Bohemian Vendetta: Bohemian Vendetta 1968 + Enough! (Compilation)1997

 

Bohemian Vendetta was formed as the Bohemians in 1966 in Long Island, New York.  Their original lineup consisted of Arthur Muglia (also known as Brian Cooke) on lead vocals and organ, his cousin Victor Muglia on bass, Randy Pollock on rhythm guitar, Richard Martinez on lead guitar, and Richie Sorrento on drums. Initially the band had a strongly blues-based sound, reminiscent of Pretty Things, and the Shadows of Knight. From Long Island's Lynbrook, future member Nick Manzi had played in a number of bands in the area, including the Cavaliers. He and Faine Jade had formed the Rustics who recorded "Cant' Get you Out of My Heart" b/w "Look at Me" for the Ye Old King Label.After the Rusics broke up Manzi joined the Bohemians, replacing lead guitarist Richard Martinez, who went on the join the Cats Meow, who recorded a few singles for Decca. In 1967 the Bohemians changed their name to Bohemian Vendetta. More personnel changes were to come that year. After Nick Manzi's entry, Randy Pollock switched from guitar to bass, and Chuck Monica replaced Richie Sorrento on drums. Bohemian Vendetta played at venues such as the Action House with such bands as the Vagrants and Vanilla Fudge.
                             

A melee of fuzzy guitars, screeching Vox Contintental, thick fuzz, angst, acid, and pure energy make Bohemeian Vendetta’s album one of the best garage finds ever reissued. It’s maybe no masterpiece, waiting to change your life or blow your mind, but it is the essence of rock music, and too powerful to miss out on. After a series of ripping beat demos and a single for United Artists, even scoring a tv spot on Dick Clark’s Rate-A-Record, the Long Island bred Bohemians got a shot at a full LP on the legendary Mainstream label in 1968. Given the chance, this small group of teenage acid punks let loose with their monster, penning some excellent original numbers and warping a couple of very popular covers. The label delayed their album and hardly promoted it, relegating Enough to the cracks in the floor, but it screams.
            

While the album’s lead-off, Riddles & Fairytales is a little too good for words, songs like I Wanna Touch Your Heart combine a healthy Rnb feel with psychedelic interludes, and suprisingly well played vocal backups. Love Can Make Your Mind Go Wild shows the band could write and sing tunes on par with The Remains, adding their own touch with the fuzz lead breakdowns. And narrated segments and operatic interludes in numbers like Deaf Dumb & Blind and Paradox City reveal the band’s psychedelic tendencies. The two non-originals are daring and disturbingly drawn-out cover versions of Satisfaction and House of the Rising Sun. It makes you wonder why modern groups fear the notion to cover songs of their contemporaries – it’s part of the tradition of rock and roll, and so many rediscovered garage bands make that exceedingly clear.
                    

After their album went nowhere, members of Bohemian Vendetta formed the backing band for Faine Jade. Today the record is available on an anthology put out by Distortions Records, including all the singles leading up to the album and unreleased acetates. There are also several fairly recent LP reissues. Enough is strange, but a record to reaffirm your love of garage rock. Over the intervening years since their breakup, Bohmian Vendetta's work has been included on several anthologies. Their song "Enough" was included on the 1979 Ear-Piercing Punk compilation put out by Greg Shaw's Bomp! Records, then later on Essential Pebbles, Volume 1 . "All Kinds of Highs" has also been reissued on compilations. In 1998 the band's complete work, including their 1968 album and all of their acetates, was released on the Enough anthology. Bohemian Vendetta probably is a good candidate for the quintessential acid garage band. That is to say they don't take home the first prize unopposed, but they do manage to stumble onto some inspired sounds from time to time. I'm sure your friends will give you cool points for pulling this one out on vinyl (and there is a 180-gram reissue somewhere out there).
                      

BOHEMIAN VENDETTA - BOHEMIAN VENDETTA 1968
                

Bohemian Vendetta – Bohemian Vendetta
Label: Not On Label – S 6106
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo
Country: ?   
Released: 1968   
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

SIDE A.

                               

A1. Enough  2:40
A2. Riddles & Fairytales   2:56
A3. (She Always Gives Me) Pleasure   4:11
A4. All Kinds Of Highs   3:36
A5. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (Written-By – Jagger - Richard)    5:22
A6. Paradox City   2:11

SIDE B.

                               

B1. Half The Time   2:37
B2. Love Can Make Your Mind Go Wild    2:43
B3. The House Of The Rising Sun (Arranged By – B. Cooke, T. Camp/Written-By – Trad.)   5:21
B4. Images (Shadow In The Night)   1: 52
B5. Deaf, Dumb & Blind   3:30
B6. I Wanna Touch Your Heart   2:48

LINE - UP

Bass – Victor Muglia
Direct Metal Mastering By – H P
Drums – Chuck Monica
Lead Guitar – Nick Manzi
Organ, Lead Vocals – Brian Cooke
Rhythm Guitar – Randy Pollock
Written-By – B. Cooke (tracks: A1 to A4, A6 to B2, B4 to B6), T. Camp (tracks: A1 to A4, A6 to B2, B4 to B6)

NOTES

No information about the label on cover, spine or labels.

MP3 @ 320 Size: 95 MB
Flac  Size: 215 MB

BOHEMIAN VENDETTA - ENOUGH! 1997
              

Bohemian Vendetta – Enough!
Label: Distortions Records – DR 1038
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRAXS

              

01. The Bohemians – Like Stoned    2:45
02. The Bohemians – Irresistible    2:50
03. The Bohemians – All Kinds Of Lows & All Kinds Of Highs    2:19
04. The Bohemians – I Don't Go That Way    2:17
05. The Bohemians – How Does It Feel?    2:52
06. Bohemian Vendetta – Enough    2:41
07. Bohemian Vendetta – Half The Time    2:40
08. Bohemian Vendetta – I Wanna Touch Your Heart    2:24
09. Bohemian Vendetta – Images    1:52
10. Bohemian Vendetta – Charity Killjoy    2:30
11. Bohemian Vendetta – The House Of The Rising Sun   5:41
(Arranged By – Cook, Camp/Written-By – Traditional)
12. Bohemian Vendetta – Riddles & Fairytales    2:54
13. Bohemian Vendetta – (She Always Gives Me) Pleasure    4:12
14. Bohemian Vendetta – All Kinds Of Highs    3:40
15. Bohemian Vendetta – (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction   5:23
(Written-By – Jagger-Richard)
16. Bohemian Vendetta – Paradox City    2:13
17. Bohemian Vendetta – Love Can Make Your Mind Go Wild    2:44
18. Bohemian Vendetta – The House Of The Rising Sun   5:23
(Arranged By – Cook, Camp/Written-By – Traditional)
19. Bohemian Vendetta – Images (Shadow In The Night)    1:50
20. Bohemian Vendetta – Deaf, Dumb & Blind    3:30
21. Bohemian Vendetta – I Wanna Touch Your Heart    2:29
22. Bohemian Vendetta – Riddles & Fairytales (45 Version)    2:41

LINE - UP

Backing Vocals – Nick Manzi, Randy Pollock (tracks: 4)
Bass, Backing Vocals – Victor Muglia
Drums – Chuck Monica (tracks: 5 to 22), Richie Sorrentino (tracks: 1 to 4)
Lead Guitar – Nick Manzi (tracks: 5 to 22), Richard Martinez (tracks: 1 to 4)
Lead Vocals – Brian Cooke (tracks: 1 to 12, 14 to 22), Victor Muglia (tracks: 13)
Lead Vocals [Shared Lead Vocals] – Nick Manzi (tracks: 17)
Organ, Tambourine, Maracas – Brian Cooke
Rhythm Guitar – Randy Pollock
Written-By – B. Cooke (tracks: 1 to 10, 12 to 14, 16, 17, 19 to 22), T. Camp (tracks: 1 to 10, 12 to 14, 16, 17, 19 to 22)

NOTES

Tracks 12 to 21 originally released on LP in 1968 as Bohemian Vendetta - Bohemian Vendetta.

MP3 @ 320 Size: 165 MB
Flac  Size: 383 MB