Various Artists : Pebbles Volume 2: Various Hooligans, Original '60s Punk & Psych Classics [AIP CD 5019] - Released 1992
CD cat. #: AIP CD 5019
In his review of the Pebbles series for Allmusic, Richie Unterberger comments: "Though 1972's Nuggets compilation reawakened listeners to the sounds of mid-'60s garage rock, it only focused on the tip of the iceberg. Behind those forgotten hits and semi-hits lurked hundreds, if not thousands, of regional hits and flops from the same era, most even rawer and cruder... More than any other factor, these compilations [in the Pebbles series] were responsible for the resurgence of interest in garage rock, which remains high among collectors to this day."
Including the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, Best of Pebbles series, Essential Pebbles series, Planetary Pebbles series, and two box sets, more than 60 compilation albums have been released using the Pebbles name. Following on the heels of the success of the Pebbles series, dozens of other series of garage rock compilation albums have been started, with numerous albums being released each year for several decades.
Not to be confused with The Essential Pebbles Collection, Vol. 2, which overlaps somewhat with this album, Pebbles, Vol. 2 is part of the original series of '60s garage punk collections that began in 1979 (the CD version omits a couple songs from the LP and adds six bonus tracks). The opening number, "Makin' Deals" by the Satans, is a mid-tempo rocker featuring a vocalist who snarled "Can you
guess my name?!?" two years before Mick Jagger pranced through "Sympathy for the Devil." "99th Floor," an organ-driven stomper recorded in 1967, features ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons. Sons of Adam do a respectable cover version of Arthur Lee's "Feathered Fish"; this is followed by an extra track, a '60s commercial in which the Electric Prunes endorse the Vox wah-wah pedal. "You Rub Me the Wrong Way" is a good fuzz-drenched B-side by the Road from the surprisingly late date of 1969. "So What" by the Lyrics and "Bad Girl" by Zakary Thaks rank among the best numbers in this collection, which probably explains why they were included in the Nuggets box set. "Lost Innocence" by the Buddhas is hyped-up bubblegum rock, while the fantastically crude "Green Fuz" by Randy Alvey & Green Fuz makes the Cramps' cover version sound like a symphony orchestra in comparison.
Little Boy Blues, who are from Chicago, do a spirited version of "I Can Only Give You Everything"; Bobby Fuller, who is from Texas, covers "Wine, Wine, Wine," which was a local hit for the Nightcaps; the Dovers, who do "She's Gone" and "What Am I Going to Do," are somewhat reminiscent of the Ju Ju's; and Phil & the Frantics, who do "I Must Run," are somewhat reminiscent of the Zombies.
The Choir, one of the better obscure '60s bands (and the progenitor of the Raspberries), do the Merseybeat-influenced "It's Cold Outside" (which can be found on the Nuggets box set). The CD also includes their Rolling Stones-influenced "I'm Coming Home," which is not even on the group's Choir Practice compilation.
Other CD bonus tracks include "Be a Caveman" by L.A.'s Avengers (not to be confused with several other bands with the same name, including the '70s West Coast punk band), "She'll Lie" by Satan & D-Men, "Freedom of Love" by Undesyded, "Don't Want Your Lovin'" by Mark IV, and "Crazy Things" by Quid; however, the CD version of Pebbles, Vol. 2 omits the Squires, who do "Go Ahead," and the Litter, who do a Yardbirds-inspired rave-up of Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man." In any case, this is an excellent collection that should appeal to those who are want to delve deeper into the treasure chest of '60s garage punk music.
--Todd Kristel, AllMusic. Rating: 4,5/5 stars.
TRACK LISTING
01. The Satans : Makin' Deals - 02:00
02. The Moving Sidewalks : 99th Floor - 02:18
03. Sons of Adam : Feathered Fish - 02:30
04. The Electric Prunes : Wah-Wah Peddle - 01:03
05. The Road : You Rub Me The Wrong Way - 02:31
06. The Lyrics : So What - 02:51
07. The Buddahs : Lost Innocence - 02:10
08. Zakary Thaks : Bad Girl - 02:10
09. Randy Alvey and the Green Fuz : Green Fuz - 02:01
10. Little Boy Blues : I Can Only Give You Everything - 02:33
11. The Dovers : She's Gone - 02:40
12. Phil and the Frantics : I Must Run - 02:39
13. The Dovers : What Am I Going To Do - 02:42
14. The Choir : It's Cold Outside - 02:39
15. Bobby Fuller : Wine Wine Wine - 01:57
BONUS TRACKS
16. The Choir : I'm Going Home - 02:35
17. The Avengers : Be A Caveman - 01:56
18. Mark IV : Don't Want Your Lovin' - 02:49
19. Satan and D-Men : She'll Lie - 03:08
20. Undesyded : Freedom Of Love - 02:49
21. Quid : Crazy Things - 02:58
Playing time...50:57
The second volume of the Pebbles series serves up another round of forgotten rock n roll relics from the glory days of the 60s. This time around, the songs are among the very best in the entire series: The Zakary Thaks' "Bad Girl" is a double-time pounder whose sneering vocals and storming drums foreshadow the 70s punk explosion, while the Lyrics' "So What" is an absolutely ferocius tune with some blistering harmonica solos.
The Satans' "Making Deals" is every bit as raunchy, mean-spirited, and brutally fun as the Rolling Stones at their best, and the Little Boy Blues' rendition of "I Can Only Give You Everything" threatens to burst at the seams with barely subdued sexuality. The Moving Sidewalks' "99th Floor" is a stomping, propulsive three-chord smasher, and the Road's "You Rub Me The Wrong Way" is a bleary-eyed frat-rocker that won't fail to get'cha dancing. The Green Fuz's "Green Fuz" is simply one of the greatest garage-rock songs of all time, a gruesome two-chord slopper that's every bit as catchy and addictive as it is deranged.
On the poppier side of the spectrum, we have the Choir's rousing, bemused sing-along "It's Cold Outside," as well as a pre-"I Fought the Law" Bobby Fuller performing the convulsive party anthem "Wine Wine Wine." Phil & The Frantics do an ethereal, smokey, and subtle piece entitled "I Must Run," which features a twisting keyboard and some hushed vocals. And then there are the Dovers.
Siply one of the most unfairly neglected rock groups ever, the Dovers were an incredible musical force. Their songs were uncanny, engrossing, and emotional, written and performed with a kind of flair that rivaled that of the most well-known musical acts of the day. The two Dovers tracks presented here are proof of that: "She's Gone," with its unique pop hooks and spiraling melody, could've (and should've) sat quite comfortably at the top of the charts.
"What Am I Going to Do," meanwhile, is a genuine masterpiece, a spine-tingling rush of unchecked emotion whose power is nothing short of stunning. These are only some highlights of an excellent disc, one that should be in the collection of any fan of lesser-known rock n roll.
--Amazon customer review
Take it MP 3 HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment