In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast

You didn't have to wait long this week for the new episode - but listen to how weary The Kinks are in 1965's dreamy "Tired of Waiting For You." A languid version of the slashing riffs Dave Davies had heretofore been known for! Later that year, New Zealand's Rayders  raided the platter-racks with their version of the tune. Detroit's  Apostles came out with a fairly fun...

You've had to wait, but we know you won't complain ... because this week we're talkin' bout one of the greatest garage tunes ever - "No Reason to Complain" by The Alarm Clocks . A song of no-'count teenage alienation, and man, it swings! Not many noticed, though - until Tim Warren brought it to the people on Back From the Grave , and then The Lyres covered the tu...

This week's tune is a pop-psych confection called "Mr. Personality Man" - and there's only three recorded versions, so you'll hear 'em  all if you tune in. The original is from  The West Coast Delegation , a band confusingly from England. It's got a pretty heavy backbeat reminiscent of Motown or "Pretty Woman" and it doesn't let up. The lyrics deal...

Friday the 13th is your lucky day - a new episode a lil' early. We pay tribute to the recently-departed  James Lowe of the eminently psychedelic combo,  The Electric Prunes . And "Get Me To The World On Time" has possibly the best opening of any psych tune. The lyrics describe love as a bad trip but the sounds suggest other worlds - are we caught between the real world and the vast...

This week we cast our net wide for versions of the classic  "Too Many Fish in the Sea." The original by The Marvelettes is still a fresh catch -- it's a classic Motown 'advice' song with punchy instrumentation, top Tambo and a great sound-off from all the members. Marine biologists might prefer our next version by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels , which includes a rol...

As Erik says, "Pushin' Too Hard" by  The Seeds is a garage tune that's more buzz than fuzz. 1 bar of music, 2 chords, no bridge, no chorus, and a relentless beat. It's simple, but is it stoopid? Maybe a little ... Two live covers follow by The Sonics  (from the 60s) and  Pere Ubu (from the 70s), which go a long way to canonize the tune as a punk classic. Plus Pere Ubu incl...

We're debuting a new series called "Greatest Greatest Hits," which looks at an artist or group's top songs. But this one could also have fit in "Better Than The Beatles," because Quebec's  Michel Pagliaro really does sound like John, Paul, or George in several of these songs! You could also consider him an early power-pop exponent, but he's pretty much unkno...

This won't be the last time you hear the Rolling Stones but this is the episode wherein we discuss "The Last Time" from early 1965. After acknowledging the chorus copped from the Staple Singers , we move on to the riff, the riff, the riff! We also note the strange connection to German Oompah music. The second in the parade comes from their producer and manager Andrew Oldham and his...

When did the 60s symbolically end? Altamont? Kent State? No - when the organ stops playing towards the end of "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" by  Crazy Elephant . It's bubblegum, but also super rockin'. Who'da thunk it? The first cover of the version was by ...  Giorgio Moroder ? It doesn't sound like his 70s stuff but it is wild. Third is a 80s Moroder-esque version f...

It's time to dip your toes into "Dirty Water" - The Standells   and their enduring 1965 hit, that is! We gab about the snotty vocals, their appearance on  The Munsters ,  we rank the drum fills - and of course, we crack the code of the song's lyrics. The next version is by  The Gants -  who add fuzz and relocate the song to Miami. But they musta forgot to learn the song!  The A...

This week we're talking about a Girl Group Goofy Great - 1963's "Dumb Head" by Ginny Arnell. The lyrics are dangerously self-deprecating, the production is Spectorian, and there's FUZZ and a kazoo solo - played by GA herself. OH, and an infamous hook - something the Ramones  might have sold their leather jackets for. The second version is super goofy and stoopid and it&apo...

This week the spotlight is on a 1965 folk jangler by  The Guilloteens : "I Don't Believe" is a raw, blue-eyed soul vocal outing reminiscent of the Righteous Brothers . They shoulda been on The Flintstones!! In 1966,  The Five of Us  came out with the first cover version. It's less raw, but it's smooth as Kraft Creamy! The same year,  The Moonrakers pepped the song up consi...

A theme episode that's so garage you better test for carbon monoxide: Who Do You Love -  The Preachers What a Girl Can't Do -  The Hangmen Why -  The Dirty Wurds When Shadows Fall -  The Jades Where You Gonna Go -  Art Guy

You know what they say about the bird in the hand ... this week the bird is  Buffalo Springfield 's "Sit Down I Think I Love You." It's a nice jaunty tune with Stephen Stills (we think) pitchin' some clever woo at a potential beloved. And three guitarists! Lots of tasteful flourishes, with some fuzz . The second version (& the first one in the bush) is the hit version...

Let's go to the 99th Floor ... of an apartment block in London, to view the world as The Rolling Stones did in 1965's "Get Off Of My Cloud." The song is the follow-up to "Satisfaction" and the boys were under pressure to keep makin' hits when they just wanted to relax. As a result, it's snotty, and Mick Jagger rises (!) to the occasion to create some early p...

For only the second time in four-plus years and 220 episodes, there's a show where Erik & Weldon are in the same room at the same time! And since Erik is visiting Vancouver, we've decided to make the city (and surroundings) the star of the show! First up is Patty Surbey with "Hey Boy," a corny but super-fun number that PS elevates through her wild vocal stylings. Then there...

In the latest episode, we discuss Allen Toussaint's great story-song "Fortune Teller",  a fave of garage bands throughout the 60s.  Benny Spellman authored the original version and it has that nice New Orleans swampiness - piano, clave, horns, and great backing vocals. What a gumbo! The second rendition is a cute one from the very early Rolling Stones , who add a Orientalist riff an...

SIX versions of the ultimate classic garage tune "You're Gonna Miss Me" - the original by The Spades from 1965, the 66 ur-text by 13th Floor Elevators (wherein we provide some potential innovations in the field of electric jug playing), then a bunch of wild renditions by Tom Thumb, The Heard, The Five Kinetics, & The Zoo! 

Who had a good time on Valentine's Day? Not  The Rockin' Ramrods out of Boston, who, in 1964, authored a poison pen letter towards the (imaginary) girls who did them wrong on the wild, ahead-of-its-time tune, "She Lied." Imagine  The Dave Clark Five crossed with  The Ramones  and you have an idea. Not for the faint of heart, and probably mostly unheard, the song didn't get...

Time to get back on the bus for this follow-up to our theme episode last week -  The Who 's classic "Magic Bus", no less. We start with  Pete Townshend 's 1966 demo, which is cute & weird & British - that is, psychedelic. The first released version was by some guys called  The Pudding , and it's got a  Mose Allison/Georgie Fame  vibe, according to Erik.  The Who &a...

All aboard the ... bus! This week we feature several songs about the poor man's chariot, the loser cruiser, etc - and the songs are comin' like London busses. Our first stop is "Midnight Bus" by  Betty McQuade . From 1961, this one is an atmospheric tale of tragic young love, but more importantly, it sets up a crucial discussion of the "buzzer cord" ... where did the...

We know you love us - but "Do You Love Me"?  Berry Gordy got Motown started in 62 with  The Contours  and it might be a little revenge-romance fantasy. You  will  love Billy Gordon's vocal performance, the amazing backing vocal performance by FOUR other singers, to say nothing of  The Funk Brothers . In '65,  Paul Revere & The Raiders cranked out a version that's a lil...

We're taking a second* kick at the ol' garage chestnut "I Can Only Give You Everything" (see episode 110 for our previous gabfest). We start with Them again to examine the RIFF and the rest. We quickly move on to The Ambertones and their version will make you carsick, so take some Gravol before this rough ride. If you like it, do the lurch! She'll be right by the next vers...

What a way to start 2025! A Happy/Sad New Year - the tune is "So Sad About Us" and we begin with Pete Townhend 's demo which is probably from 1966. A melodic guitar ostinato with drone notes and sensitive soprano choirboy singing that ends abruptly. The song then gets overorchestrated by The Merseys - the first released version - but it's less a Wall of Sound and more a Ball of...