In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast

Our fifth edition of the ever-popular Better Than The Beatles series focuses on the first, and greatest, manufactured pop group: The Monkees . Literally cast into the limelight of pop superstardom, The Monkees, at their peak, outsold the Beatles while simultaneously filming weekly episodes of their zany and ultra-hip eponymous hit TV series. You’ll go bananas for our first foray: Last Train To Cla...

In this episode, we go for a wild ride with a golden oldie that still smells factory fresh, "Brand New Cadillac" by Vince Taylor & His Playboys (1:53). Hear how this 1959 bopper is a "crossroads", deal-with-the-devil ditty, as signalled by the otherwordly opening string strumming. In 1964, The Renegades took the song to Finland, renaming it  "Cadillac" and passing...

In this episode, we go down a Rabbitt hole and discuss one of the early songwriting efforts of the man who ruled the musical world of 1980 - Eddie Rabbitt ! In 1966, his tune "Ball and Chain" (co-penned by Tricia Carr, who we also talk about) was released as a single by Scottish freakbeat merchants The Anteeeks (1:30). Yes, the spelling is correct, as is the band's use of fuzz . The...

While some might see Lulu as an exemplar of cherubic innocence, one listen to "Try To Understand," written by the boss songwriting duo of Lori Burton & Pam Sawyer (see Episode 70) will clear up that misconception (1:27). This song is from the POV of a player, a female Casanova who's trying to keep her main man and her side piece (but which is which?) ... a big production, a &quo...

This week we discuss the song that Francis Rossi wrote on the toilet while trying to escape family life - the pop-psychedelic masterpiece "Pictures of Matchstick Men" by  Status Quo (1:53). With that in mind, it's possible that the tune is a fever dream fantasy of familicide, with the wah-wah parts imitating his newborn baby crying ... who knew that there could be such a push-and-pu...

"Then He Kissed Me" by The Crystals is a somewhat underrated pop product of the early 1960s, so it's time to shine the spotlight on this brick in the Wall of Sound, featuring the powerful vocals of La La Brooks, the production of Phil Spector , the arrangement of Jack Nitzsche , and the Brill Building words of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich (1:07). What a cast!! We then take a detou...

In the latest episode,  Erik & Weldon answer the question: "what's purple and goes buzz buzz buzz?" The answer is the Electric Prunes , who psyched out the world in 1966 with "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) (1:44). Unlike most people who tell you about their dreams, the Prunes keep you listening with some seriously spacy sounds. We analyze all the parts of this moody...

This week, we tell tall tales about one of the all-time greats - 1965's "Liar Liar" by The Castaways (1:30). A song  with rolling organ that opens up with a snare crack, released in the same month as "Like A Rolling Stone"... but this one's way better because of the weird falsetto , the deadpan verses, surf drums, a wild scream and the newly-rediscovered SENSATION NOT...

You can think of this as a belated Valentine's Day episode - featuring the brainless, bashing Bo Diddley-beat balladry of "Makin' Love", originally done by The Sloths in 1965 (1:18). If Animal from The Muppets was a one-man band, this would be his signature song. While other LA bands were folkin' it up on the Sunset Strip, the Sloths were fearlessly flying the flag for fre...

This time it’s personal ... Sergeant Erik and Chief Inspectors Bobby Beaton and John Davis, of the Gruesomes , embark on an investigation of one of the most notorious garage rock cold cases of all time: the mystery of Jack The Ripper!  We seek the truth regarding: Who released the song first? Who covered whose version? Why are there SO MANY versions of this ill-advised, tasteless song?! Clarence S...

We should have a long talk ... about the shoulda-been-a-hit "Say Those Magic Words", written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. The McCoys open the oration with a very twangy sound - there's more guitar hooks here than the Fishin' Musician! It's bubble-gummy, but also a little bit psych, what with the delay effect at the end of the chorus. The Birds (the ones from England with...

Super Gorilla! We suspect we are the first podcasters to discuss "The Rat's Revenge, Pts. 1 & 2" by The Rats (aka The Decades ), anyone wanna challenge us? "Part One"  and its unforgettably STOOPID riff comes first (3:05). As the "Back From The Grave" liner notes note, the song cycle is an homage to the real hero of the AIP "Beach Party" movies, Eri...

This week we listen to 4 GARAGE versions of what some boomers say is the greatest song of all time: Bob Dylan 's "Like A Rolling Stone." We think the very first cover of the tune was done by the Soup Greens , presented to the world only one month after BD released the original. (1:47) They don't bore us, they get to the chorus! In their soupy hands, the song becomes a frat rock...

In 1959, R&B Renaissance men  Don & Dewey  released the first version of the soon-to-be-classic, "Farmer John" (1:01). These guys were multi-instrumentalists and multi-talented - this one's sure to be a hit at your upcoming barnyard blitz. Two years later,  Carl & the Commanders brought out the next in the crop, an even faster take with wild drums, some tickling of the o...

This week we bequeath to you an episode on the rockin' 66er, "Readin' Your Will" by The Human Expression (2:25).  The original acetate is a raw 'n' snotty intervention, with singer Jim Quarles condemning his friend for his dissolute rock 'n' roll lifestyle while backed with cool gallopin' drums and an overall "Steppin' Stone" vibe. The et...

In late 1963/early 1964, a new dance craze blew through the Windy City: the Uncle Willie ! In this episode, the first of 2023, we listen to 6 songs that range from R&B, girl group, and garage - all of them will have you putting your hands on your hips and letting your feet slip ... it's as easy as it can be!

Say Toodle-oo to 2022 with In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast! We have 4 categories for this year's Bo Diddley Awards: 1. Bo Diddliest Tambourine Tune (new!) 2. Bo Diddliest Video 3. Bo Diddliest Song From a Theme Episode 4. Most Beautiful Song (new!) All that, and resolutions - get away from the family for a few hours!!

This show finds us investigating the iconic 60s sound of jangle - we start with the most famous treble-makers of the decade, The Byrds and their beautiful 1965 B-side, "She Don't Care About Time" (1:16).  Erik diagrams the science of jangle and we do a deep dive on Gene Clark's inscrutable, ineffable lyrics. And those harmonies!! Next, go deeper into the jangle jungle with 1966...

The new episode aims to sate Pastronauts with 4 versions of the garage gem, “Hungry.”  The main course is the 1966 original from Paul Revere & the Raiders . This one has FUZZ , pulsing organ, and some terrific cha cha tambo along with a lusty vocal performance from the great Mark Lindsay. That same year, Canadian/British combo The 5AM Event altered the ingredients somewhat for more Freakbeat-i...

In the new episode, we take some giant steps and discuss 4 songs from the 60s about our Earth's best friend, the oblate spheroid you can't avoid - The Moon! We launch with 1961's "Blue Moon", by The Marcels (1:51).  This one has been a golden oldie from the start, but you have to listen with fresh ears: Freddy "Fricative" Johnson's low basso profundo will pa...

What happens if you bring a tambourine to a gang fight? That question is answered by Don Covay 's "Sookie Sookie", released in 1966 (1:02). A song with a great groove but chorus amnesia - and the most intimidating tambo work we've ever heard. Listen to us talk about the history of the banana peel in comedy as well. The second "Sookie" is from '67, by The Primitiv...

In our latest, we celebrate some German garage gibberish: "Balla Balla", originally done by The Rainbows in 1965 (1:44).  Grab a lager and listen to some Schlager ! Die zweite Version is by the American twist King Chubby Checker , aided by De Maskers from The Netherlands (37:18). Chubby retitles the song "Baby Baby Balla Balla" and adds more lyrics so it .... uh ... makes sense...

Duh duh duh -- Grab your partner, it’s Louie Louie time – again!! One cover and three “soundalikes” of Richard Berry’s bartalk-ian classic. First in the parade is I. Kadez ’s Nashville version of “Louie Louie” from the portentous month of November, 1963 (2:51). We think this might be the first cover that uses the Kingsmen version as a template. Listen in to find out the mystery vocalist behind the...

Visiting professors Bobby Beaton and John Davis of The Gruesomes are back to lecture young garageniks about the legacy, impact, and mechanics of what is, in Dr. Beaton's words, "the paramount garage experience"!! That is, of course, the song "City of People", originally heard in 1966 by The Illusions (2:15). A song all the Gruesomes hold in both scorn and esteem, which the...

This Halloween we continue to howl at the moon with 5 more songs about those scary wolfmen (and wolfwomen)! We start the horrific cavalcade with "Rockin' Werewolf" by Robbie the Werewolf from 1964 (2:38). Just try and get the chorus of this fun strummin' folk number out of your head, but keep the crucifixes away while Robbie is rockin' ... wait, is that only for vampires?...