Nederbeat

 

The Fallouts - De Vlieg [Netherlands garage beat 1966-67] 2000 Op Art OPART 020

Indiscrimination - So Sad [Netherlands blues rock 1967] 2000 Op-Art 001

The Thunders - Johnny's Back [Netherlands garage, beat 1965-66] 1998 Op Art 006

QUESTION MARK & THE MYSTERIANS - More Action [USA garage rock] 1999 Cavestomp CS 5002-2

 

Question Mark

THE BLACKJACKS - American Independents Complete Recordings 1984-1989 [USA garage, rock, pop] 2004 Retrospect Records RR-04-006

 

The Blackjacks were a four-piece band from Boston who released one sole full-length record plus an EP called "Basic" in the mid-1980s.

They remind me of bands like Infidels or The Outnumbered but they played a very personal brand of potent garage pop, track 'Zeroing in on Me' being quite representative of their sound, but they could also play more refined songs like the jangly tune 'Possession' or the poppy 'Simple Math' which John Borack himself listed among the "100 Killer Pop Tunes" of all time in his "Shake Some Action" book.

The best song on here is probably 'That's Why I Always Dress In Black' which should appeal to all Radio Birdman fans.

Blackjacks

ZOOM - Sweet Desperation [Canada garage, rock, punk 1977] 2016 Ugly Pop Records UP061

 

ZOOM formed in Toronto in 1976, going on to release (arguably) the city’s first punk 45 before parting ways and joining The Viletones and The Diodes. The duo tracked their material anyway, culminating in this blistering, 13-track masterpiece.

Zoom

RJ & THE RIOTS - RJ And The Riots [Philippines garage beat 1964] 2022 Guerssen GUESS204

Led by teen guitar wizard Ramon “RJ” Jacinto, RJ & THE RIOTS was one of the first rock&roll /beat bands from the Philippines and certainly the first to release original rock n’ roll songs with lyrics in their own country.

This is the first ever reissue of their second album, originally released in 1964 and now impossible to find (four stars rating in Hans Pokora’s 1001 Record Collector Dreams book). Including original songs like the monster instrumental “Fuzzed”, the garage sounding “Advertising Man”, “Girl Nice”, the surf rock of “Trip To Manila” and more plus a few rad covers (Beach Boys, Buddy Holly…). The album was recorded at the home studio built by whizz kid Ramón Jacinto, who also operated his own record label (RJ Productions), magazine (Teenstone) and radio station (from his parent’s backyard!).

Riots

THE SATYRS - Don't Be Surprised [USA garage rock 1965] 2023 Beat Rocket BR 171

Unfiltered North Carolina ‘60s garage rock from Asheville teen stompers The Satyrs! This LP features previously unissued tracks and their lone 1965 single - all bookended by two savage versions of the title track!

new link

 

LOS TEDDY'S - Doce Psicoéxitos [Perú garage, rock 1968] 2021 Munster Records MR 417

 

Natives of the Peruvian Amazon region of Iquitos, Los Teddy’s recorded for their only LP a combination of the current chart-hits and their own songs, with that raw and psychedelic sound so common in late 60s Peru. It includes the version of The Doors’ 'Hello I Love You' as well as the lysergic original ‘Effects’.

Los Teddy's

THUS - All Of Thus [USA garage rock 1968] 2022 Guerssen GUESS195

 

Thus' 'All Of Us' is one of the rarest teen-garage albums from the US, originally released in 1968 on the custom Century label. It's a mix of fantastic original songs and imaginative covers from garage-punk to moody folk-rock, beat and proto-psych.

Thus

THE BAROQUES - The Baroques [USA garage psychedelic 1967] 2017 Sundazed, Chess LP 5559 - mono

 

The lone album by Milwaukee's Baroques was recorded in 1967 and issued on Chess Records as part of the label's effort to market music to a new audience. It's a beautifully-grungy affair; somewhat lo-fi, featuring many incredible originals, such as "Mary Jane," issued as the lead-off single - and promptly banned by radio for it's supposed drug references. Filled with moody vocals atop clattering and chiming guitar work.

The Baroques' one and only long-player seemingly came out of nowhere in 1967. The first non-R&B act signed to the famed Chess Records, the Milwaukee based Baroques mixed garage intensity with sonic experimentation that would come to define the later part of the decade. Though widely overlooked, their debut album was rumored to outsell Sgt. Pepper's on a local level.

Fronted by the dark baritone vocals of Jay Berkenhagen, the Baroques weave through the structures of early 60s rock, adding a subtly gloomy touch and at times departing into chaotic bursts of noise. Almost as quickly as they appeared, the Baroques quickly dissolved, but not before making their unique statement with an eclectic array of eccentric tracks.

Baroques

THE WANDERER'S REST - Anytime, Anywhere [USA garage rock 1967-68] 2020 Cuca Records Corporation

 

Named after a Milwaukee cemetery, Wanderer’s Rest was anything but peaceful. Led by the fuzzed-out twin guitar attack of brothers Richard and Mike Podraza, the quartet cut four records at Cuca in ’67 and ’68, leaving behind a treasure trove of unissued garage, surf, teener, and soft-psych in the process. Anywhere, Anytime gathers all thirteen recordings in one convenient place for the first time.

The Wanderer's Rest

THE NORTHWEST COMPANY - Eight Hour Day [Canada garage rock 1966-1973] 2003 Neptoon Records 004

 

Northwest Company were one of the most hard-working bands from the Vancouver scene of the Sixties. Famous for their monster garage-punk double sider from 1967, the reverberating "Hard To Cry"/ "Get Away From It All", the group released seven singles between 1966 and ‘73. Eight Hour Day features a selection of those 45 sides, their cool & raw studio demos from 1966 and their final 7-minute long hard-blues live freakout "Police's Coming". Including all-time garage classics like “Get Away From It All”, “Hard To Cry”, “Each Day”, "Eight Hour Day" and more!

The Northwest Company

PLUNDERERS - Every Monday - Sometimes Thursday [Australia power pop, garage 1988-89] 2019 Half A Cow Records hac221

 

Demo recordings from October 1988/June 1989

When Geoff Milne joined the Plunderers in October 1988 – replacing Peter Velzen on the drums – the band rehearsed every Monday, and most Thursday nights, originally at White Room in Surry Hills and then at the newly-opened Troy Horse in Newtown.

The twelve songs on the aptly named Every Monday, Sometimes Thursday album were recorded during these rehearsals. In the case of the first six songs, they were all recorded on Monday 24th October 1988 at White Room and it was only the fourth time Geoff had played with Stevie and Nic. Three songs (“La La”, “Take A Ride”, and “Take This…)” were old Plunderers songs from 1984-86 and the other three (“Is My Time Up”, “I Didn’t Even See Them At All” and “Peggy”) were new ones.

The version of “Take A Ride” is unique amongst the many versions of one of the first songs that Stevie and Nic wrote together for the band in 1984 because they try out a possible chorus: “What a perfect sail, what a sail, what a sail”. This looks to be the only time the song was given a new arrangement and, after this recording, it went back to the original way.

Plunderers

THE RISING STORM - Second Wind [USA garage, rock 1999] Arf! Arf! AA-083

 

In the spring of 1967, six prep school students from Andover, Massachusetts recorded Calm Before..., cited today as one of the true pinnacles of '60s garage rock with original copies now fetching over $4000 on the collectors market. In 1999, all six original members have regrouped and come back strong with nine new striking originals, haunting remakes of Love's "Signed D.C." and Them's "Don't Look Back," plus additional bonus live tracks culled from their 1981 and 1992 reunions shows.

Produced by Arf Arf's Erik Lindgren and Boston legend Andy Paley (whose 1972 rocker "Love Starvation" is covered here), Second Wind recaptures the magic and mood of their original prophetic vision.

Rising Storm

LOS JEMAX - Los Jemax [España garage, rock 1968] 2017 Madmua Records MAD009 + LOS NIVRAM - Mi Estrella [España garage rock 1966] 2021 Munster Records MR 7335 + LOS POPS - No, No, No [España garage rock 1966] 2021 Munster Records MR 7336 + LOS ROLLERS - Camino Cortado [España garage rock 1969] 2018 Madmua Records MAD011

  

Los Jemax                                    Los Nivram

  

Los Pops                                      Los Rollers

Spanish EPs

 

THE HALLMARKS - Paper Sky [USA garage, pop 1967] 2018 Numero Group NUM5067

 

When the Hallmarks auditioned, Tommy Falcone turned his back. Twenty bands arranged around the perimeter of the warehouse in Keansburg, New Jersey, in 1966, with Falcone seated in the center, pointing to each one in turn. The Hallmarks were easily the most ragtag gang in the room—with a microphone taped to a birdcage stand, a low end provided by a guitar strung with bass strings, and a mismatched collection of borrowed drum hardware—but Falcone couldn’t see it with his back turned, which was the point. When he finally turned around, Falcone signed them on the spot.

The Hallmarks had only been a band for a year at that point, forming around songwriter, guitarist, and singer Russ Scalzo, his brother Joe Scalzo on drums, cousin Tony Scalzo on rhythm guitar, neighbor Jim Bova on bass, and friend Rick Gager on lead guitar. “I wasn’t good enough to figure out anybody else’s songs so I’m gonna make my own,” said Russ.

Falcone knew the times were changing, clothes more colorful, even music stores switched from brass to mostly guitars and amps. Beatle bowl cuts and matching outfits gave way to long hair, mustaches, and bell bottoms, which was a problem for the Scalzos at Shore Regional High School.

Harassment from the school authorities over the Hallmarks’ hair got bad enough that Falcone drafted a flattering letter to the principal on official Cleopatra letterhead: “We have just put under contract the group known as the Hallmarks. I understand four of the five members attend your school, and would again like to ask your permission to allow these members to keep their hair as they presently do, for professional reasons. It seems that Shore Regional H.S. has a lot of talent to offer.”

But the hair helped when he met his future wife, the daughter of a telephone company party planner who booked the band on February 10, 1967, for a corporate gig. Russ and Gail had a rare connection, lovestruck in both an instant and five decades later. She wanted him in her life, he wanted her in his band.

Russ wanted to do for her what Falcone had done for him, working with his new girlfriend to build up her technique and her confidence, giving her the training to unlock her natural talents. Soon Gail was delivering a powerful vocal performance—the band’s showstopper. “We were doing a frat party one night at Monmouth College,” Tony recalled, “and those frat boys were down on their knees in front of her.”

Losses mounted. Tony Scalzo was drafted in 1967 right out of high school, shipping out to California to join the Navy Reserve. Losing Falcone hit the band even harder—but he’d taught Russ Scalzo well. Scalzo continued to record and tried to sell a single himself to Columbia, “Cellar Walls” b/w “Just Me and the Blue Jay,” but the labels passed and he grew increasingly frustrated.

A particularly bad drug trip—involving satanic chanting and a levitating woman—sent Bova to the brink of suicide, ready to throw himself off a bridge, and then brought him to Christ. In the 1970s, the Hallmarks changed their name first to Friends and then released three albums as Saved by Grace, transformed by Bova's salvation and sobriety into one of the earliest Christian rock groups in America.

The Hallmarks

THE CANARIES - Flying High With The Canaries [España garage, beat, rock 1970] B.T. Puppy Records BTPS 1007 (digital sound)

 

Produced by The Tokens, 1970's "Flying High with The Canaires"  featured twelve of the demos the band recorded during their 1965 American visit. Featuring largely original material penned by Garcia and bassist Raphael "Rapha" Izquiderdo Suarez, Beatles-styled rockers like 'Baby Don't Surprise Me' and 'So I'll Tell You Goodbye'. 

The Canaries

MOD FUN - Wardour Dreams [USA mod, garage, psychedelic 1985-86] 2021 Paisley Archive PA062

 

This collection of songs represents the bulk of studio recordings by "New Jersey's Original 80's Retro-mod band," who were among the most popular of the handful of east-cost acts in the early 80's retro-rock movement based in the "NYC cave-stomp" scene; which would eventually come to be known as the "underground garage" sound. Based around the club "The Dive," where MOD FUN gigged monthly, alongside many other gigs at CBGB, SNAFU, Firefly, DIRT and the Peppermint Lounge.  

MOD FUN also ventured out to California very early in their career (1984) and absorbed the stylistic influences of the brand new "Paisley Underground" sound within their tight "UK psyche" compositions.  Many gigs at San Francisco's The Mab and Berkeley Square; LA's Madame Wongs and Cavern Club, as well as San Diego's Club Zu and Rock Palace.

"90 Wardour Street" (released in 1985) was their debut 12-inch and exhibits MOD FUN's flair for American Garage sounds slammed right up against their infatuation with UK Psyche-Mod-R&B material like The Creation, Syd's Pink Floyd, The Eyes, The Action, Zombies, Kinks and (even) Early Who.  You can't listen to these 8 original songs and not get hooked by the depth of the many classic influences in their sound ... 90 Wardour Street plays like a "case history" of 60's retro music...

For "Dorothy's Dream" the band dipped even further into the Californian "Paisley Underground," (after their 2 tours of that state,) and their immersion in the "American Indie" sound, including more influences like Big Star and The Nazz now sitting alongside their continued Anglophilic love of UK psyche and pop like The Move, Syd Barrett, Buzzcocks and their original initial inspiration The Jam.  By the time "...Dream" was recorded however it was even harder to pick out individual influences, as the band had jammed so many different retrofied pieces into their musical puzzle.

Also included in this CD collection are 5 "bonus" tracks — 3 songs originally intended to be on the "Dorothy's Dream" album, which ultimately weren't recorded and released on the vinyl LP in 1985.  Two of these tracks appear as demo recordings ("Plastic People" and "Sugarcube Boy,") and one as a live version ("Understand Me," recorded in California 10th, April 1985.)  Two more songs from that same gig appear here as well: "Movin' N Groovin'" from their debut "Wardour St.," and a live version of the B-side of their debut single "Happy Feeling"

Mod Fun

ALAN LEE BRACKETT - Peanut Butter Conspiracy Theories - Lost Songs 1967-1968 [USA garage, pop, psychedelic, rock 1967-68] 2016 Out-Siders OSR052

 

Alan Lee Brackett / Peanut Butter Conspiracy Theories / Lost Songs 1967-1971, features previously unreleased recordings by Peanut Butter Conspiracy's mainman Alan Lee Brackett, mostly written and recorded in 1967, when PBC were at their fame peak. Here, Alan explores a number of different styles, encompassing fuzzed out garage numbers, pop, folk rock and full blown psychedelia.

Including ahead of its time garage-psychedelic DIY homemade recordings where Alan plays all instruments by himself plus studio cuts. Featuring collaborations with songwriter Knox Henderson of Mouse and the Traps fame. Master tape sound.

Alan

THE KING BISCUIT ENTERTAINERS - Northwest Unrelased Masters, 1967- 70 [USA garage, hard, psychedelic 1967-70] 2015 Out-Sider OSR036

 

Featuring Ray Kennedy and Roger Huycke from legendary garage band The Wilde Knights (of "Beaver Patrol"/"Just Like Me" fame), King Biscuit Entertainers rocked the Northwest music scene between 1968 and 1971, building up a reputation as one of the better live bands from the Pacific Northwest ballroom circuit. In addition to releasing a bunch of 45s for several local labels, the band recorded a lot of stuff at their own state-of-the art home studio, material that has not seen the light of day until now. This retrospective features a selection from their previously unreleased tape archive plus rare 45 sides, 1967-1970, including the fantastic garage-jangle 45 they recorded under the Genesis name. Music ranges from British-influenced mod-psych to early hard rock with stunning guitar and vocals. The raw sound and production brings to mind similar bands like Brain Police. Remastered sound.

King Biscuit

Q65 - Injection [Netherlands garage, rock 1970-1997] 2020 Pseudonym Records VP99.082

 

Q65 was one of The Netherlands 'most popular beat bands from the' 60s. After their glory years, that ended abruptly in January 1968 when singer Willem Bieler joined the army, the band reformed in the spring of 1970, with drummer Beer Klaasse of the legendary Group 1850 behind the drumkit. The album 'Injection' contains (unreleased) live recordings and demos (8 tracks, 1970), the legendary Beatnach concert (4 tracks, 1980) and two acoustic songs from 1996. Remastered from the original master tapes.

Q65