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One of the great sounds of the mid-sixtes Top 40/Pop era was a very influential genre of music known as ‘garage rock.’
The style earned the moniker (also ‘garage band’) first, from recordings which used just the basic instruments (two guitars, bass, drums – and sometimes an organ) and second, were very sparsely produced, yielding sonics that seemed like they’d been virtually recorded in the bands’ garages.
But the most essential ingredient that all of them possessed was intangible – attitude – which was eventually what attracted the songs to the first incarnation of ‘punk rock’ bands beginning in the late 70’s.
Punk acts such as the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, Patti Smith, The Clash and others were all influenced by simplistic hard-edged (for the time) rock and in particular, the attitude.
The vast majority of ‘garage bands’ never gained attention outside a 10-mile radius of their hometowns.
But here, in all their raw and rudimentary glory, are a few of the best two-minute gems by one-hit-wonders who managed to achieve national chart status and fame during the 60’s G-R era!
I’ll present more in the future.
[NOTE]
Due to copyright issues, some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets or connected devices. A laptop, desktop PC or Mac may be required for optimal enjoyment.
LITTLE GIRL
Syndicate Of Sound
[1966]
Up first is my favorite ‘garage’ song done by the Syndicate Of Sound. From San Jose, CA., they were led by vocalist and group songwriter Don Baskin.
With Baskin’s indignant vocals, Little Girl peaked at #8 in the summer of 1966 and was one of the first hits of the genre to display the attitude trait which I just noted.
True stereo here!
https://youtu.be/uhYJ4hiiOnI
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I HAD TOO MUCH TO DREAM (Last Night)
The Electric Prunes
[1966]
A five-man band from Los Angeles, The Electric Prunes had a garage-rock sound, but with a definite lean toward psychedelic-rock. IHTMTD hit #11 in early 1967.
This true stereo version of I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) perhaps has a diminished garage sound than its mono counterpart, but it sounds awesome!
https://youtu.be/QJFOoOfwc_U
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TALK TALK
The Music Machine
[1966]
Music Machine, another quintet from L.A., was led by vocalist-guitarist and group songwriter Sean Bonniwell.
Talk Talk, with its great ‘fuzz’ guitar effect, rose to #15 on Billboard in early ’67.
[Note] Group member Keith Olsen became a Grammy-winning record producer and sound engineer who worked with Rick Springfield, Fleetwood Mac, Ozzy Osbourne, The Grateful Dead, Whitesnake, Pat Benatar, Heart, Santana, Foreigner, Journey, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Joe Walsh, among others.
https://youtu.be/PZ11T3e5h7s
LIAR, LIAR
The Castaways
[1967]
The Castaways were a group of five teenagers from Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Liar, Liar reached #12 nationally, but some reason it hit #1 in Pittsburgh (lots of prevaricators there?)
This organ-driven song is also in glorious true stereo !
https://youtu.be/teLOISCfkzU
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PSYCHOTIC REACTION
Count Five
[1967]
Like Syndicate Of Sound, Count Five was another band from San Jose.
Psychotic Reaction was the highest achieving of the mid-60’s ‘garage’ sound singles, hitting #5 on the Hot 100 in the fall of ’66.
https://youtu.be/aYVhi3W0KcI
PUSHIN’ TOO HARD
The Seeds
[1966]
The four-man group The Seeds, along with their cult figure vocalist-guitarist Richard “Sky Saxon” March, were yet another Southern California-based garage-rockers.
Their lone hit, Pushin’ Too Hard stalled at #36 on Billboard
https://youtu.be/RNtLM3TbqSk
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MORE #RecordsIBoughtAsAKid
THE KINKS / THE ARBORS / CRISPIAN ST. PETERS
MORE GREAT 60’s ‘GARAGE-ROCK’ HITS – Volume Two!
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Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits, Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
