THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
916) The Mourning Reign — “Satisfaction Guaranteed”
Alec Palao writes that the Reign “rose rapidly in [San Jose’s] pecking order with a patented repertoire of Anglified raunch, which their deput waxing . . . with its twin guitar leads and angst-ridden vocal, articulated perfectly.” (liner notes to the CD comp Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets: 1965-1970) Jud Cost adds that “[s]potlighting the sneering, Jagger-esque vocals of Beau Maggi [it] is a blistering rocker by the San Jose stalwarts”. (liner notes to the CD Comp Garage Beat ’66 Volume 3: Feeling Zero . . .) And Gilesi says that “[It] is driven along by an awesome main riff and neat guitar-work on the chorus, and we are even treated to a twin-guitar break (unusual for a garage band!). Interesting lyrics too, delivered with swaggering style by singer Beau Maggi.” (https://cosmicmindatplay.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/classic-singles-45-the-mourning-reign-our-fate-satisfaction-guaranteed-1966/) Sundazed Records hardly overstates the case: “[c]apped by the snotty, Jagger-esque vocals of leader Beau Maggi, the thrashing punker ‘Satisfaction Guaranteed,’ is an all-time garage classic.” (https://sundazed.com/c/191-Mourning-Reign.aspx)
All Music Guide tells us that:
Formed in San Jose, California . . . the Mourning Reign were garage band peers of the Chocolate Watchband and the Harbinger Complex. Initially known as the English,* they comprised Frank Beau Maggi (vocals), Johnnie Bell (lead guitar), Steve Canali (rhythm guitar), Charlie Garden (bass) and Craig Maggi (drums). They were highly popular in the suburbs of south and east San Francisco, playing punk-styled material derivative of the Rolling Stones and Yardbirds. The group recorded a cover version of ‘Evil Hearted You’ as their debut in 1966, before completing a compulsive original song, ‘Satisfaction’s Guaranteed’, as its follow-up. . . . [A]lthough two further tracks were completed for a third single, it remained unissued as the Mourning Reign split up in 1968 when several members were drafted to Vietnam.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-mourning-reign-mn0000480127
Let me give Jud Cost the final word: “Savage as the handful of records cut by the Reign were, they couldn’t get arrested in San Francisco. As South Bay musician Ned Torney once put it after his group, the Otherside, was turned down when they auditioned for Filmore Auditorium impresario Bill Graham: “Never tell anyone you’re from San Jose.” (CD Comp Garage Beat ’66 Volume 3: Feeling Zero . . .)
* Beau Maggi says that the band had to change its name to the English as the price for getting to tour with Paul Revere and the Raiders (see http://ontheflip-side.blogspot.com/2009/06/song-of-week-satisfaction-guaranteed.html) Get it?!
Here are the first generation garage revivalists the Chesterfield Kings:
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