Saturday, December 25, 2010

024 - LSD and the Smacks

Although the title of this episode may suggest otherwise, we're not promoting drug use here at Garage/Soul '66! The Smacks were sort of a composite group, made up of musicians from Maryland and Virgina. In 1967 they recorded two songs for a 45 RPM record, which is an incredibly rare collector's item. But Arcania International went a step further. They dug up a previously unreleased track from this band, and we share it on this podcast!

The story of the song "LSD" is as strange and trippy as an acid trip. The Arkansas-based group the Villagers were a middle-of-the-road folk ensemble that was invited by a Little Rock radio DJ to record a song or two. After the session, the DJ decided to update the song with some imaginative post-production. Imagine the group's surprise when the box of 45's arrived on their doorstep. Their song had been turned into the psychodelic "LSD," and the Villagers had been renamed the Suspension of Disbelief (something I'm sure they experienced)!

We also have great tracks from the Reactors, who hailed from Virginia's Dismal Swamp, as well as the spectacular soul artist, Wilson Williams.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to enjoy a podcast. Just click on the link below to play it though your computer.


  - The Radiostar

This program we play:

The Reactors - 1-A
Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Volume 1

The Smacks - There'll Come a Day
Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Volume 2

Wilson Williams - Ain't That Loving You
Ol' Virginia Soul, Part 2

Suspension of Disbelief - LSD
Lost Souls, Volume 1

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

023 - Workers and the Morning Disaster

We start this episode of the Garage/Soul '66 podcast with a track from Richmond, Virginia legends the Morning Disaster. Not only were they an important part of the regional music scene in the mid 1960's, but they had strong song-writing skills as well. We feature their haunting tune, "Song of Innocence."

It seems about every episode of GS66 we have one or more mystery bands. They came, they recorded, they disappeared without a trace. It's a recurring story for record collectors of this genre. This program's mystery band is the Windfall, who (as far as anyone knows) only recorded one song -- "Workers." But what a song! It's pure fuzzed-out psychedelica.

The Purple Canteen took their name from the oddly-painted trailer they used as a rehearsal space. I'm not sure what the inspiration for their song was. We play their track "Brains in My Feet."

Our soul spotlight shines on Little Wink and Eddie's 25th Band. The group's trying to get everyone excited about a new dance -- the Peacock -- in this 1972 cut. Sure, it's a little outside our normal historical range, but we didn't want to pass up this slab of solid funk.

Remember -- you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast. Just download it straight to your computer from this link!

The Radio Star

This program we play:

Morning Disaster - Song of Innocence
Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. 3

Windfall - Workers
Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Volume Fore

Little Wink and Eddie's 25th Band - Peacock
Ol' Virginia Soul Encore!

Purple Canteen - Brains in My Feet
Lost Souls, Volume 1