Least favorite of the major 1966 era bands?

[Dave Baldwin]

I can't stand Moby Grape either. I only left them off the list because I thought including them would upset people. The Byrds are on the list because of their post '67 output. That may be a little unfair.

Moby Grape was a group that never really came together as a coherent band. They came closest on some of Skip Spence's songs like "Omaha" and "Seeing" where their individual talents came together around a song that wasn't as hippie/dorky as their usual fare.

 

[HarvestmanMan]

The Fifth Estate and the Racket Squad come to mind, unless there's some other stuff by them I haven't heard. "Hung Up" is a cool song but that's about it.

 

[Michael W]

13th Floor Elevators - they had one good song, and that was couresy of The Spades.

 

[Outside_Lookin_in]

Love ... were ... brilliant, compared to Byrds

Are you serious, Mark? Perhaps I'd agree with you concerning the other bands you've listed, but the Byrds had a few brilliant songs which spawned some equally brilliant garage covers, and many, many more Byrds-influenced garage winners.

(I wrote the above before having read your subsequent conciliatory remark.)

 

[Outside_Lookin_in]

If we're looking at major '66 bands through garage coloured glasses, then all the ones who did at least one garage song, put out mostly unlistenable songs. As for the rest, I don't force myself to listen to them, so I can't say which one I would find the most excruciating.

 

[bosshoss]

Are you serious, Mark? Perhaps I'd agree with you concerning the other bands you've listed, but the Byrds had a few brilliant songs which spawned some equally brilliant garage covers, and many, many more Byrds-influenced garage winners.

(I wrote the above before having read your subsequent conciliatory remark.)

No I'm not serious. I like the Byrds. But they deserve some criticism for the boring LPs they put out in the very late 60s and early 70s. By comparison, the Music Machine put out 2 LPs, each one better than the last, and then disappeared.

 

[sanjuro73]

Moby Grape was a group that never really came together as a coherent band. They came closest on some of Skip Spence's songs like "Omaha" and "Seeing" where their individual talents came together around a song that wasn't as hippie/dorky as their usual fare.

In addition to those songs (Omaha is definitely a crowning moment), I’d put forth “Sitting By the Window,” “Fall on Me,” “Looper,” “Come in the Morning,” “He,” and the alternate take of “The Place and the Time” off of the “Wow” re-issue as being moments of excellence from the band.

I can see why the band gets their reputation, as in addition to their goofy name they do have some songs that have the hippy/dorky vibe, but for me those don’t out weigh their better moments like the ones listed above.

 

[chas_kit]

wow, hilarious thread.

Putting down Love - the 1st side of Da Capo is probably my favorite LP side of any in existence. Too bad about the 2nd side though! Wrecking crew only played on one or two tracks of Forever Changes before the band got it together. I'm not so into the Four Sail lineup, showing off too much chops, lost some of the magic, but the song writing is still strong.

John's Children - hardly an extensive discography, but a couple freakbeat gems what might be Marc Bolan's best work.

Moby Grape - I can see the criticism but the Skip Spence and Peter Lewis songs are fine. Jerry Miller should get some credit for his previous work with the Frantics and lead on the Chocolate Watch Band's "Devil's Motorcycle".

The Action - not into Harlem Shuffle but their version of the Marvelettes is tops. And take another listen to Rolled Gold, stellar LP.

Paul Revere - I prefer the Wailers but these guys are part of the essential Pacific NW, pre-Beatles r&r scene, how can anyone who likes US garage not respect their Gardena & Sande recordings! Listen to the break on this one:

 

[Frantic]

Four Sail is the best U.S. rock album of 1969/1970. It's still great despite the dated 'Beatles' moves on a couple of songs.

Sorry, that honor goes to DA STOOGES

 

[chas_kit]

Maybe the Mamas and the Papas. Always liked California Dreaming but watched their Monterey Pop performance outtakes recently and thought it all stunk.

Loved Buffalo Springfield's performance at Monterey, even without Neil, wish there was more of it on film.

 

[bosshoss]

Paul Revere - I prefer the Wailers but these guys are part of the essential Pacific NW, pre-Beatles r&r scene, how can anyone who likes US garage not respect their Gardena & Sande recordings! Listen to the break on this one:

Now I know where the Rats got their "Rat's Revenge" riff.
Not to nit pick because it's an excellent conventional break, but the insane, unconventional break on the Kingsmen's version kills the Raiders version.

at 1:25

One of the 3 most mind boggling lead breaks ever. The other 2 are "I Need You There" and "Loose" (honorable mentions to the Psychotrons and Madd Inc.).

at 1:10

at 1:45...

at 2:10

 

[bosshoss]

at 0:55

 

[Frantic]

at 0:55

Top 5 for me.

 

[chas_kit]

The Kingsmen is definitive in every way, of course. The Raiders cut their version 2 or 3 months before the Kingsmen. I do like how the Raiders' break is almost a minute long!

 

[bosshoss]

The Kingsmen is definitive in every way, of course. The Raiders cut their version 2 or 3 months before the Kingsmen. I do like how the Raiders' break is almost a minute long!

I guess Rich Dangel of the Wailers really deserves a lot of the credit for the style of all subsequent versions of the Louie Louie break. There are probably hundreds of garage band lead breaks that literally steal sections of that (Kingsmen's) break, note for note. Sometimes thay are hard to recognise, unless you have really studied how that break is played.

 

[soundog III]

13th Floor Elevators - they had one good song, and that was couresy of The Spades.

Don't Fall Down is a doozy indeed.

 

[mikael]

at 0:55

Tim W said he had found a killer demo of this, did it ever see the light?

 

[Frantic]

Tim W said he had found a killer demo of this, did it ever see the light?

Nope, I found the tape and put it out on my UP FROM THE GRAVE comp.

 

[Heitkotter77]

Now I know where the Rats got their "Rat's Revenge" riff.

Best Louie Louie rip off I've heard.

Too bad there wasn't a break though.

 

[MopTopMike]

John's Children - freakbeat classics? Their entire recorded legacy pales next to other examples (insert your favorites here).
"Smashed:Blocked" might as well be the "Winchester Cathedral" of '60s obscurities that are in fact over-rated.

As for the Action - their originals are good, the remakes are limp and sanitized. "I'll Keep Holding On" and "Baby You've Got It" are rather pedestrian lame 'beat' sides, not really any better than a Herman's Hermits hit single.