Monthly Archives: January 2023

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 718) The Knickerbockers — “High on Love” The Knickerbockers were more than a one-hit wonder — no Lies! This awesome power poppy number reached #94. Andrew Sandoval tells us that: “In the ’60s it was all about being high,” says songwriter Keith Colley,Continue reading “The Knickerbockers — “High on Love”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 31, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 717) The Bee Gees — “Melody Fair” The Bee Gees (see # 291, 353, 354, 439, 466, 484, 497, 570, 594) outdid themselves with this Beatlesque and “ethereal ballad[]”. (Bruce Eder, https://www.allmusic.com/album/odessa-mw0000192945) Uncut says that it is “perhaps the most fetching cut inContinue reading “The Bee Gees — “Melody Fair”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 30, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 716) Dave Clark Five — “19 Days” I love the Dave Clark Five (see #208, 320, 411, 412, 565) for their glorious hits and underappreciated ballads. Richie Unterberger says that “Nineteen Days” “was the only hit [’66] single [from their ’67 U.S. albumContinue reading “Dave Clark Five — “19 Days”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 29, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 715) Cavaliers — “Seven Days of Crying” Blistering ’66 garage track from Lynwood, in L.A. County, California. When love turns to hate . . . Back from the Grave says: [T]he group of high school pals began in 1964 as a surf instro[mental]Continue reading “Cavaliers — “Seven Days of Crying”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 28, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 714) Andwella — “Four Days in September” Grand Irish ballad from People’s People, Andwella’s third and last album. It sounds so ahead of its time — it would have been a hit ten for twenty years later. Radio stations would play it soContinue reading “Andwella — “Four Days in September”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 27, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 713) The Beau Brummells — “Two Days to Tomorrow” Coming after their commercial prime, this warm and wonderful ’67 A-side by the Beau Brummells is, as Alex Palao says, “a “glorious single, perhaps their finest hour in the studio.” (liner notes to LoveContinue reading “The Beau Brummells — “Two Days to Tomorrow”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 26, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 712) The Roosters — “One of These Days” One of the best Byrd songs not written or played by the Byrds. Well, it sort of was — it was by L.A.’s Roosters! Jason calls the A-side of their debut single one “of theContinue reading “The Roosters — “One of These Days”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 25, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 711) The Mike Stuart Span — “Remember the Times” “Remember the Times” is thundering UK psych, a 68 MSS demo + ‘69 A-side released under the band’s new name Leviathan. As Richie Unterberger, the Span “takes a more raucous guitar-based approach than manyContinue reading “The Mike Stuart Span— “Remember the Times”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 24, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 711) Poet and the One Man Band — “The Days I Most Remember” Utterly magical heavy folk rock by some future musical luminaries, including guitar legend Albert Lee and two future members of Sandy Denny’s Fotheringay. The band must have been named afterContinue reading “Poet and the One Man Band — “The Days I Most Remember”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 23, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 709) Blossom Toes — “When the Alarm Clock Rings” David Wells calls “Alarm Clock” the “aural encapsulation[] of the English psychedelic pop ethos” and the album from which it comes (We Are Ever So Clean) a “sterling ’67 studio Britpsych effort”. (Record Collector:Continue reading “Blossom Toes — “When the Alarm Clock Rings”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 21, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 708) The E-Types — “Put the Clock Back on the Wall” ’67 A-side was on the third of four singles by the “Salinas [CA] Beatles”. (http://www.montereybaymusic.com/E-types.html) It was the band’s “finest hour . . . [a] groovy psychedelic rock gem. . . .Continue reading “The E-Types — “Put the Clock Back in the Wall”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 21, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 707) The Ballroom — “Another Time” Courtesy of Curt, so gorgeous that it takes your breath away, a “ravishing, delicate ballad” (Joe Marchese, https://theseconddisc.com/2019/11/07/shadows-and-reflexions-high-moon-records-collects-rarities-from-curt-boettcher-and-friends/), “heaven on earth” (benjaminblakemitchner8365, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWU1wK05qus) with “stunningly beautiful” lyrics (EarpJohn, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWU1wK05qus). I consider the Ballroom’s version the best. Sagittarius’Continue reading “The Ballroom — “Another Time”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 20, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 706) Eternity’s Children — “Lifetime Day” Sweet ’68 album track and ’69 B-side about two lovers who don’t need to engage in the games others play. Dawn Eden says “[t]he cherubic [bassist Charlie] Ross had the most angelic voice among them, conveying aContinue reading “Eternity’s Children: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 19, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 705) Al Kooper — “First Time Around” Another glorious Band-y cut from Kooper’s second solo album, ’69’s You Never Know Who Your Friends Are (see #642). Kooper himself says that “This is one of my favorite albums and arrangement-wise, it’s probably song-for-song, my bestContinue reading “Al Kooper — “First Time Around”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 18, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 704) Strawberry SAC — “In Relation (to Our Times)/ “In Relation” This apparently sordid story starts with the Strawberry Alarm Clock’s (see #127, 272) guilty pleasure and era-defining #1 hit — “Incense and Peppermints” — and ends with a cool and “extremely StrawberryContinue reading “Strawberry SAC — “In Relation (to Our Times): Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 17, 2023”

https://www.discogs.com/master/567068-John-Bromley-Sing/image/SW1hZ2U6MzA2NDMzNjI= THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 703) John Bromley — “Old Time Mover” A delightful and whimsical McCartneyesque retro number by English songwriter John Bromley, who has written “over 200 works with over 60 recorded and performed worldwide by major artists such as Shirley Bassey, Sacha Distel, PetulaContinue reading “John Bromley — “Old Time Mover”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 16, 2023″

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 702) Lee Hazlewood — “Cold Hard Times” I’ve never understood France’s love affair with Jerry Lewis. Sweden’s affair with Lee Hazlewood — that I understand. This is my third selection from my favorite album of Lee’s — his ‘70 soundtrack to his SwedishContinue reading “Lee Hazlewood — “Cold Hard Times”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 15, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 701) Roberta Flack — “Tryin’ Times” Times like these need a song like “Tryin’ Times” (written by Donny Hathaway (see #573) and Leroy Hutson (the Impressions)). Elizabeth Nelson says it “depict[s] a Phil Ochs-worthy tableau of a society unraveling at the seams fromContinue reading “Roberta Flack — “Tryin’ Times”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 14, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 700) The Hardy Boys — “Carnival Time” Feel-good sunshiny pop from The Archie Show rivals The Hardy Boys’ ‘70 sophomore album (see #436). Yes, the Hardy Boys! Greg Ehrbar writes that: Everyone connected with Saturday morning television and the recording industry sat upContinue reading “The Hardy Boys — “Carnival Time”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 13, 2023”

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 699) Paul Jones — “High Time” Speaking of Manfred Mann, this fun, effervescent crowd pleaser was Paul’s (see #170) biggest post-Mann hit (get it?!), reaching #4 in the UK. But nobody in the U.S. heard it, so I’m playing it! Richie Unterberger tellsContinue reading “Paul Jones — “ High Time”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 12, 2023”