In The Trashcan Records
GEM008
"While youngsters went back to the garage, others ended their
short-lived careers..."
When New Yorker Peter Zaremba founded The Fleshtones, he couldn't know that his band would be loved by so diverse an audience. Punk, wave, powerpop, garage, rock 'n' roll lovers and even soul revivalists call them a main influence. In 1979 they released their first single "American beat", which was re-recorded and issued in 1984 for I.R.S.
The Sinners were best known for their magnificent version of "Open up your door". This one is the flipside, released on the Swedish Teenage Kicks, which I think was their own label. In 1984 Sweden was #1 in garage land.
In 1977 The Outcasts were one of Northern Ireland's first punk bands, together with Rudi, long before better known Stiff Little Fingers. By 1984 their sound changed to indie rock with a garage attitude. This B-side of "Seven deadly sins" is a perfect example. One year later however the band that included three brothers disbanded. Released on the French label New Rose.
Lolita was another garage influence record label, from France. Sid Griffin's The Long Ryders are here with their second 45. They mix garage rock with Americana, country folk and rock 'n' roll.
And now we're all the way into the garage scene with this NY band The Twisted, a band close to The Fuzztones. Founded by the Portnoy brothers, their "Sheez wycked" was the blue print for "She's wicked", one of Fuzztones' best recordings ever. "The thing" is an eerie Halloween drenched horror instrumental, aptly released on Midnight Records. This is in my Top 10 from 1984!
In the meantime new wave and postpunk carried on in the UK. The Cure had hit after hit after hit, including "The caterpillar". This is the flipside. Written by Robert Smith it reminds me of a lunatic 80s version of a dreamy Syd Barrett, although you can never escape the very recognizable sound of Smith's voice.
Thanks to The Cramps and The Sting-Rays, Big Beat as part of Ace Records became a leading label in garage land. The Vibes were the perfect mix of garage and psychobilly, in the middle of The Meteors and The Cramps, only equalled by The Sting-Rays. "Stranger in the house" is Goo Goo Muck mixed with Tequila and Maniac Rockers From Hell.
1984 was the end of Fad Gadget. Later he recorded using his real name, Frank Tovey, until 2002, when he died at the early age of 45. "One man's meat" was his final chart hit single, already recorded in 1983. In 1982 he recorded "Sleep", which he re-worked together with friend and Mute label boss, Daniel Miller, for the flip of that 45. On his final album Gag you can find a different version.
As B-side of the terrific "Do the ghost" this "Talk" never got any credit at all. In the twilight zone between garage, powerpop and psychobilly it's not easy to break through. As far as I know they only released two 45s for Creation Records and an album for the excellent Media Burn Records. Later this single was reissued with a different coloured sleeve.
As B-side for their amazing cover version of the Stones' "2000 light year from home", this "Seen the light" is an undiscovered gem. Pounding toms, screeching synth sounds, heavy bass guitar and an uptempo rhythm make this Society Records release one of their best.
One of the real kings in garage The Chesterfield Kings released in 1984 for Mirror Records this all time garage standard. Also a Top 10 fave of mine from 1984. The DC band Make Up used this song for their own "They live by night" in 1996, a song that has been in every live set of Belgium's Catacombo.
Again a 1984 top 10 song for me. Post-Bauhaus band Tones On Tail (Bauhaus minus singer Peter Murphy) as Daniel Ash's attempt to feed his more experimental side, recorded a song with high commercial potential. Nevertheless only a couple of months later, the band called it an end, leaving us with one album, a handful of maxis and 7 singles.
Another garage legend, this time from the UK. Their first release was Good Guys EP by Mike Spenser & The Cannibals. Ten more 45s followed between 1978 and 1990 on their own label Hit Records. To be honest, I don't know what year this is from: some say 1979, others say it's 1984. Both sides are heavily influenced by British 60s r&b.
Finally a band that had the guts to record a solo Syd Barrett song. It's the flipside of their very first 45 "Upside down" on Creation. The world was not ready for so much feedback and distorted guitars. Still they topped the indie charts immediately.
Adelaide, Australia, is not known for a vivid garage scene, although Greasy Pop Records released some ace records in the 80s. Think of The Spikes, Exploding White Mice, Screaming Believers and also this band, which I know nothing about. Here they are with a excellent version of the 1967 classic by The Bit'A Sweet.
Back to Inca Babies once more, the band from Manchester that sounded exactly like The Birthday Party. A-side is "Grunt Cadillac Hotel", released on Black Lagoon Records.
