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.

Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #024 - LSD and the Smacks

  - 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

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!

Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #023 - Workers and the Morning Disaster

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

022 - Shake Your Po Po In The Land Of Make-believe

We start the show with a little space guitar, ca. 1968. The Shades, Ltd deliver a rocking instrumental, "Frog Hunting on Mars."

 "The Wind Blows Your Hair" was originally recorded by a Pennsylvania-based group known as Prince Albert. The song would later be covered by the Seeds (we play the Prince Albert version, which is still pretty rockin').

In the Soul Spotlight for this episode is Earl Carter and the Fantastic 6. They lay down the beat for their dance track, "Shake Your Po Po" with some screaming horns.

Our final song comes from another mystery group, the Sunset Society. We play their oh-so-groovy track, "The Land of Make-believe."

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

Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #022 - Shake Your Po Po In The Land of Make-believe

  - The Radiostar

This program we play:
Shades, LTD - Frog Hunting on Mars

Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. 3

Prince Albert - The Wind Blows Your Hair

Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. Fore

Earl Carter and the Fantastic 6 - Shake Your Po Po

Ol' Virginia Soul, Part 2

The Sunset Society - The Land of Make-believe

Lost Souls, Vol. 1

021 - Watch out! What have you heard?

The Proverbial Knee-Hi's were kind of a big deal in their native North Carolina, but it wasn't until they moved to New Jersey in 1966 that things really took off. In addition to being the headliners in their own club, the Knee-Hi's also started recording some of their original material. We play one of those tracks, "Watch Out."

In 1963 the Panics were one of many bands imitating the Beatles. Within a year, though, they'd developed more of their own style, which is captured in their 1964 recording of "No More."

Terry Sinclair takes center stage in our Soul Spotlight. A regular on the East Coast music scene, Sinclair was a singer who had a way with a ballad -- as he demonstrates in his song, "What have you heard."

And the mystery band the Mark IV return (we first featured them in our last podcast episode) with their song "Now That I'm Free."

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

Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #021 - Watch out! What have you heard?

The Radio Star

This program we play:

The Proverbial Knee-Hi's - Watch Out
Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Volume One 

The Panics - No More
Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Volume 2

 Terry Sinclair - What Have You Heard?

Ol' Virginia Soul, Volume 1

The Mark IV - Now That I'm Free

Lost Souls, Volume 1

020 - The Aliens and the Uprisers

Twenty episodes and there's much more to come from the fine compilations put out by the Arcania International and Psych of the South record labels. We start the show the Mark IV, one of many mystery groups that came into a studio in the 1960's, cut a few tracks, then disappeared. Then it's on to East Coast regional favorites the Uprisers, with their song "Let Me Take You Down,"  a tune that actually charted on Richmond, Virginia radio stations.

Sir Guy's back in the Soul Spotlight with a great track, "I Need You Baby."

And we conclude with one of my personal favorites, "Love Somebody" by the Aliens. This Norfolk band sounds more than a little like the Jefferson Airplane, with lead singer Poneil matching Grace Slick in delivery. Neverthless, there's a lot of originality in this track that I think makes it appealing.

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

Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #020 - The Aliens and the Uprisers

  - The Radiostar

This program we play:

The Mark IV - Hi Ho Silver

Lost Souls, Vol. 1

The Uprisers - Let Me Take You Down

Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. 2

Sir Guy - I Need You Baby

Ol' Virginia Soul, Encore!

The Aliens - Love Someone

Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. 1

019 - Mr. Crying and the Rejects

My voice still isn't full recovered, so it's another "less talk and more music!' episode. And what a line up of music.

The Swinging Machine returns with their plaintive song "Do You Have To Ask." Then it's off to Arkansas for "Mr. Crying" by Dead on Arrival, fronted by San Francisco transplant Hubrel Jones.

Stacy Henry and the Majestics turn in a soul performance of "Through the Lonely Years," and we finish with the Rejects (not the All-American kind) and their 1966 track "Just a Little Bit of You."

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

Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #019 - Mr. Crying and the Rejects

The Radio Star

This program we play:

The Swinging Machine - Do You Really Have To Ask
Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Volume One

Dead On Arrival - Mr. Crying
Lost Souls, Volume 1

Stacy Henry and the Majestics - Through the Lonely Years
Ol' Virginia Soul, Volume 1

The Rejects - Just A Little Bit of You
Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Volume Three

018 - Your Love is Gone and the Best Man Cried

The Journey Back opens up this podcast episode with their very heavy "Runaway Baby," channeling a little bit of the Animals (in attitude if not actual sound).

Then another mystery group takes the stage -- the Trouble Brothers with "Your Love is Gone," from 1971.

The Soul Spotlight shines on Sebastian and House Rockers. Front man Roger Williams (aka Sebastian) had a long and successful career both with groups and as a solo artist. Here he turns in a heartfelt ballad "The Best Man Cried."

We close with an other mystery group, the IV Pak, with their appropriately named rocker, "Whatzit?"

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

Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #018 - Mr. Crying and the Rejects

The Radio Star

This program we play:
The Journey Back – Runaway Baby

Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Volume One

Trouble Bros.  – Your Love is Gone
Lost Souls, Volume 1

Sebastian & the House Rockers – The Best Man Cried
Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things, Volume Three