LOOK WHAT I COULD FIND vol 111
"Garage Gems 10" - 16 monophonic monster tracks from the garage of gore

 

In The Trashcan Records       GEM111
"Teenage troublemakers turning ballads into bullits when they push the fuzz pedal to the max..."

1. hung up - the miracle workers

The year of the neo-garage rock explosion was 1984, The Miracle Workers being one of the best known bands of the genre, named after a Chocolate Watch Band song. Here they are with their 1984 debut EP on Moxie Records. From Portland, Oregon and influenced by bands like Chocolate Watch Band, Love and The Music Machine. See also vols 104 and 108.


9. left your hold on me - the vipers

Nobody seems to remember these Paisley loving garage punkers from a New York basement. In 1984 they released their first 45 for Midnight Records; more would follow. On vol 106 you'll find the great flipside.


2. this ain't the summer of love - screaming dizbusters

Or The Nomads in disguise… Yes, Sweden's top garage rock band had two singles in the 80s under this moniker. Powerful garage rock from 1986 on Amigo Musik.

10. cry - the stomachmouths

Self-penned snotty garage punk anthem by these four young Swedish lads and one girl on Farfisa organ. Some people might know their inclusion on the seminal comp "A real cool time: "Don't put me down". This 45 is so much better! See  vol 102 for the flipside.


3. hog's jaw - thee headcoats

This Estrus single was issued in 1992, but the song already appeared in 1991 on the Headcoatitude album, released by Shakin' Street. Craziness from the Medway by Billy Childish, Tub Johnson and Bruce Brand.


11. nothing equals nothing - black angel's death song

Fans of Velvet Underground?  It's from their first single for Dionysus Records in 1991.


4. don't leave me tired - vibrasonic

One of the few 90s bands that know how to use sitar sounds in their psychedelic beat set. I love it! At the end of the century guitar player Simon Jones recorded a single with a Belgian band, named The Dawnbreakers. I don't know whether Victor Fitch was still active in other groups after disbanding Vibrasonic. See also vol 103 for a 1996 release.
12. rubble trouble - this is edwin

See also vol 54 for Underwear 5 and vol 60 for Cheeseburger, two bands linked to This Is Edwin. "Rubble trouble" is an ode to Barney Rubble from The Flintstones, pressen on purple wax by Dionysus Records in 1992.


5. gore, gore-a-go! go! - the lunkheads


Tokyo label 1+2 Records have released many terrific garage singles, including this 1994 recording by The Lunkheads. The song reminds me a lot of Them's Gloria. See also vol  50.

13. i'm always denied  - the gorgons

If someone had told me this was originally a Masonics track, I would have believed it. Only Mickey Hampshire can write songs like this especially the ones performed by Mickey & Ludella. But no, this comes from France. Utterly fantastic Medway garage goodie from 1994.


6. double ginger - cee bee beaumont

I just can't get enough of these guys. They went beyond the limits Thee Mighty Caesars had when playing terror induced guitar instrumentals. On vols 103 and 43 you'll find two more instrumentals from this Damaged Goods EP. The only missing track is "The troy incident" which just might turn up on a later volume...

14. bad scene - the strange

Swirling Hammond organ groovy sounds over mod fuzz guitar and a steady beat to move your feet to on the dance floor. Released in 1994 on Detour Records and perhaps even their last release.


7. legalize marihuana - the windowpaynes

In 1970 this was recorded by David Peel & The Lower East Side for their "The American revolution" album. This version by duo Billy and Dave aka The Windowpaynes is fabulous, although it was recorded 25 years later. See vol 108 for the flipside.



15. hey calinda - the masonics

"Hey Calinda, you've been drinking again, drinking whisky and gin…" so you know what this Mickey Hampshire is all about. He wrote it for his Masonics in 1994. A 1995 Royal Records release.


8. baha-ree-ba - the apemen

Surf classic from 1963 by The Trademarks in the hands of Dutch surfers The Apemen on a Belgian record label in 1994. For my fave Apemen song, see vol 63.



16. bad taste - big bobby & the nightcaps

Bad taste is better than no taste at all, right? See vol 24 for more info. And with this 1997 Screaming Apple single I end the 10th volume of these Garage Gems.