The Stingrays of Newburgh — “Fool”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — March 7, 2026

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

1,901) The Stingrays of Newburgh — “Fool”

I pity the fool who doesn’t flip over this “cool piece of psych punk” (liner notes to the CD comp Tony the Tyger Presents Fuzz, Flaykes, & Shakes: Vol. 3: Stay Out of My World), this “exceptional . . . fast-paced, driving garage rock with powerfully ringing guitar by Tony DeVilleo and organ, supported by a strong bass and drums rhythm section, topped off by a forceful vocal from Octavius Graham”. (Bayard, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/the-sting-rays-of-newburgh/if-i-needed-someone-fool/) Honestly, I don’t know why this song isn’t regularly chosen as one of the greatest garage rock songs . . . ever. “Baby, I’m not a fool!”

Boris tells us about the Sting-Rays of Newburgh, who came from, yes, Newburgh, New York:

The Sting-Rays of Newburgh featured Newburgh Free Academy students Ronnie Moskowitz, Tommy Kinsler, Autavis “Tave” Graham, Tony Davilio, and Bruce Shapiro. . . . While Tommy Kinsler was credited with writing the band’s original songs, it was guitarist Tony Davilio who wound up becoming a professional musician, arranger and composer. He went on to work on John Lennon [see #29, 113, 520, 522, 1,473] and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy album for which he won a Grammy Award. In 2004 Davilio wrote a book about his experience working on the album called The Lennon Sessions.

https://wpdh.com/did-you-ever-hear-about-the-beatles-of-newburgh/

I have added a Facebook page for Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock! If you like what you read and hear and feel so inclined, please visit and “like” my Facebook page by clicking here.

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 Like Thisfamiliar 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 1,200 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.