THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,680) The Elois — “By My Side”
The B-side of the Elois’ sole single is a much-lauded, Nuggets-worthy Australian garage stunner that induces paroxysms of ecstasy in listeners. It is “incredible” (Mike Stax, liner notes to the CD comp Nuggets II (Original Artyfacts From The British Empire And Beyond 1964-1969)), “one of the greatest songs ever dedicated to wax[ — s]eriously” (On the Flip-Side, http://ontheflip-side.blogspot.com/2009/02/song-of-week-by-my-side-elois.html?m=1), a “[k]iller, wild and aggressive 60’s garage punker”. (TheItalianBeatnik, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IBAdKDDwDDQ&pp=ygUUVGhyIGVsb2lzIGJ5IG15IHNpZGU%3D)
“[T]his radioactive scorcher of a track leaves a trail of aural destruction in its wake that even repeated listens can’t diminish.” (Sammy-lou, http://holy-gogo-boots-batman.blogspot.com/2016/05/song-of-month-by-my-side-elois-april.html?m=1) “My fave all time Oz garage fuzzing 45 deejay spin! This monster tune is an essential spin in all all my deejay sets and it always causes an epic fuzz quake – brilliant stuff!!!” (narinderdhanjal221, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7-SQdfAbwDE&pp=ygUUVGhyIGVsb2lzIGJ5IG15IHNpZGU%3D) “[T]he ultimate Aussie proto-punk freakbeat monsters…2.15…that’s all it takes to turn Paul Hogan’s backyard into a burnt n’ charred wasteland smouldering and reeling from this sneering f*cked out and derailed punk.” (5DeadlyRecords, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7-SQdfAbwDE&pp=ygUUVGhyIGVsb2lzIGJ5IG15IHNpZGU%3D)
Mike Stax writes that:
[O]n the intro, guitarist Dennis Fiorini lays down a huge wave of feedback, and the band proceeds to ride it. Bassist Greg Heenan kicks in with a vicious bass line, the drums leap into motion, and from that point on it’s sheer mayham as the vocals shout out their plea for love against the howling, screaming fuzz-guitar lines. The song breaks down briefly for a rude, lurching bridge before whipping itself into a final frenzy of feedback and fuzz.
liner notes to Nuggets II (Original Artyfacts From The British Empire And Beyond 1964-1969)
On the Flip-Side adds:
[A] real gem . . . . a self-penned explosion of rage detailing a young man’s uncontrollable hormonal yearnings for the satisfaction of a young woman. It’s the song mom said she didn’t like. The one the band wouldn’t rehearse if mom was in the house baking cookies. . . . [T]he guitarist launches into a feedback heavy lead that would make even Jeff Beck and Pete Townshend envious.
http://ontheflip-side.blogspot.com/2009/02/song-of-week-by-my-side-elois.html?m=1
And Sammy-lou goes deep:
Blasting off with a stinging, sustained guitar note that’s soon joined by bass and drums in one of the most raucous intros ever to be committed to tape, the song gets even more intense when the snarling vocals of Alan Rowe kick in. Belting out the repetitive lyrics like some kind of desperate mantra, he sounds like a man possessed: howling, growling, a slave to his hormones as he informs the object of his affections in no uncertain terms how badly he wants her. There’s a similar sense of, ahem, urgency about the backing vocals. About 30 seconds in, a series of drum rolls signal a change of pace, and the band flips from full-throttle into thumping, grinding mode (punctuated by some cool sliding bass), gradually building up into a cacophony of voices that’s almost unbearable – then bam! That fuzzed-out guitar is back, even more blistering than before. And just when you think things can’t get any more insane…they do. The song ends with an extended rave-up that makes The Yardbirds seem refined, all unhinged drums, guitar as deadly feedback weapon, relentless bass and an almost chanted refrain, “I can’t get enough from you, girl”.
http://holy-gogo-boots-batman.blogspot.com/2016/05/song-of-month-by-my-side-elois-april.html?m=1
I love the song too, but lay off the cane toads!
Kimbo writes of the Elois:
The Elois were from Maryborough in Victoria. The short-haired, well dressed lads called themselves The Elois after the “tranquil sunshine people” from H.G. Wells’ book The Time Machine. The Elois had won the Ballarat heat of the 1965 Battle Of The Sounds where they caught the attention of DJ Graham Lever who suggested they move to Melbourne. Sometime in 1967 they cut their one and only record at Bill Armstrong’s studios. The A-side is a Who inspired cover of Bo Diddley’s oft-covered ”I’m A Man”. But the real gem was to be found on the flip side. ”By My Side” was a self-penned explosion of garage rock detailing a young man’s uncontrollable hormonal yearnings for the satisfaction of a young woman. The Elois managed to make an appearance on TV show Kommotion with Mike Furber [see #596, 1,658] and The Loved Ones. While the single wasn’t a hit, it did make the lower echelons of the Melbourne charts, helped along no doubt by the band’s growing reputation as a killer live act. Playing venues such as Pinocchio’s, 5-4-3-2-1 and the Thumpin’ Tum, they blew audiences’ minds (and ear drums) with their fast, loud and feedback-heavy shows. . . . The band would soon return to the small town of Maryborough and try to sell their record. Truth be told, most people didn’t hear either side of the record and the group soon disbanded to go about their normal daily lives. Their recording didn’t get a breath of attention until 1980 when a Melbourne record collector compiled a bunch of his favourite forgotten singles from unheralded local bands dating between 1964-1967 and released them on an album called Ugly Things.
http://historyofaussiemusic.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-elois.html?m=1
Pay to Play! The Off the Charts Spotify Playlist! + Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock Merchandise
Please consider helping to support my website/blog by contributing $6 a month for access to the Off the Charts Spotify Playlist. Using a term familiar to denizens of Capitol Hill, you pay to play! (“relating to or denoting an unethical or illicit arrangement in which payment is made by those who want certain privileges or advantages in such arenas as business, politics, sports, and entertainment” — dictionary.com).
The playlist includes all the “greatest songs of the 1960’s that no one has ever heard” that are available on Spotify — now over 1,100 songs. The playlist will expand each time I feature an available song.
All new subscribers will receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock magnet. New subscribers who sign up for a year will also receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock t-shirt or baseball cap. See pictures on the Pay to Play page.
When subscribing, please send me an e-mail (GMFtma1@gmail.com) or a comment on this site letting me know an e-mail address/phone number/Facebook address, etc. to which I can send instructions on accessing the playlist and a physical address to which I can sent a magnet/t-shirt/baseball cap. If choosing a t-shirt, please let me know the gender and size you prefer.
Just click on the first blue block for a month to month subscription or the second blue block for a yearly subscription.
Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! / Off the Charts: 60s Rock Revelations😊 