Click on the images to see them in a larger format. When a songtitle is underlined it means that an MP3-link is available for it. Click on the link and the soundclip will automatically start.
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POL & PAUL: Anywhere I Go/How Is Life, Mrs. Ann (Philips, NL '68) |
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| Wonderful Dutch popsike 2-sider that I only picked up recently. Pol & Paul (real names: Johan Polvliet and Jan-Paul ten Hoopen) were a acoustic folk/pop duo from Leiden. This was their only 45 on which they were backed up by the Bert Paige Orchestra. Jan-Paul Ten Hoopen was later on in the band Beautiful Garden en made some solo 45's as Jeremy and Jean-Paul. |
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SPIDERS FACTORY: I Love Her And I Need Her/Pilot Song (Just Born, BEL '73) |
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| Still one of the most intriguing 45s to come out of Belgium. Truly amazing that this was only released in 1973, as you'd swear it to be circa 1967 or so. A moody 2-sider characterised by haunting vocals & sparse fuzz guitar that adds a psychedelic edge to it. The low-budget recording gives it extra charm. It reminds me a lot of some Dutch 1967-1968 45s. I'd love to find more about The Spiders Factory so I'll supply all the info I have on the group. Hopefully somebody will Google his name & bump into my blogsite: Fred(die) De Bom - lead vocals, rhythm guitar / Gentil Van Moorebeeke - organ / Paul De Groot - solo guitar / Etienne Godefroid - drums. Recorded at the Just Born studio, Mere (nowadays Erpe-Mere) Belgium. |
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MOTHER NATURE: Orange Days And Purple Night/Where Did She Go (B&C, UK 1971) |
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| For those who dug their "Once Upon A Time" 45 from my first blog, here's their brilliant debut 45. With an imaginative songtitle like "Orange Days And Purple Night" you can't go wrong, so when a copy popped up I did not hesistate to lay my hands on it. It 100%-ly lives up to it's expectations. Both songs have a folky atmosphere. Whereas "Orange days.." is in a more poppier vein, the B-s. "Where did she go" (great guitar solo-ing!) veers more into psychedelic territority. Both songs feature some gorgeous harmony vocals. I'd still like to see some more vital info on Mother Nature and their songwriter Steepy Rojo. Anyone? |
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B & P (BENGT & PONTUS): Blow Your Horn/Moneypenny (Knäppupp, SWE '67) |
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| Fab popsike 2-sider from this Swedish duo from Motala, Sweden. Both musicians (Bengt Andersson and Pontus Olsson) were part of The Beathovens (of "Summer Sun" fame). On this studio-only project they got a helping hand from two members of Swedish 60's group "14". Two more songs "Didn't You Hear Me" and "Your Problem" were recorded during the same session. They remained unreleased, but a lucky few can hear them on the nowadays impossible-to-find "Fading Yellow" comp L.P. (both tracks were not included on the CD !!). |
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JEFFRIDIN & THE SIGLAP FIVE: Puja'an Terhina/Menari/Nada Suchi Untok-Mu/Adek-Ku (Philips, SING '67) |
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| The Siglap Five were a Singapore/based Malay group. They backed up various female singers like Rosnah (hear "Gembira Ria" on the Steam Kodok compilation) and Evey Lyn ("Tell me if it's true" is a personal fave!). However the band was best known for accompanying Jeffridin. With him they recorded three EP's. I haven't had the chance yet to hear their others, but the one we got hear is supposed to be his best. It features two great songs, "Menari" ("Dancing") and "Adek-Ku" ("My Young Girl"), both with some sizzling fuzz guitar solo-ing! Also dig the eery organ outburst in "Adek-Ku" !! |
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SONSET: Dulce Ayer/Oh! Look What you've Done (Hit Parade, PUERTO RICO '67) |
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| I could not find much info on The Sonset from Puerto Rico. The band made an LP called "Discoteca" in 1967. Lysergia's "Acid Archives" describes this album as "garage with hot reverb guitar". According to Vernon Joynson's "Dreams, Fantasies And Nightmares" the band explores both garage and psychedelic genres. Their LP is said to be one of the rarest to come out of Puerto Rico. For what it's worth, it gets 4 stars in the Pokora book. There's a few copies floatin' around on the net, but all with a hefty price next to it. If any album track can match with a wyld screamin' garage punker like "Oh! Look What You've Done" (included on the LP or not?) then I'd surely be anxious to hear. Any other cool Puerto Rico 60's records that you can come up with? Lemme know! |
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VOYAGERS: I Want You Back/Can't Save This Heart (Feature, US '65) |
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| Great uncomped Badger State garage winner! This is Feature #101, so the first release on this label from Janesville. The Feature label was ran by Ken Adamany, who also had the Rampro label (Converts, Why Four etc.). Most of the Feature recordings were made at the legendary Cuca studios. The band came from the Racine/Kenosha area, the South-East part of the Wisconsin state and they had another 45 out in 1966, "Away" b/w "I'm so lonely". Line-up: Joey Gonzales - vocals, Jay Sieger - guitar, Steve Porter - guitar, Lance Davenport - bass, Dave King - drums. |
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HUCKSTERS: It's So Hard/Lonely Man (Brutal, US '6?) |
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| Here's a U.S. garage 45 that I have no info on at all. A great moody piece in the best "Shutdown 66" tradition. Very sparse production, sounds almost like an unplugged recording session. Haven't seen any other (garage) 45's on the Brutal label. |
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LITTLE PEPPY & THE BARE EXISTENCE: Since You've Gone Away/It Can Happen!! (Fine, US '66) |
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| Cool garage 45 from this female-led group from Rochester, NY. Off course, you can read all about the Fine label and it's recordings on Mark T.'s website. The A-s. is a moody tune about a boyfriend going off to war, but the flip is the real winner here - sounds like the bass player blew up his amp right before the recoding session! Great snarly vocals by Little Peppy a.k.a. Marlene Torre. Non-comp! |
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SPACE: Jack In The Box/Radio Song (Crazy Horse, US '69) |
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| Space was a late 60's psych group from Los Angeles. The band included Terry Rae, Eric Gies, John Anderson and Sterling Storm. Three of the band members were in the well-known 60's surf combo Eddie & the Showmen. The same guys were part of new wave group The Humans ("I Live In The City" E.P. etc.) in the late 70's. "Radio Song" is a great trippy psych pop gem. The A-s. "Jack In The Box" is very British sounding toytown pop. Cool 45! |
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ECHO: Running/Baby Baby (Echo, US '79?) |
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| Fantastic 60's-infl. powerpop 2-sider housed in a fab looking PS! Another 45 that I have almost no info on. Label states that the Echo Records label was from Tybee Island, Georgia. Both songs are credited to M. Ward. The release year is not mentioned anywhere, but my best guess is late 70's. I've never seen another copy of this 45! |
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MOONDOGS: Dance With Me Cheryl/You Have Loved Before/Your The Girl/Home Coming (California Recs., US '79?) |
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| Another popwerpop beauty that is complete mystery to me. It's probably save to say that the band came from California. The P.S. is hand-made. Songs are credited to Tommy Musick, Greg & Timmy Suffolk and Kristine & Danny Clifford. Two tracks are absolutely brilliant though "Dance With Me Cheryl" suffers from a horrible production. Once again, I'm not certain about the year of release, but it sounds like late 70's/early 80's. |
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