s Mike Love was successful with a lawsuit and has now been given co-song writing status for this particular song.
I’m not interested in the ’who’ or ’who didn’t’ write the song, all I know is that it’s GREAT! and so did the record buying public as the 45 stormed up the charts, peaking at number 3.
British harmony pop group Tony Rivers & the Castaways released their version of ’Girl Don’t Tell Me’ on Immediate during February 1966. Check it out on the 1990 Sequel CD ’The Immediate Alternative.’
Readers comments:
Dino, Desi and Billy do a great version of this. Carl Wilson probably wasn’t much older than them at the time but it seems to suit D,D and B’s younger voices better in its wistfulness.
I take that back. I just listened to the DD&B version and it’s really draggy. YouTube led me to another version I’d never heard by Keith Green, teenage Decca act produced by Gary Usher who later became big in the Christian music biz.
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