NB: (2) original pressing of credited to The Outlaws. This punk outfit hailed from the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas and were originally known as The Outlaws with their debut 45 and early copies of the second issued under this name. The second 45 attracted quite a lot of attention and got national distribution but did not make the national charts. Their version of Midnight Hour was ok, but the flip, Don't Tread On Me was their finest moment, and in the eighties the track was covered by numerous bands including Gravedigger V and The Nomads. Compilation appearances have included: Don't Tread On Me on Pebbles, Vol. 3 (ESD) (CD), All Cops In Delerium - Good Roots (LP), Texas Flashbacks, Vol. 5 (LP), Trash Box (5-CD), Best of Pebbles, Vol. 2 (LP & CD), Flashback, Vol. 5 (LP), Highs In The Mid Sixties, Vol. 11 (LP); and Midnight Hour on Sixties Rebellion Vol's 1 & 2 (CD) and Sixties Rebellion, Vol. 1 (LP). (Max Waller/David Shutt)
From Philadelphia, a garage group with fuzz guitars, interpreting the usual covers of the era: Money, Sweet Little Rock'n'Roller, Good Lovin etc. On It's Just A Matter Of Time, six of the twelve songs, are credited to Hausman and Stewart, and seem to be originals. These are quite good, sometimes reminiscent of The Critters. Most of the remainder, however, are disposable covers, including Sea Of Love, Cotton Fields and Nut Rocker. (Stephane Rebeschini/Matt Moses)
NB: (3) Promo only. An Amarillo, Texas outfit despite the fact their album, which is pleasant pop and features some nice fuzz guitar, was produced by Lee Hazlewood and issued on his Hollywood-based label. They were earlier known as Y'alls and issued a 45 for Ruff under this name. John Stark, Jim Parker and Mark Creamer were all later members Armaggedon and Stark played on Them's U.S. only album In Reality. (Vernon Joynson/Stephane Rebeschini)
NB: (1) seen as both acetate and vinyl album. A rare garage album from the Kansas label, so presumably the band was local to the state. Consisting mostly of covers (My Back Pages, Hey Joe, Monkey Time, Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying etc.), the band sounds very young and amateurish. Justice label collectors will adore it, but it's best avoided unless you're a fan of that genre. A counterfeit acetate was made by an enterprising thief in the late '90s but this is easily identified by the misspelled band name (The Clansmen). Beware! (Clark Faville)
A musician and songwriter active on the New York scene between 1967 and 1973, "Moogy" Klingman recorded this solo album in 1972, produced by Todd Rundgren and featuring several guests: ND Smart (Remains), Rick Derringer (McCoys), Amos Garrett, Ben Keith, Joel Bishop O'Brien (King Bees)... His songs has been covered by Brethren (The Sun And The Moon), Buzzy Linhart (Friends) and he played keyboards on albums by Rundgren, Music and Al Kooper. (Stephane Rebeschini)
Produced by Jeff Barry, The Klowns were a pop sextet with male and female vocals, probably a product from the New York studios. The group wore white suits and painted faces, like Hello People but their record is rather lame and best avoided. All their material was penned by Barry, Slavin, Bobby Bloom, Renzetti, Goldberg and Soles. The Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus was associated with this short-lived venture. (Stephane Rebeschini)
NB: (3) unreleased. This mid-sixties Chicago outfit attracted the interest of a major label but failed to break through commercially. Their first 45, Leave Me Alone is an uptempo rocker with lots of mouth organ and great lyrics - now regarded as among the finest U.S. sixties garage singles. The flip, The Girl I Threw Away, is a brooding pop-punk ballad. The band evolved out of The Jesters in the fall of 1964 and lasted through to 1967. Based in the Northern suburbs of Chicago, they were neighbours (and friendly competitors) with The Flock, although rumours that they escaped a freezing Northern winter by touring California with them are false. Gene Lubin:- "Both groups played the teen clubs around the suburbs and the so-called 'Old Town' district, a regentrified sort of Soho area near downtown Chicago... teen clubs, head shops, etc. Except The Knaves had started out in '64-65 playing go-go places on Rush Street and other tough joints on the city's mean streets, i.e. neighborhood bars. Clientel at the time were mostly still into Beach Boys and we were doing British Invasion stuff. In '64-65 there were not too many groups playing in an early punk style as we were... They were mostly Beach Boy clones like The Flock or Holiday Inn types, pseudo-Beatles, and maybe some Troggs like stuff. We emulated a Pretty Things demeanor and got our pictures in the newspapares a lot for looking outrageous. We wore undertaker frock coats and bell bottoms we bought at the army navy store before the love-ins began." They also recorded a second 45 for Dunwich, which apparently owed more to the sexual suggestiveness of The Troggs than any other influences. Perhaps this is why Dunwich never released it. In 1966, Neal Pollack was drafted and the band called it quits the following year. Howard Berkman, Neal Pollack were later in Euphoria Blimp Works, an early seventies Chicago act which did not record, as well as in a related project Yama And The Karma Dusters, who cut an album in 1970. Gene Lubin has also released a CD End Of The Spectrum ( ) 2001, of vintage post-Knaves stuff recorded in 1974. He is now a personnel manager for local government in Chicago, and is still writing songs and has a new CD out soon (see http://www.cdbaby.com/lubin). Howard Berkman is still a full time musician - see his website: http://www.howardberkman.com for further details. Gene:- "This past year with the release of Leave Me Alone (35 years late) we've gotten a nice bit of coverage on the Web and some radio. Most of our studio/original stuff is now being labeled as vintage "folk-punk" by some, however, Leave Me Alone has already won us some "early punk-rock" acclaim from other quarters. So go figure." Compilation appearances include: The Girl I Threw Away on Mindrocker, Vol. 2 (LP), Pebbles, Vol. 9 (LP) and Pebbles, Vol. 1 (ESD) (CD); The Girl I Threw Away, Tease Me, Leave Me Alone, Inside Outside and Your Stuff on Oh Yeah! The Best Of Dunwich Records (CD); Leave Me Alone on Pebbles, Vol. 3 (ESD) (CD) and What A Way To Die (LP); Tease Me, Away, Leave Me Alone on The Dunwich Records Story (LP); and Away on If You're Ready - The Best Of Dunwich... Vol. 2 (CD). For more information on the band check Mike Dugo's 'Lance Monthly' interview: http://www.oberlin.edu/serials/lance/lancemonthly200111.html (Vernon Joynson/Max Waller w/thanks to Gene Lubin)
NB. (3) issued as London 8924 in the UK. (2) and (3) have been issued on CD by Sundazed with many bonus tracks (SC 6010) and (SC 6011) respectively. (2) has been reissued in Germany. The Fabulous Knickerbockers (See For Miles SEE 208) 1987 is a compilation comprised of the best of (3) and some non - LP gems. In addition, Sundazed also issued 20 Classic Tracks! (SC 11002) and Great Lost Album (SC 11012) on CD. The latter was also issued on coloured vinyl in 1989 (5,000) and contains 14 rare and unreleased tracks, 'B' sides and demos. 1997 saw the release of Knickerbockerism!, a double CD (SC 11040) containing 36 tracks including many previously unissued versions. Collectables has issued Golden Classics (COL-CD-0531). More recently A Rave-Up With The Knickerbockers (Big Beat CDWIKD 122) combines the best of the band's original releases with the better cuts from Sundazed's recent rarities set, The Great Lost Knickerbockers Album. There's also a 20 track CD with rare and unreleased recordings and a book, Presents The Fabulous Knickerbockers.
NB: In 1992 Sundazed reissued the first two Challenge 'A' sides on one 7" All I Need Is You/Jerktown (Sundazed S 101). There's also a rare French EP with picture sleeves: Lies/The Coming Generation/One Track Mind/I Must Be Doing Something Right (London 10178) 1966. The Knickerbockers took their name from Knickerbocker Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey, where they came from, but they moved to Los Angeles in 1965, where they recorded for Challenge Records. They followed the initial success of their Beatlesque rock number Lies with a succession of excellent pop/rock singles. One Track Mind, which was also covered by The Gants was a bit more punkish... whilst another of their finer moments, High On Love, was an energetic pop/rock 45. Jimmy Walker later joined The Righteous Brothers. Compilation coverage has so far included: One Track Mind on Mindrocker, Vol. 1 (LP), Nuggets Vol. 4 (LP) and Sundazed Sampler, Vol. 1 (CD); Lies and One Track Mind on Nuggets Box (4-CD); High On Love on Nuggets Vol. 5 (LP); Lies on Highs Of The Sixties, Tough Rock, Wild Thing, We Have Come For Your Children, Nuggets (CD), Nuggets From Nuggets (CD), Nuggets - Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (Dble LP), Nuggets, Vol. 3 (LP), Battle Of The Bands (CD) and Excerpts From Nuggets (CD); It's Not Unusual on Out Of Sight (LP); Lies (Demo) and My Feet Are Off The Ground (Demo) on I Turned Into A Helium Balloon (CD). (Vernon Joynson/Stephane Rebeschini)
Curtis Knight was a soul/rock singer who hired Jimi Hendrix, then known as Jimi James, in 1965 and 1966, to work the club circuit. Several records document this period but, generally released after Hendrix's death, they are best avoided. His only worthwhile album was released in 1970 and contains the long cut Give You Plenty Lovin, full of heavy guitars. In 1974, Knight wrote a Hendrix biography, "Jimi", and kept on recording, often for small European labels. His subsequent records are quite painful to listen to, as they were generally trying to recapture the Hendrix sound with pale imitators. Curtis Knight died in 1999. (Stephane Rebeschini)
NB: (2) also issued as Cameo C(S)-2007 in 1967. (3) is a compilation. (4) was released after the formation of Grand Funk Railroad and contains some of their 45 cuts plus some previously unreleased material.
NB: (1) is shown in Ken Clee's "Stak O'Wax" but existence is dubious/unconfirmed. (9) & (12) by The Pack without Terry. (10) & (11) as The Fabulous Pack. (13) reissue. There's also a rare French EP with picture sleeve I (Who Have Nothing)/Numbers/This Precious Time/Love Love Love Love Love (Stateside FSE 1002) 1967.
This garage-rock quintet from Flint, Michigan is probably most significant for containing DJ Terry Knapp, who formed, managed and produced Grand Funk Railroad, which also included Pack members, Don Brewer and Mark Farner. In the early '60s, Terry was a DJ in Detroit who played Pretty Things, Them, Zombies, Kinks etc long before anyone in the 'States had picked up on the U.K. bands, introducing The Rolling Stones on stage at their first New York gig and interviewing them during their first U.S. tour. With the Pack Terry had a few minor hits and their first two albums are now minor collectables. Prior to becoming Grand Funk Railroad and without Terry, the group also recorded two 45s as The Pack and The Fabulous Pack. There is a pic sleeve one of these 45s, Wide Trackin', that clearly shows a five-piece with him on keyboards. Whether it was a contemporary photo is another matter of course. Another of their tracks (I Got News For You) was penned by Dick Wagner (of Frost), whilst Love, Love, Love, Love, Love was covered by The Music Explosion and later in 1973 by Brownsville Station. In 1975, Terry left the music business. Compilation appearances have included: How Much More? on Michigan Mayhem Vol. 1 (CD), Pebbles, Vol. 3 (ESD) (CD), Chosen Few Vol's 1 & 2 (CD) and The Chosen Few, Vol. 2 (LP); What's On Your Mind? on Michigan Nuggets (CD) and Michigan Brand Nuggets (LP); Harlem Shuffle and Wide Trackin' on Mindrocker, Vol. 11 (LP); Numbers on Turds On A Bum Ride Vol. 1 & 2 (Dble CD) and Turds On A Bum Ride, Vol. 1 (Dble LP); and The Color Of Love on Relics Vol. 1 (LP), Relics Vol's 1 & 2 and Sixties Archive, Vol. 7. (Vernon Joynson/Max Waller/Otto von Ruggins/Stephane Rebeschini/Ed Worcester)
From Belmont, California, this band became better known due to the issue of their one unreleased June 1965 track I on San Francisco Roots (LP) in 1968 (the compilation was also reissued in 1975 on JAS). Clearly a popular number - it's appeared more recently on The Autumn Records Story (LP), Pebbles, Vol. 13 (LP), We Have Come For Your Children and Mindrocker, Vol. 10 (Dble LP). Basically, it's a infectiously catchy punker with a bit of extended guitar work in the middle. More recently, I and the previously unreleased I Don't Know have also resurfaced on Psychedelic Microdots Of The Sixties, Vol. 3 (CD), whilst Big Beats' Dance With Me (CD) (part of the Nuggets From The Golden State series features I plus three unreleased tracks from 1965 - Where Did I Fail, Torture And Pain and Won't You Be My Baby. (Max Waller)
NB: (1) reissued on CD (Collectables COL-0604) 1995. Another unknown album on the rare Justice label, with covers of Knock On Wood, West Sun, Mustang Sally, Tomatoes, In The Midnight Hour, Barefootin', When A Man Loves A Woman, Land Of A 1,000 Dances, On The Move, Try Me, Don't Lose Your Cool and Ninety Nine And A Half (Won't Do). (Stephane Rebeschini)
NB: (6) demo only album, reissued on CD (Flash 66) 1998. This was a prep-rock outfit from Herman College, Massachusetts, who were also known as The Herman Knights. They played between 1961-69 but started recording in 1962 making several tremendously rare LPs. Musically these ranged from early sixties instrumental sounds, to big band jazz and garage covers in the mid-sixties. The Knights 1967, for example, reveals a collection of soul, R&B, beat and ballad covers ranging from soppy goo (Unchained Melody, Under The Boardwalk) to Invasion-style (Bring It On Home, I'm Crying), all done competently but not inspiringly. Two of its members would later turn up in Quill. Their cover of Goffin/King's Don't Bring Me Down has also resurfaced on Oil Stains (LP) and You're Not Mine from the Off Campus album can be heard on Hipsville, Vol. 2 (LP). (Vernon Joynson / Max Waller)
This band came from Odessa in West Texas, although their 45 was recorded at Robin Hoods Brians Studio in Tyler, Texas. C.J. Smith is pretty psychedelic, as is the flip which is much more keyboard orientated. Compilation appearances have included: C.J. Smith and Make Me Some Love on Texas Flashback (The Best Of) (CD), Texas Flashbacks, Vol. 2 (LP), Flashback, Vol. 2 (LP) and Green Crystal Ties Vol. 4 (CD); Make Me Some Love, C.J. Smith, C.J. Smith (demo) and I Need Your Love (prev unreleased) on The History Of Texas Garage Bands, Vol. 1 (Dble CD); (Max Waller)
This psychedelic outfit hailed from Waco, Texas. Hutchinson was later involved in the classic sixties musical Hair. Compilation appearances have included: Sorrow In C Major on Psychedelic Experience, Vol. 2 (CD), The Psychedelic Sixties, Vol. 1 (LP) and The Cicadelic 60's, Vol. 4 (CD); Sorrow In C Major and Love Of A Different Flavor on Texas Punk, Vol. 10 (LP).
Originally known as The Demensions, this Indiana band released only one 45 comprising two cover versions: James and Bobby Purify's Let Love Come Between Us and Brenton Wood's Gimme A Little Sign. Winners of the Pendleton Pike Drive-In Battle of the Bands, The Knightsmen became very popular locally, and appeared on 'Bandstand 13', a local television program. Their popularity led to their opening for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition and Tommy Roe, among others. The band has since reformed, and has released a reunion CD. For more information, check out the band's website at http://knightsmen.tripod.com/indiana/ (Mike Dugo w/thanks to Karl Hinkle)
Members of this Dublin, Georgia band had come via numerous other highschool bands, including The Beachcombers, Confederates, Four Digits, Mineral Spirits and Sultans. Drummer Griffin Lovett's brother Billy ran the Lovett label with several artists on his books, including The Solid Soul. Although arrangements were made for the recordings via the label, it ended up being issued on a private imprint in 1968. I Can't Look Down is one of those 'serious' and soulful '68 pop extravaganzas with big beefy arrangements, brass and piano passages... a sound that would come to be personified by Blood, Sweat and Tears - not what most would ever call garage or psych, you will find it on Psychedelic States: Georgia Vol. 1 (CD). (Max Waller/Roger Maglio)
A Wisconsin-based mid-sixties outfit. Compilation appearances include: Everybody Needs Somebody To Love on Of Hopes And Dreams & Tombstones (LP) and Psychedelic Unknowns, Vol. 7 (LP & CD).
Produced by Mike Curb, Hey Gyp is on Follow That Munster, Vol. 2 (LP). This band was from Orange County,Ca. and one member went onto Adrian and The Sunsets. I suspect that the Tower 45 is also by this group rather than the Wisconsin Knights Of Day on Tee Pee. (Max Waller)
A mix of heavy psych and hippie rock, with fluid guitar and some good tracks: After I Smoke I Like To Go To Sleep, Flying Horse Of Louisiana and No One And The Sun. Hip Records was a short-lived subsidiary label of Stax (two of their few other releases were Southwest FOB and Paris Pilot). In 1971, Knowbody Else became Black Oak Arkansas. (Stephane Rebeschini) |
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