The Barracudas are an English surf rock band formed in late 1978. The band's original line-up consisted of Jeremy Gluck (vocals), Robin Wills (guitar and vocals), Starkie Phillips (bass and vocals) and Adam Phillips (drums). Before the band recorded its first single, Starkie and Adam Phillips left the band.
The band is notable for their 1980 hit single "Summer Fun", which started with an excerpt from a 1960s spoof advertisement for the Plymouth Barracuda campaign. The song included dialogue where announcers had difficulty pronouncing the word barracuda. The single reached number 37 on the UK Singles Chart.
The band officially lasted until 1981 with a final performance in Madrid. There have been few occasional performances since.
The beginnings of the band can be traced back to the year of 1978 when Canadian-born Gluck met Wills at a Dead Fingers Talk concert. Here the pair bonded over a shared passion for "60's garage and psychedelic music ". They started off calling themselves the "R.A.F.", but eventually settled on the name of The Barracudas. The name was inspired by a song they both liked by The Standells.
Initially perceived as a novelty surf act due to their first album, subsequent recordings showed them to be a fierce garage rock and roll band in the mould of the 13th Floor Elevators and The Seeds. The band split in 1984, but reformed in 1989 to record "Wait For Everything," and then again in 2003. In 2005 they recorded the self-titled album on NDN. Throughout their career, their live performances have been energetic and frenetic.
Drop Out with The Barracudas is the debut studio album by English rock band The Barracudas, released in 1981 by record label Zonophone. The US version released on Voxx Records with an alternative cover features a revised track listing, replacing Campus Tramp with Surfers Are Back.
Everything is original on Drop Out, though sources of inspiration aren't far off at any turn, however reused and remade. "Codeine" has a more epic swoop and cautionary feel than the Sonics gave to "Strychnine," and "I Saw My Death in a Dream Last Night" isn't quite the Electric Prunes, but the same sort of not-quite-borrowing crops up song for song, and not too badly at that. Some songs, such as "I Can't Pretend" and "This Ain't My Time," have just enough of a crisp kick to remind you that they were recorded in 1980 rather than 15 years earlier.
Generally speaking, though, one song title sums up the entire fun spirit of Drop Out: "I Wish It Could Be 1965 Again." [EMI's 2005 reissue of the album adds five B-sides (including one of the band's signature songs "Surfers Are Back!") and seven songs recorded in 1981 but never released.]
After the first attempt at their second album, the group lost drummer Nick Turner to the group Lords of the New Church. Afterwards, Jeremy Gluck and guitarist Robin Wills assembled a new The Barracudas group, that went on to record their second album Mean Time.
The Barracudas disbanded in 1984, after making their third and final album Endeavour to Persevere. However, in 2005, there became a growing interest regarding the reissue of their back catalogue. This resulted in Gluck and Wills reconnecting, and the two of them began composing again.
In 2014, the band reissued their Meantime album as a limited edition picture disc, under the reborn "Closer French" label.
Personnel
Jeremy Gluck – vocals
Robin Wills – guitar, vocals
David Buckley – synthesizer, bass guitar, vocals
Nick Turner – drums, vocals
Original Album
01. I Can't Pretend [0:02:37.57]
02. We're Living In Violent Times [0:02:50.30]
03. Don't Let Go [0:03:29.35]
04. Codeine [0:03:40.30]
05. This Ain't My Time [0:03:06.23]
06. I Saw My Death In A Dream Last Night [0:03:34.12]
07. Somewhere Outside [0:03:15.00]
08. Summer Fun [0:03:15.48]
09. His Last Summer [0:03:34.07]
10. Somebody [0:03:09.38]
11. Campus Tramp [0:02:53.70]
12. On The Strip [0:02:43.27]
13. California Lament [0:03:42.38]
14. (I Wish It Could Be) 1965 Again [0:03:26.65]
Bonus Tracks : B-Sides
15. Chevy Baby [0:02:19.47]
16. Barracuda Waver [0:01:57.35]
17. Surfers Are Back! [0:02:17.40]
18. Rendezvous [0:01:56.23]
19. The KGB (Made A Man Out Of Me) [0:02:12.00]
Bonus Tracks : Unreleased, 1981
20. Ballad Of A Liar [0:03:33.30]
21. Gotta Get A Gun [0:02:29.32]
22. Grammar Of Misery [0:03:35.05]
23. I Can't Sleep [0:02:21.73]
24. On A Sunday [0:03:27.17]
25. Shades Of Today [0:03:02.33]
26. Summer Fun (Alternate Version) [0:02:43.50] (This track has a problem)
Barracudas: Drop Out With The Barracudas
Label: EMI Gold: 7243 8 75785 2 4, EMI Gold – 875 7852
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: UK & Europe
Released: 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Surf, Garage Rock, Pop Rock, Mod
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