A Californian act which may have just been a solo artist. Sorcerella is heavy melodramatic pop with fuzz and psychy guitar-work, whilst Book Of Love is a heavy 'psychedelic-soul' take on a Monotones song. The second 45 features catchy pop backed by an airy pop-psych ditty with flute and various effects that doesn't quite come off. Compilation appearances have included: Sorcerella on Son Of The Gathering Of The Tribe (LP) and Turds On A Bum Ride Vol. 3 (CD); and Pancake Eyes on U-Spaces: Psychedelic Archaeology Vol. 1 (CDR). (Max Waller)
The label for this garage 45 was based in Columbia, MO. but it featured bands from Ohio, Arkansas, even the UK, as well as local Missouri acts. There are at least two 45s by near-same-name outfits, that we presume are different bands:- Jekyll and Hyde (possibly from New England): My Baby Loves Monster Movies / Theme From Whodunit (Dcp 1111) 1964; and Jekyll's and The Hydes (from Dorchester, Massachusetts): Diddley Daddy / You Can't Judge A Book (Boss 200,899/900) May 1966. (Barry Margolis/Max Waller)
NB: (1) also released in France (Vogue CLVLXMA 224) 1968. (1) has been pirated on CD.
Hailing from New York State with one of Mainstream's better albums came the Jelly Bean Bandits. More punk than psychedelic it includes some searing guitar and good effects. The album contains the classic, Generation, which was arguably their finest moment with a bizarre intro about flying saucers giving way to a driving assault on the senses with searing guitar, powerful vocals and sound effects. Little is known about the band, who were originally known as The Mirror, but they managed to score a three-album deal with Mainstream on the basis of three demo tracks. Unbeknown to label boss Bob Shad, these were the only songs the band had written and a week-long marathon song-writing session ensued, before they were whisked into the cavernous Columbia Studio "A" to record the album in a generous twelve hours stretch. Mainstream pulled the plug before the band could start on their second album, although a demo for one track, Salesmen was recorded, and the other material written back in '68 may yet see the light... the band are still in touch and have released a second album in the same style & manner as they had intended to do thirty years ago... "look to the skies... the flying saucers will always be there!" Mike Raab reports: "Initial recording sessions this past February went quite well. Billy, who did half the singing in the group, is still involved with his oldies act, Big Edsel, and so declined participation in the project. We went with the material we could do justice to. First cut is a power riff-rocker Lover Wrapped In Leather, which was written back in 1968 about the woman we all lusted for, Diana Rigg (Mrs. Peel of The Avengers). Also a bouncy pop number, Happiness Is You. The next leg of the sessions is coming up in October. Scheduled tunes: Superhog (about a daytime computer programmer / nightime biker - from 1968), Salesman (a 1998 re-make of the 1968 original) and a few others, such as a tongue-in-cheek lookback entitled Back in '68." The new CD, which came out in Spring 2001 has been doing well, prompting the band to do their first gig in 33 years. The Jelly Bean Bandits are doing another reunion gig in 2002 to promote this year's release, Mirror Music, a CD of live music from 1967 featuring the original band doing a few originals but mainly covers. The 1968 version of Salesman has recently arrived on Psychedelic Crown Jewels Vol.2 (Dble LP & CD) - a mighty slab of ravin' freakbeat. Other compilation coverage has also included: Generation on Mayhem & Psychosis, Vol. 1 (LP), Mayhem & Psychosis, Vol. 1 (CD), The Essential Pebbles Collection, Vol. 2 (Dble CD) and Pebbles, Vol. 2 (ESD) (CD); and Poor Precious Dreams on Turds On A Bum Ride Vol. 1 & 2 (Dble CD) and Turds On A Bum Ride, Vol. 1 (Dble LP). For more information check the bands website:- http://www.jellybeanbandits.com
The flip, a Dylanesque obscurity, can be heard on the Psychotic Moose And The Soul Searchers (LP) compilation. The record was probably recorded in New York and comes out midway between Mouse and The Traps and Godfrey.
These two albums consist of soft flowing pop rock. John Jeremiah went on to form Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah and Acme Thunder whist Denny Seiwell later joined Paul McCartney's Wings. Speculatively, David Brown may have also been in The New Mix, as both bands are in a similar musical style and share the same music publishing credits. (Stephane Rebeschini/Russell D. Brown)
Fronted by Jeremy Steig, who'd earlier played with Peter Walker, this band's psychedelic rock LP has now become a very minor collectors' item. It was produced by John Court who also worked with Electric Flag and the Butterfield Blues Band. Jeremy was a cartoon artist like his father William Steig (New Yorker Magazine etc.), whilst Adrian Guillery was studying art in New Paltz / Manhattan. The band backed Tim Hardin live, and some members did some recording sessions with him. Donald McDonald later played with Joe Beck and is now dead. Jeremy Steig became a reknowned jazz musician, whilst Warren Bernhardt moved to Woodstock, NY and has continued recording. (Vernon Joynson / Shelley Davis)
NB: (7) was a Spanish Release. From Topeka in Eastern Kansas, this outfit had a prolific output of variable releases. Among the quartet's best was Since You Went Away. It's rumoured that their manager, who owned the name, had two or three group's playing as 'The Jerms' in different parts of the State. In their later days they included a female singer known as Angel. The Shana 45 was produced by the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's Shaun Harris, but the garage had been left far behind by then. Compilation coverage has included: Since You Went Away on Monsters Of The Midwest, Vol. 3 (LP); Bald Headed Woman on Magic Carpet Ride (LP) and Gamma Knee Kappa (LP); and Love Light on Monsters Of The Midwest, Vol. 4 (LP) and Midwest Garage Band Series - Kansas (CD). (Max Waller)
A Dayton, Ohio combo better known as The Others. Their sole gift to posterity under either monicker was the drum-bashin' tambourine-shakin' Diddleyesque pounder Don't Cry To Me, peformed by line-up 'A' and composed by guitarist Robert Budeliney. It's one of the best cuts on the LP WONE, The Dayton Scene (Prism PR-1966) which showcased the top twelve groups from the WONE-sponsored three-day Daytonian battle of the bands in 1966. Ron Skinner of The Pictorian Skiffuls joined later. The final Others line-up (B above) changed their name to the Elders in 1970, releasing the Looking For The Answer LP and 45 in 1971 on Audio Fidelity. Retrospective compilation appearances include: Don't Cry To Me on Back From The Grave, Vol. 3 (LP), Back From The Grave, Vol. 2 (CD), Echoes In Time Vol's 1 & 2 (CD) and Echoes In Time, Vol. 1 (LP). (George Gell/Max Waller)
On a Tulsa, Oklahoma- based label. The flip, a pretty routine garage punker, has resurfaced on Monsters Of The Midwest, Vol. 2 (LP). (Max Waller)
Now hard to find, Stomp Your Feet is a punker, which is rated highly by some. The work of a Minneapolis- based studio group, the same bunch also put out a 45 as King Krusher and The Turkeynecks, the A-side of which (King Krusher) was also featured on the Jesse J. and The Bandits album. They also recorded as The Bandits. (Max Waller)
NB: (1) also released in Holland (Philips 6369 109) 1972. Jesse, Wolff and Whings was formed by Jesse Barish, a San Francisco singer/songwriter and Bill Wolff, the former Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Sound Machine and Fusion guitarist. Housed in a superb black and white sleeve with a mystic symbol on its front, their only album offered a very consistent choice of songs mixing West Coast guitars with good vocals and occasional flute playing from Barish. Their drummer, Kevin Kelley, had previously been with the Rising Sons and the Byrds and had already teamed up with Kenny Kaufman on a Phil Ochs album, Gunfight At Carnegie Hall. The album was recorded in Hollywood and produced by Denny Cordell. Jesse Barish would later work with Jefferson Starship and also issued two bland solo albums which were produced by Marty Balin. (Stephane Rebeschini)
A joint venture by solo artist Glen Jester from Canton, Ohio on the local Maarc (Mills Audio And Recording Company) label. On this 45 he's backed by Salem's Mersey Men, who had two 45s of their own. (George Gell/Max Waller)
This garage outfit came from Kansas City in Eastern Kansas. Their album is full of covers of classics like Gloria, We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place and She's Not There. Presumably the 1966 cover of Gloria, taken from a test pressing and credited to the Jesters From Kansas on the Midwest Garage Band Series - Kansas (CD), is by the same band.
This Memphis band was an early outing for James Dickinson. The 45 was recorded at Sun Studios in January 1966. The 'A' side has resurfaced on The Best Of Sun Rockabilly, Vol. 2, but it's certainly not rockabilly!
From Naples, Florida. This band were picked up by Mike Curb's Sidewalk label, home of all those exploitation movie soundtracks. One of these, the Freakout U.S.A.! soundtrack album, features one track by The Jesters, Don't Try To Crawl Back. Otherwise they remain uncompiled. Hands Of Time is an above average organ-punker worth picking up. The non-Sidewalk 45s are very elusive. (Max Waller)
From Tampa Florida, this band played the Maderia Beach Surfers Club, Big Mooses' Saturday night St. Pete Dances and also the Spot Night Club in Tampa... Robin Sibucao recalls: "Three of the four members were under fifteen. Instrumentation was bass, drums, two guitars and one singer. Radio station WALT used to have a vote by postcard for your favorite tune.... both tracks were selected at the time The Tropics and Roving Flames had records out." "Bye Bye So Long was an uptempo tune, two verses and chorus with a guitar solo (clean - no fuzz tone) verse and out. Recorded in the basic 60's style with one microphone over the drums and vocals recorded at the same time as the music. It hits with all instruments at the beginning and ends sort of like the Zombies song Tell Her No. I was about 12 years old so my range was high and confused some people, thinking it was a girl singing." "She Lied was a medium tempo tune with a power chord time guitar line that had no distortion or overload sound. The guitar sound was ultra clean with a bunch of reverb (sort of Ventures/Paul Revere and The Raiders tone) and the tune ended with just the electric guitar slowing down the tempo and playing five notes, gradually stalling with a little vibrato bar on the last note ...amazingly the radio stations let the song always play to the end. Some people later said the song reminded them of the feel of The Buckinghams' Have Mercy On Me." The band carried on until 1968 and spawned two local outfits, Southern Comfort and Toy Shoppe. In 1970 Robin Sibucao moved to L.A. and formed Shuffle, which included singer Rick Fitts, bassist Terry Cashburn, and former-Nazz drummer Thom Mooney. Compilation appearances include: She Lied on Teenage Shutdown, Vol. 12 (LP & CD) and Psychedelic States: Florida Vol. 3 (CD). (Max Waller / Robin Sibucao)
A four piece from Santa Clara in California. They recorded their 45 in a back room studio of a record store there. The disc is an interesting crossover from surf to garage. Indeed the organist had earlier played in a surf group called The Crygons. Stormy, starting out with a crazy organ intro straight out of Peter And The Wolf, is a fine garage cruncher with powerful vocals, interesting surf-influenced guitar, catchy organ and a very distinctive ending. Compilation appearances include: Stormy on Back From The Grave, Vol. 5 (LP).
From Houston, Texas, a Christian rock group singing their own material (These Days, Peace, Trust, Satisfied, Rocks Will Cry) in a mellow psych/pop/rock style. Only 500 copies were pressed. (Stephane Rebeschini) |
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