60s Garage – Crate Diggin’ Never Ceases
While I may have been away, my crate diggin’ never ceases. Here are some of the more memorable tunes I’ve located in my recent travels. These are 60s garage, mod and surf records, or garage revivals of more recent vintage.
First up are the Bambi Molesters doing their version of the surf tune Malaguena from 2001’s Sonic Bullets. I like this version better that many others who have tried their hand at this same tune, because the Bambi Molesters incorporate Mariachi horns (a personal favorite). Malaguena is a song written in 1928 by the Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona. The Bambi Molesters are from Croatia, and had the assistance of Peter Buck of REM fame (and others) on this album (but not this particular song).
For fun, here is another version of Malguena, this time by the Phantom Surfers, without the Mariachi horns, but with a dancing girl (and masks). You decide which you like better.
Next up is the mighty Starfires – I Never Loved Her. Out of LA in 1965, this is a killer combination of 60s punk and garage. The original will cost you quite a pretty penny if you could ever find it. I never gave her my high school ring, I never bought her expensive things, I only gave her one ride in my car, and I didn’t drive her very far … I never loved her …. Tasty guitar, snotty vocals, insistent bass …
And now a pair of songs off of New England Teen Scene vol. 1. First up Rouges – Next Guy. From 1966 New England. A moody sad song by a sad sack.
And here’s another one – Effects – Don’t You Ever Make Me Blue. This one starts out as a moody ballad, then shifts to high gear, with some beat touches and a nice garage guitar break.
This is a mod raver by The Afex – She’s Got The Time. From England, this was recorded in 1967 while the band members were 13 and 14 years old. With a swirling organ break.
Here is West Virginia’s Evil Enc. Group performing Hey You in 1968. A garage record with two vocalists and a fuzzed out guitar break over a farfisa.
Next up is the JuJus – Do You Understand Me. Pure 1966 garage out of Michigan, complete with an excellent driving riff, raw guitar solo and the random lead singer scream. The flip side of this single, I’m Really Sorry, is also quite good.
Here’s an article in Garage Hangover that gives you some information about the history of the JuJus.
From Tennessee, here is Little Alton and the Velvatones – She Said Yeah (typo on the label should read Velvetones). Clearly influenced by the Kingsmen’s Louie Louie, this is a nice garage rocker with a clever story, which ends sadly for our hero. Little Alton was Ronald “Alton” Hoskins who founded the group.
Here’s some 60’s punk, the universally respected Thoughts of a Madman by the Nomads. Snotty vocals, seering guitar solo, farfisa organ, vocal scream, all boxes checked for a 5 star 1966 60s punk offering. You’ll pay a hefty price if you want to buy this one, of at least $500, and sometimes more than $1000. From Mount Airy, North Carolina.
And finally, here are two from the Giant Robots, who are faithfully bringing back 60s Garage in the 2000s. The first is Tell Me Something New from 2013’s Delightfully Refreshing LP. The second is Get Away from Too Young To Know Better Too Hard To Care released in 2008. The band is from Switzerland, but they sure sound like they could have crawled out of a 60s Garage.
