Tagged: fratrock

Rex Garvin is another one of those artists who's responsible for the original version of a cover tune that became much more popular than the original - his track "Sock It To 'Em JB" was covered by The Specials, and his version often makes appearances on on Northern Soul comps. "Go Little Willie" is his first single with his own band, and was originally released in 1961. DD likes to play this every so often when we DJ. I love the ridiculously fizzy organs and finger-poppin' sax. I can't find it on any compilations, bar one that seems [...]

Rex Garvin is another one of those artists who's responsible for the orginal version of a cover tune that became much more popular than the original - his track "Sock It To 'Em JB" was covered by The Specials, and his version often makes appearances on on Northern Soul comps. "Go Little Willie" is his first single with his own band, and was originally released in 1961. DD likes to play this every so often when we DJ. I can't find it on any compilations, bar one that seems to be out of print. Another one for the [...]

• Rex Garvin & The Mighty Cravers - Go Little Willie

The California sun sets on Joe Pennell.

Palladium by Liz Brady is the embodiment of so many brilliant musical anomalies: French 60s girlpop (yé yé, if you want to put a genre name to it), covers (done in a language other than English: bonus!), and frat rock. It's got riffs, fuzz, and Liz's rapid-fire vocals over a wail of teenybopper crowd hysteria. How can anyone not adore this? Liz is often mistakenly credited as a French-Canadian yé yé girl, presumably due to her later success with RCA act Les Scarabées*. Her career actually began in France, where despite a string of fantastic EPs and extensive [...]

• Liz Brady - Palladium
• The Sparkles - The Hip

One of the first songs The Cramps taught us, this is baddass Texan garage rock from a band who rocked two drummers while the 70s prog-rockers were still in diapers. Hipsville 29 BC

• The Sparkles - Hipsville 29 Bc

Obscure early-60s rock band continues their comeback Is it possible that an obscure early-60s garage rock band that broke up after a few regional singles could find their mojo forty-five years later? Last year's Noisy Boys: The Saxony Sessions proved the answer a definitive 'yes,' and this year's No Place for Pretty shows they have even more hard-driving pre-British Invasion frat stompers to bestow upon the world. Hailing from the Northeast Northfield/Plattsburgh scene, the Ravens early years can be found on the [...]

• Mike And The Ravens - Sister Raeven