The Majority — “All Our Christmases”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 25, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,440) The Majority — “All Our Christmases” Written by Barry, Robin and Maurice but never released at the time by the Bee Gees, this delightful Christmas song is “[a] very rare mixing of two different genres, pop/rock and the waltz!”, yet it “[w]orksContinue reading “The Majority — “All Our Christmases”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 25, 2024”

The Honeybus — “Do I Figure in Your Life”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 24, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,439) The Honeybus — “Do I Figure in Your Life” The A-side of Honeybus’ (see ##6, 52, 207, 434, 562, 605, 764, 1,100) second single (’67) is “not just their, but virtually anybody else’s finest recorded moment . . . a mini-masterpiece .Continue reading “The Honeybus — “Do I Figure in Your Life”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 24, 2024”

Louise Forestier — “From Santa to America”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 23, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,438) Louise Forestier — “From Santa to America” OK, I am not playing this song by the great French Canadian singer Louise Forestier (see #44, 149) on Christmas Day. As best I can make out the lyrics by the French Canadian singer, songwriterContinue reading “Louise Forestier — “From Santa to America”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 23, 2024”

I Shall Be Released: The Remo Four/George Harrison — “In the First Place”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 22, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,437) The Remo Four/George Harrison — “In the First Place” Noel Gallagher is the one who saved from the cutting room floor this “hidden gem”, an “extremely strong piece of psychedelic pop” that “sounds exactly as though it was a track from theContinue reading “I Shall Be Released: The Remo Four/George Harrison — “In the First Place”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 22, 2024”

John Fitch & Associates — “Stoned Out of It”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 21, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,436) John Fitch & Associates — “Stoned Out of It” “[J]uggernaut funk” (Sounds of the Universe, https://soundsoftheuniverse.com/product/john-fitch-associates-romantic-attitude-stoned-out-of-it), so funky and groovy, you’ll be stoned out of it just by giving this B-side a spin. An American in London “blends rock and soul withContinue reading “John Fitch & Associates — “Stoned Out of It”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 21, 2024”

The Chocolate Watch Band — “Requiem”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 20, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,435) The Chocolate Watch Band — “Requiem” This UK “pop sike orchestrated masterpiece” (Wilthomer66, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkvl8VoAxbE&pp=ygUgVGhlIGNob2NvbGF0ZSB3YXRjaCBiYW5kIHJlcXVpZW0%3D), a “pop gem with . . . strings, mournful vocals, an addictive melody reminiscent of the early Walker Brothers and moderate studio effects” (sound studio snob (courtesy of Google Translate),Continue reading “The Chocolate Watch Band — “Requiem”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 20, 2024”

The Rebels — “Šípková Růženka”/”Sleeping Beauty”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 19, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,434) The Rebels — “Šípková Růženka”/”Sleeping Beauty” A gorgeous baroque pop masterpiece by the Rebels (see #1,324), the title song of “one of the most famous records of Czech big beat” (https://www.blackpoint.cz/rebels-sipkova-ruzenka-lp-cd/ (courtesy of Google Translate)). But, be warned, this is not your uncleContinue reading “The Rebels — “Šípková Růženka”/”Sleeping Beauty”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 19, 2024″

Tempus Fugit — “Come Alive”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 18, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,433) Tempus Fugit — “Come Alive” A soaring, anthemic, feel-good ’69 UK pop rock delight. How was this “light poppy number” (Vernon Joynson, The Tapestry of Delights Revisited) not a hit? Joynson tells us that bassist “Brian Howe and the Horne brothers [actually,Continue reading “Tempus Fugit — “Come Alive”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 18, 2024”

Hamilton Camp — “Lonely Place”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 17, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,432) Hamilton Camp — “Lonely Place” This otherworldly and “[h]auntingly beautiful [’67 folk number] with psychedelic undertones” (Folk Funk & Trippy Troubadours, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7wf9_MB7WA) transports me to places unknown, with “period reverb and . . . eerie, swirling flute”. (Richie Unterberger, https://www.allmusic.com/album/heres-to-you-mw0000864692) As toContinue reading “Hamilton Camp — “Lonely Place”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 17, 2024”

American Express — “When the City Sleeps”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 16, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,431) American Express — “When the City Sleeps” A late (’69) garage rock/”psychedelic ode to street walkers!” (Chris Bishop, https://garagehangover.com/americanexpress/) But who was Amex, to whom does the credit belong for this killer 45? Max Waller partially uncovers the mystery: Mani-Fournier [the songwriters]Continue reading “American Express — “When the City Sleeps”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 16, 2024”

The Byrds — Everybody’s Been Burned”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 15, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,430) The Byrds — Everybody’s Been Burned” This ’67 B-side (to “So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star”) and track on Younger Than Yesterday is David Crosby’s “ravishing ballad[]” (David Fricke, liner notes to the CD reissue of Younger ThanContinue reading “The Byrds — Everybody’s Been Burned”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 15, 2024”

The Four Tops — “Something’s Tearing at the Edges of Time”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 14, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,429) The Four Tops — “Something’s Tearing at the Edges of Time” The Four Tops “go psychedelic”. (Radiognome322, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/four-tops/changing-times/) Fabulous! “Something’s tearing at the edges of time (Bits and pieces of my soul and my mind)” I have added a Facebook page forContinue reading “The Four Tops — “Something’s Tearing at the Edges of Time”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 14, 2024”

Hate — “Corridors”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 13, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,428) Hate — “Corridors” There may be a thin line between love and hate, but I definitely love this prog/hard rock delight from Scotland. Why has no one covered it?! The band has a small but devoted following: Israbox: How is it possibleContinue reading “Hate — “Corridors”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 13, 2024”

The Spencer Davis Group — “Time Seller”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 12, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,427) The Spencer Davis Group — “Time Seller” This was the band’s first A-side post-Steve Winwood, and reached #30 in the UK and #100 in the U.S. It is a “stunningly beautiful song” (783nata, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_zgi91D5Ow) and “was quite innovative and progressive sounding forContinue reading “The Spencer Davis Group — “Time Seller”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 12, 2024”

Os Vips — “A Volta”/”The Return”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 11, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,426) Os Vips — “A Volta”/”The Return” WARNING: If you are from Brazil, read no further! This song was “the second most-requested song for two weeks in the national hit parade, ahead of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’ and the Beatles’ ‘Day Tripper’ .Continue reading “Os Vips — “A Volta”/”The Return”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 11, 2024″

One in a Million — “Double Sight”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 9, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,425) One in a Million* — “Double Sight” I’ve featured the A-side, “Fredereek Hernando” (see #1,171), here is the Scottish band’s ’67 Christmastime B-side, “simply one of the greatest Who-circa-1966-1967 soundalike songs ever . . . killer” (Richie Unterberger, https://www.allmusic.com/album/double-sight-mw0001743746), with the 45 beingContinue reading “One in a Million — “Double Sight”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 9, 2024”

Barry Goldberg Reunion — “Hole in My Pocket”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 8, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,424) Barry Goldberg Reunion — “Hole in My Pocket” This ’68 A-side and track on the BGR’s only LP reached #103 on Billboard’ Hot 100 chart (for the week ending October 12, 1968 (Joel Whitburn, Joel Whitburn Presents the Billboard Hot 100 Charts:Continue reading “Barry Goldberg Reunion — “Hole in My Pocket”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 8, 2024”

Focus — “Black Beauty”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 7, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,423) Focus — “Black Beauty” Gorgeous Dutch B-side and track from the band’s debut LP — In and Out of Focus — very reminiscent of Boudewijn de Groot (see #107, 161, 305, 989, 1,216). “Before giving shape to the peculiar fusion of rock,Continue reading “Focus — “Black Beauty”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 7, 2024”

Los Shain’s — “Ella No Está Allí”/“She’s Not There”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 6, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,422) Los Shain’s– “Ella No Está Allí”/“She’s Not There” Straight outta Lima and as cool as the Peruvian Andes, here is a hypnotic surfy instrumental version of the Zombies’ (see #1,138) big hit “She’s Not There” (which had reached #2 in the U.S.Continue reading “Los Shain’s — “Ella No Está Allí”/“She’s Not There”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 6, 2024”

Damon — “Oh What a Good Boy Am I”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 5, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD 1,421) Damon — “Oh What a Good Boy Am I” “Good Boy” is “great”, a “45-only [B-side] from the time of” (Patrick Lundborg, The Acid Archives, 2nd ed.), and really a part of, Damon’s (see #1,166) legendary privately-pressed LP Song of a Gypsy.Continue reading “Damon — “Oh What a Good Boy Am I”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — December 5, 2024”