Randy Cozen's Top 100 (6T's Rhythm & Soul Special Part 1)

I'll never understand why bootleggers never picked on this 'list'. Through the pass of time this 'list' upgraded to a nearly legendary status among mods and soul fanatics and with a good reason, and remains even today a mystery why not officially and properly compiled by someone? Anyway, let's try take things from the start...

Who is Randy Cozens?

Even if you are an epidermic soul listener, there's no way to not know who Randy Cozens was. A familiar ace face to Britain's mod crowd and co-founder of the 6T's Rhythm & Soul Club, along with Ady Croasdell, today people refers to him as a legendary pioneer of the Northern Soul scene. Like many music fanatics around the world, Randy's 'habit' was to make up tapes with his favorite songs and gave them with one and only purpose. To make people dance and have a good time with these selections. 

'The List' 

Once upon a time was a now defunct music paper that called, "Sounds". Randy as the legend says, was sending constantly letters to this sheet urging the mods of the day to try found their roots in the music of their forefathers. At the time mods had their idols in punk-mod bands like the Jam. Soul and Rhythm & Blues had been forgotten by these crowds. Finally, 'Sounds' ask him to make a Mod Top 100 list with gems of his tastes, in no particular order. Randy came out with this and it was published with the Bank Holiday issue of Sounds in August of 1979. That list was the kiss of life in the decadent then Northern Soul scene and even in our days is something like pyx for starters in the magic world of Soul music.

PS: Actually, this Top100 isn't 100% a Soul scroll. It contains 97 Rhythm & Soul tracks, 2 Ska and 1 red herring to prevent collectors' claiming they own all 100!

So here it is:

1. What’cha Gonna Do About It – Doris Troy (Atlantic)

2. So Far Away – Hank Jacobs (Sue)

3. Come See About Me – Nella Dodds (Pye Int)

4. Hole In The Wall – George Stone (Stateside)

5. Que Sera Sera- The High Keys (London)

6. Getting Mighty Crowded – Betty Everett (Fontana)

7. I Don’t Wanna Fuss – Sugar Pie Desanto (Pye Int)

8. Walking The Dog – Rufus Thomas (London)

9. Hold What You Got – Joe Tex (Atlantic)

10. Time Is On My Side – Irma Thomas (Liberty)

11. I Can’t Believe What You Say – Ike And Tina Turner (Sue)

12. The Drifter – Ray Pollard (UA)

13. Any Day Now – Chuck Jackson (Stateside)

14. The Monkey Time – Major Lance (Columbia)

15. La De Da, I Love You – Inez And Charlie Foxx (Sue)

16. The Cheater – Bob Kuban And The In Men (Stateside)

17. I’m In Your Hands – Mary Love (King)

18. The Jerk – The Larks (Pye Int)

19. I Had A Talk With My Man – Mitty Collier (Pye Int)

20. Oh No Not My Baby – Maxine Brown ((Pye Int)

21. Gotta Have Your Love – The Sapphires (HMV)

22. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love – Solomon Burke (Atlantic)

23. La La La La La – The Blendells (Reprise)

24. Ride Your Pony – Lee Dorsey (Stateside)

25. Selfish One – Jackie Ross (Pye Int)

26. Tired Of Being Lonely – The Sharpees (Stateside)

27. El Watusi – Ray Barretto (Colombia)

28. Treat Her Right – Roy Head (Vocallion)

29. Who’s Cheating Who? – Little Milton (Chess)

30. Out Of Sight – James Brown (Phillips)

31. Mercy Mercy – Don Covay (Atlantic)

32. Open The Door To Your Heart – Darrell Banks (Stateside)

33. A Little Piece Of Leather – Donnie Elbert (Sue)

34. Go Now – Bessie Banks (Red Bird)

35. Searching For My Love – Bobby Moore (Chess)

36. You Can’t Sit Down – Phil Upchurch Combo (HMV)

37. The Duck – Jackie Lee (Fontana)

38. Doctor Love – Bobby Sheen (Capitol)

39. She Blew A Good Thing – The American Poets (London)

40. Watch Your Step – Bobby Parker (Sue)

41. Love Ain’t Nothin’ – Johnny Nash (Pye Int)

42. Randy – Earl Jean (Colpix)

43. Rancid Polecat – Ian And The Clarks (Liberty)

44. Oowee Baby I Love You – Fred Hughes (Fontana)

45. A Touch Of Venus – Sandy Wynns (Fontana)

46. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Nina Simone (Phillips)

47. Ain’t Love Good, Ain’t Love Proud – Tony Clark (Pye Int)

48. I’ve Got A Woman – Jimmy McGriff (Sue)

49. Candy – The Astors (Atlantic)

50. Smokie Joe’s La La – Googie Rene Combo (Atlantic)

51. Mr Bang Bang Man – Little Hank (London)

52. It’s Rough Out There – Jerry Jackson (Cameo)

53. Oh How Happy – Shades Of Blue (Sue)

54. Ain’t Nobody Home – Howard Tate (Verve)

55. Dimples – John Lee Hooker (Stateside)

56. Long After Tonight Is Over – Jimmy Radcliffe (Stateside)

57. Twine Time – Alvin Cash (Stateside)

58. Lipstick Traces – The O’Jays (Liberty)

59. Let The Good Times Roll – Bunny Sigler (Cameo Parkway)

60. There’s Nothing Else To Say Baby – The Incredibles (Stateside)

61. Peaches And Cream – The Ikettes (Stateside)

62. What’s Wrong With Me Baby – The Invitations (Stateside)

63. Hole In The Wall – The Packers (Pye Int)

64. Finders Keepers – Gloria Jones (Stateside)

65. Nothing Can Stop Me – Gene Chandler (Stateside)

66. See You At The Go Go – Dobie Gray (Pye Int)

67. Love Makes The World Go Round – Deon Jackson (Atlantic)

68. Cool Jerk – The Capitols (Atlantic)

69. The In Crowd – Ramsey Lewis Trio (Chess)

70. Rescue Me – Fontella Bass (Chess)

71. 60 Minutes Of Your Love – Homer Banks (Liberty)

72. Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven – Chris Bartley (Cameo)

73. A L’il Loving Sometimes – Alexander Patton (Capitol)

74. You’ve Got To Pay The Price – Al Kent (Track)

75. Make Me Yours – Bettye Swann (CBS)

76. The Pain Gets A Little Deeper – Darrow Fletcher (London)

77. Talk Of The Grapevine – Donald Height (London)

78. Always Something There To Remind Me – Lou Johnson (London)

79. Steal Away – Jimmy Hughes (Pye Int)

80. Yes I’m Ready – Barbara Mason (London)

81. Gee Whiz – Carla Thomas (Atlantic)

82. My Girl Sloopy – The Vibrations (London)

83. Gypsy Woman – The Impressions (HMV)

84. You Don’t Know Like I Know – Sam And Dave (Atlantic)

85. I’ll Take Good Care Of You – Garnett Mimms (UA)

86. Nothing Takes The Place Of You – Toussaint McCall (Pye Int)

87. The 81 – Candy And The Kisses (Cameo)

88. Mr Pitiful – Otis Redding (Atlantic)

89. This Can’t Be True – Eddie Holman (Cameo)

90. You Got Too Much Going For You – Jimmy Beaumont (London)

91. Help Me – The Spellbinders (CBS)

92. Higher And Higher – Jackie Wilson (Coral)

93. That’s Enough – Rosco Robinson (Pye Int)

94. I Wanna Be – The Manhattans (Sue)

95. Spring – Birdlegs And Pauline (Sue)

96. Peace Of Mind – The Magnificent Men (Capitol)

97. Hey-Sah-Lo-Nay – Mickey Lee Lane (Stateside)

98. Mercy – Willie Mitchell (London)

99. Gypsy Woman – Derek And Patsy (Island)

100. Dr Kitch – Lord Kitchener (Jump Up)

A Final Note 

As i said many times on my previous posts i can not see myself as a collector but as a music fanatic. I do have a large amount of these tracks (specifically 58 of the 100) but not all. For this reason the tracks behind the links above, are in various bit rates and not in the usually 320 Kbps that this blog accustomed his visitors. I promise you if i ever got them all, to do it myself . I'd like to thank from the bottom of my SOUL this guy/gal who gathered all these gems and upload them for our pleasure!

Part 1 (1 - 25) 

Part 2 (26 - 50) 

Part 3 (51 - 75) 

Part 4 (76 - 100) 

Bo Diddley - "Spring Weekend 1959" (Checker)

That's a record i would like to know more about... I'm no record collector and to tell you the truth i hate record collectors. Most of 'em just buy discs to satisfy their greed and to pomp their-selves to their friends about "that piece of rare vinyl". Anyway, I never knew the existence of this LP. I never found it on my way and probably if i did, i wouldn't have the money to make it mine. It supposed to be a "private pressing", whatever this shit means but i tell you guys, this is a hot smokin' piece of rock n' roll! It has a surprisingly good fidelity for the time it was recorded (rough to the bone!) and the Originator here just kills! I didn't found on the net more things about it. I just made an order n' i can't wait this big fat piece of plastic to come in my hands. It has only seven songs, but the band is at FULL POWER and Bo's vocals came out so distorted and raw like i never heard him before! This was at frat party on Cornell University and i can imagine hearing it, what a blast these lucky bastards at the audience had!  The rip's not mine and probably many of you already downloaded this same zip file from many other blogs but who cares, huh? That's another one! Hear it, dance to it and tell me if yourself is strong enough to resist and not buy this platter! Low bitrate (128Kbps), high energy!
PS: Any information on this is welcome, so if you know more - please comment...

Tracklist:
Hey Bo Diddley (6:50)
Four Minutes Of Bo (4:00)
I'm A Man (6:36) 
Night Train (6:00) 
Cha Cha Bo (3:04)
Yankee Doodle (2:09) 
Bo Diddley Says Goodnight (7:37).

Hey Bo Diddley!

White Trash Soul Sampler Vol. 1

I always dug home-taping. When I was in my teens i did all the time C-60 TDKs for chicks or friends. It's a cool way to saw who you really are. Some people do it with poems, some other with letters but me with tapes...or CD-R's when we inducted to the digital age. The last few weeks except for the day by day less time (blame it to my job) i had to arrange some things for my wedding. One of the things that got on my shoulders was the party's soundtrack. Of course if it was in my hands only, the things will be a lot easier but it's NOT! I have to please everyone, our parents, our friends and all the guests... So who left to understand totally what I'd like to hear or dance to? You people. Visitors of this blog are at least same minded lads. So i thought to try a first take on a floor filler soundtrack with some tunes out of my thousands favorites. Hope you like it!
Let's see what we got here :


01. Bern Elliott & the Fenmen - "Nobody But Me" : A classic rhythm & beat group from Kent, England. Like many other bands of the era have tried their luck in Hamburg, Germany. Also like many other beat bands of the era signed by DECCA and released two singles and one EP. Although they hit high on charts (both singles on top 30) soon disbanded. Wally Waller and John Povey moved after to the Pretty Things. The rest is history. All tracks the band recorded, to these ears are EXCELLENT! The Isley Brothers track gets the best performance ever! No my friends it wasn't the best by the Human Beinz n' if you don't believe me, take a good listen here. The ultimate party starter!
02. The Fleshtones - "Ride Your Pony" : In a time when most (if not all...) garage bands tried to found and play the most curious 60s punkers, these New Yorkers put on Lee Dorsey and a highly energetic soul stomper! Still the best party band in the world! If  i had the money or the chance, I'll hired them as my wedding band... Ah and Peter Zaremba's fringe is still a fetish!
03. Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels - "Too Many Fish in the Sea/Three Little Fishes" : The Ultimate White Trash Soul singer! The best white soul / rock n roll singer! The best ever came outta Detroit! If ever your party goes to hell and the people gets bored, just put this fucker on stereo and let him do what he always did best...throwing a party!
04. Thee Midniters - "Jump, Jive & Harmonize" : Hispanic causin' panic! Forget all latino rock n' roll bands you know. I know there are many good of them but NONE like thee Midniters! Savage n' loud rock n' roll at it's finest! Only the Sonics could matched them in their heyday. You really need more?
05. ? & the Mysterians - "Sally Go Round the Roses" : My fave execution of the song. Many tried it, many succeed and many failed. Question Mark is the father of Iggy. I saw the truth one night on my dream and I'm totally sure about it! They kick ass after all these years! White Stripes? Black Lips? C'mon gimme a break!
06. The Five Du-Tones - "Shake a Tail Feather" : A classic made known to most of the world through the legendary Landis' movie The Blues Brothers. This excellence penned and produced by Mr. Rhythm himself, bad motherfucker Andre Williams! Bad ass track tailor made to shake asses in the nights! Still shakin' after all these years!
07. The Egyptians - "Party Stomp" : Don't know shit about them! I think were from Detroit. Sure were from Detroit, cause only this city creates sleazy sounds like this one! I'm sure Jim Marshall knows more about them and hopefully in the near future write something for them. However this is a hell of a filthy song! Put your gal do you a striptease under this background!
08. Elvis Presley - "Do the Clam" :  The King's music in his "Hollywood" days was full of shit! Some tracks though were trashy and you know, i fuckin' love trash! This is from the "Girl Happy" movie and the song is pure filth! This gem should have been included on the Las Vegas Grind compilations, period!
09. Jerry Lee Lewis - "Shotgun Man" : How many times have you heard the Killer do a soul stomper? Not many huh? Well, this is your last chance baby n' i tell ya, he's on fire!
10. Derek Martin - "Daddy Rollin' Stone" : I learned this song from Johnny Thunders! This is the original version and it's one of my favorite soul tracks ever. A song about real men.
11. Tommy Louis & the Rhythm Rockers - "Wail Baby Wail!" : Wherein Tommy Louis put Kid Thomas! A frenetic rock n roller with best ever guitar solo! This man makes guitar cheep wild!
12. Bunker Hill - "The Girl Can't Dance" : Quite simply the BEST ROCK N ROLL SONG EVER! Bunker Hill imitates Little Richard and makes him look like a wimp! 400 horsepower speed and the backing band is Link Wray & the Raymen! Again, you really need more?
13. Little Luther - "Do de Squat" : Also here don't know shit! I learned the song from the version that did the A-Bones with the Great Gaylord and it's an R&B winner!
14. Mickey Lee Lane - "Hey Sa-Lo-Ney" : The best ebony song a white dude wrote(?)! To this day a floor filler among few! Ask the guys at the Northern Soul scene.
15. Lonnie Youngblood - "African Twist, Part1" : Don't know if he's the same super-cool saxman known mostly for working with Hendrix, Jackie Wilson and James Brown. Put the shame on me and correct me if I'm wrong here. All i know is that the song's a bad ass boogaloo and made to move your feet any time plays.
16. Andre Williams - "Sweet Little Pussycat" : Ssssshhh. The dirtiest of them all! Hats off to Mr. Rhythm.
17. Little Richard - "Soul Train" : The true king of rock n' roll on a later funky as fuck moment! When it comes for Little Richard you know there's no way to stand still. Otherwise you're dead!
18. The Charmaines - "I Idolize You" : Gigi and the Charmaines improved so good on Ike's and Tina's classic that it got to be heard to be believed! I think it got the best break ever recorded on a soul mover!
19. Lavern Baker - "Think Twice (Version X)" : Hilarious, marvelous, dirty, sexy and gritty! Two monsters on the same space!
20. Gino Washington - "Romeo" :  That's Gino with an "I" and don't mess him with Geno Washington made known in England and adored by the mods. A true Detroit legend in every sense, best remembered for "Out of This World" and "Gino Is Coward" rollers. Here delivers a lesson of how a great soul floor shaker must sound!
21.The Mighty Hannibal - "Somebody in the World for You" : Mighty Hannibal is a forgotten jewel on soul and R&B music. He must be one of the first people that played or create funk! This is my favorite from him.
22. The Velvelettes - "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'" : Of the Motown gals i really dig! That "bop-bop-shookie do-wop" makes me crazy!
23. Eskew Reeder -"Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" : Esquerita on a weird re-edition of Ruth Brown's song. Cool!


320Kbps

WTS Sampler Vol.1

KICKS Magazine

Big Bad Bo used to say that “you can’t judge a book by looking at the cover” and for the most cases in life, he was right. There are some other though that you really can judge a book by looking just at the cover.

The first KICKS issue came out on 1979’s April… At the time the man behind this keyboard was a six months old screaming n' farting machine… The first time that KICKS publications came to my attention was about a decade ago. I was lookin’ for some Link Wray stuff on the net and I bumped into Norton Records website. It was the first time and all things found there got me immediately excited. The way record sleeves looked, the way they chose artists for their roster... I mean who the fuck was Hasil Adkins anyway? Or who was this guy who ripped Little Richard's persona so outrageously and so in spades? Sooner that you might think, bought their records, hooked deeply into Norton's mascots and from there never really recovered.

On a small html page of this web, it existed (and still does...) a space about some KICKS magazine. Except for the last two issues all others had the sad detail "SOLD OUT" beneath them. Next move of course was to purchase these leftovers. You won’t find everyday mags with the Trashmen or Bobby Fuller on the front cover, right? I remember clearly my anxiety to come these things to my hands safe. The day mailman delivered them on my doorstep, that specific day my life changed. No shit! Every single piece was clever, hilarious and astoundingly detailed for cats that sadly time and history forgot. Well not these guys!

For Billy & Miriam there was no rockabilly, no rhythm n’ blues, no surf, no garage and no exotica! All things were just Rock N' Roll!

From this very day KICKS is my bible. A bible separated in 7 pieces. Ebay helped me found all other issues except for the first (anyone here got it and wanna sell it?). I spent many greens to catch the older issues. With a quick calculation it's something like 300 dollars... It’s not a collector’s thing. I’ve read every article in there, every review and every interview a thousand times and surely never regret on the money I gave to every little prick on the net that tried and succeed to cash in my passion.

KICKS layout still remains the best ever on a music magazine. Many ‘zines the last 30 years, ripped (with no shame!) the way Miriam and Billy have built KICKS. To tell you the truth I suspect that all layout things generated by Miriam’s hands. If you already own or see Miriam’s other ‘zines like the Bad Seed, Smut Peddler or the Flamin Groovies monthlies, you can clearly witness the best template of how a magazine should look.

The last great attempts of books like "Saving the World One Record at the Time" and “Born in the Garage" made me hope for a same treatment of all old KICKS issues. I still wonder why Norton hipsters didn’t do it already. I’m pretty sure many people like me, asked them the same question.

KICKS publications on the late nineties put out a great photo book by Eddie Rocco with astonishing shots on artists like Ruth Brown, Roy Orbison, Dion but the true money worthies are Esquerita’s! If there’s a definition of what is wild and sleazy, take a good look at these pictures! Their last output was a great book by Mr. Rhythm himself, Andre Williams. If you haven’t checked it already, act quickly!

From the pages of KICKS magazines through the years passed many great guest writers like Jim Marshall (a.k.a. The Hound), Tim Warren (label honcho of Crypt empire), Greg Prevost (c’mon you know who the Chesterfield Kings are) and Nick Tosches. Even Lester Bangs wanted to write for KICKS but Miriam turned down his piece!

KICKS were the beginning of what later become Norton Records. For a period of time (about two years) my only ambition was to try find most of the bands or records this hip couple from NYC wrote about.  Now my only ambition is to not lose every new release by Norton. Musically Norton’s records are some of the best parts ever produced with this devil’s beat. And the liner notes that accompany them begin from where Issue No 7 stopped. Try gather all these and you’ll have many new issues of this KICKS (hi)story.

And that’s why KICKS championed even today by many as ‘The Greatest Rock N’ Roll Magazine in the World!’

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Issue #1 (1979)
Everly Bros article + discography, Dave Edmunds article, article on 60s bands in TV cameos, Dictators article, Foul Dogs vs Ha'Pennys review, Pacific NW 60s article, Paul Revere & the Raiders article, Keith Allison article +discography, rare 45 reviews, Vince Taylor article, Rokes (Italy) interview, Velvet Underground article, Shaggs (girl band) article, book & zine reviews, North Carolina rock retrospective, Flamin' Groovies article, London/Parrot label discography

 

 







Issue #2 (1979)
Chuck Berry article, Gene Vincent article, French 1960s EP:s, Del-Vetts article + discography, Canada punk article, Wailers article, Etiquette discography, Centurys (PA) article, Foul Dogs article, Ugly Ducklings article + discography, Chicago radio article, Heathens article, San Bernardino article+discography (part 1), Jerry Lee Lewis article, Elvis article, Waikiki Surf LP article, Flamin Groovies article+interview. 

 






Issue #3 (1984)
Esquerita interview + discography, Little Richard article, Motions (OH) interview + discography, Beach Boys article, Collins Kids article, Link Wray article, Del-Fi surf LP, The Phantom article, Benny Joy interview, Tommy Lam interview, Ronnie Dawson article, Hasil Adkins interview, Steve Carl interview, Jess Hooper interview, Herbie Duncan article, White Castle article, JD-literature/Hal Ellson, Groupies article, Frog Death discography, Trashmen article, Bobby Fuller article, Banshees interview, The Heard interview, Savages LP, Shaggs "Wink", Golliwogs/John Fogerty article, Hustlers LP, Dave Kennedy & Ambassadors LP, San Bernardino pt 2

Issue #4 (1985)
Wanda Jackson article, Ft Worth 1960s Teen Scene, Ronnie Self article + interview + discography, Surf top 10, Midwest surf, Electras article + discography, Tempests (NY) interview, Honeymooners interview, "Car 54" article, Ralph Nielsen interview, Ken Davis article, Barbara Pittman article, Hillary Brooke article, Hasil Adkins article, Jackie Gotroe article, Tyrone Schmidling article, Billy Poore, Jerome Green article, "Garden State Gold" LP, Link Wray article, Ledge Stardust Cowboy interview, Buddy Holly article, "Top Teen Bands" LP, Fred Blassie interview, baseball season predictions

 

 






Issue #5 (1987)
Hasil Adkins interview + discography, Rivieras interview + discography, Joe Clay interview, Mamie Van Doren, Pyramids interview + discography, Dale Hawkins interview + discography, "alternative music", Fantastic Dee Jays/Swamp Rats interview + discography, Marauders (MI) article, Jerry LL article, Herbie Duncan article + interview, Sterling Hayden article, Bob Vidone article + discography, Ed Roth interview, Moon Records discography, Blue Moon Records discography, Phantom Raiders LP, Kid Thomas article + discography, Revels article + discography, Andy Anderson interview, Danny Dell interview + discography, Twiliters (NY) interview + discography, Carl Cherry article

 





Issue #6 (1988)
Bobby Fuller article + discography, Sonny Burgess interview, Chicago 60s punk scene, Arch Hall Jr article + discography, Sparkle Moore interview, Ronnie Dawson article + discography, Vince Murphy & Catalinas interview, Elroy Dietzel article, Felco Records discography, Gene Rambo/Plaids/Flames article, Rockin R's article + discography, Andre Williams article + discography, Gene Maltais article + discography, misc TV, Surf Barfin Dozen, Young Tyrants interview, Tempos interview, Mickey Hawks interview, Excels (TX) interview, Big Sambo article, Rumblers Interview + discography, Teddy & Rough Riders interview + discography, Renegades interview, Swags article, Slough Boys article, Crazy Teens article, Stingrays (IL) article, Jack Starr interview, Aquinos article, Billy Poore, Green Fuz interview

 

 







Issue #7 (1992)
Trashmen interview + discography, Mike Waggoner interview, Ron Haydock article + discography, Rock-A-Teens interview + discography, "Battle Of The Beat" LP, Dennis Hunt article, Esquerita article, Crossfires interview + discography, Iguanas (MI) interview, Andy Starr interview + discography, White Rock label discography, Part-Aires (NJ) interview + discography, Surf budget LPs, Rudy Grayzell interview + discography, Doug Sahm early 45s interview, Lenny & Thundertones interview + discography, Mexican 60's article, Las Vegas 60's article, Teenbeats article + discography

My KICKS collection...Issue No.1 still missing...

The Lyres - "Self Centered Girl/What's A Girl Like You Doing In A Place Like This" (7'' Single - 1993 Telstar Records Tr-011)

That's another single from the same era, with the same line up (check previous post) and with the same wild results! On this two-sider the Lyres are a little more punkish. On side "A" there's the Living Ends' dynamite "Self Centered Girl" and on the "B" the excellent "What's A Girl Like You..." which for years was a mystery by whom was originally released.  Many mistaken the track for Van's Them but were the Cincinnati Ohio lads under the same name who as Jeff told changed their name to It's Them cause Van the man got pissed. Released by Telstar Records and of course is an ace! Enjoy!
320 Kbps

Self Centered Girl/What's A Girl Like You

The Lyres - "Stay Away/Grounded" (7'' single - 1994 Moulty Records M-104)

This is an excellent 7inch single by the Lyres. It was released by Moulty Records back at 1994. The line up of the band at the time except of course from Jeff had the long time partner on bass Rick Coraccio, Jim Janota on drums and Jack Hickey on guitar. A rather psychedelic single by the Lyres picking on these two gems. As i said on some of my earlier posts, i hate psychedelia in most cases. This is a perfect example of the opposite. The A Side's "Stay Away" originally by the Mystic Tide, is a masterpiece! A moody Mersey Beat tune heavy on psychedelics and boom! That's it! The great Julian Cope wrote on his Head Heritage :
" The group's early material is well represented by "I Wouldn't Care", "Why", "Stay Away" & "I Search For New Love." These tracks are all ultra cool stabs at a sort of Mersey-Beat sound with garage and surf rock overtones. However things really get cooking with the immortal "Mystic Eyes" (possibly influenced by Them.) "Mystic Eyes" is a pulsating death wail of garage punk oblivion. This thing just oozes all over you, Joe sounding like a second cousin of Eric Burdon on vocals while musically the Tide sound like an east coast answer to the Calico Wall. "Frustration" (not the Painted Ship track) is just a seething, full bore punk camando raid which brings to mind The Craig's "I Must Be Mad" in terms of all out intensity."
Lyres' version is faithful leaving although their unique trademark throughout the song!
On the other side we found the Syn's classic "Grounded". From what are to my knowledge, Syn were British. If you have heard about Syn rumors of being a progressive rock band, that's true... I can't stand progressive as much as i hate psychedelia. To put it mildly, through the pass of the years i found some things under the "psychedelic" tag (mostly unknown bands or maybe not so well known) that were great but i can't say the same thing for progressive...Anyway, Syn as most bands of the day at first played R&B. Before found themselves part of Yes history ( let me go throw up now...), had a sort psychedelic-pop period which is cool. Originally a B-Side on the 1967's single of "Created by Clive" on the hands of the Lyres rocketed to space! Again Jeff's company transformed the tune into a moody garage psychedelic piece not so far from the (Dutch) Outsiders territory. Oh and the refrain is simply BEAUTIFUL!
320Kbps

Stay Away/Grounded

The Complete (?) List of Songs DMZ & Lyres Taught Us

OK the last week i hooked so much on this "Songs the Lyres taught us" thing, that made me go listen to all my stuff by the Lyres/DMZ family (it's been a while since the last time). And that's A LOT! Anyway, i just noticed I'm a geek. Certainly I'm a geek. I never was a geek in school, but rock n' roll surely made me. I tried to find all the cover versions Jeff did with both bands and place beside them the originals or the versions made him record them. I found from the bomplist site a good one on the Lyres by a guy that signed as Jeroen (by the way very cool job buddy!). With red letters are my updates on Jeroen's Lyres' list. If I made a mistake somewhere forgive me and please correct me too, the way great Jim Marshall did (known worldwide as The Hound). I copy his comment here.Thanks man!

"Actually the original versions of Skinnie Minnie was Bill Haley & the Comets, the original Let's Have A Party was Elvis (pre-Wanda, but the Lyres do the Riverias arrangment), Sick & TIred was originally done by Chris Kenner, Ain't That Lovin' You Baby by Jimmy Reed, Geraldine by the Ole Miss Downbeats, Gettin' Plenty Lovin' by the Gardenias (as My Baby's Tops w/Ike Turner's band, two years before Esquerita's version), Little Sally Tease by Don & the Goodtimes, Louie Louie by Richard Berry, then the Wailers w/Rockin' Rob Roberts."

I didn't found on DMZ something similar, so i did the list myself. I think i own everything by them so i thought to give it a try.

Feel free to revise on any mistakes or pass overs.

This is it:

DMZ:

* - "Are You Gonna Be There?" - Chocolate Watchband

* - "Barracuda" - The Standells

* - "Bloody Englishmen" - The Stooges ("I Wanna Be Your Dog" with different lyrics)

* - "Can't Do That" - The Beatles

* - "Can't Stand The Pain" - The Pretty Things

* - "Cinderella" - The Sonics

* - "Come On Now" - The Kinks

* - "Comin' After Me" - The Flamin' Groovies

* - "Don't Start Cryin' Now" -  Slim Harpo/Them

* - "Frenzy" -  Fugs

* - "From Home" - The Troggs

* - "Glendora" - Perry Como/Downliners Sect

* - "Heart Of Stone" - The Rolling Stones

* - "He's Waiting" - The Sonics

* - "Let's Talk About Girls" - Chocolate Watchband

* - "Nobody But Me" - The Isley Brothers/Human Beinz

* - "Out Of Our Tree" - The Wailers

* - "Raw Power" - Iggy And The Stooges

* - "Rosalyn" - The Pretty Things

* - "Strychnine" - The Sonics

* - "Teenage Head" - The Flamin' Groovies

* - "You Left The Water Running" - Sam & Dave

* - "You're Gonna Miss Me" - 13th Floor Elevators

THE LYRES:

                                                    

* - "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" - Jimmy Reed/Beau Brummels                                                            

* - "Baby, I Still Need Your Lovin'" - It's Them (Highs In The Mid 60s Vol.21)                                       

* - "Baby It's Me" - Richie's Renegades (Polaris Story)                                                                

* - "Boston" - Gene Clark/The Beefeaters (An early version of The Byrds)                                            

* - "Busy Body" - Roy Lee Johnson/Jolly Green Giants (Teenage Shutdown Vol.1)                              

* - "But If Your Happy" - The Scavengers (IGL Story 1)                                                                    

* - "Can't Stop The Want" - Sandy Sargent                                                   

* - "Changed Man" - Otis Redding                                                                                      

* - "Cinderella" - The Sonics                                                                                              

* - "Diddy Wah Diddy" - Bo Diddley                                                                                    

* - "Dirty Robber" - TheWailers/The Sonics                                                                                    

* - "Don't Tell Me Lies" - Tommy Tucker/The Esquires (IGL Story 2)                                                     

* - "Don't Wanna Cry" - The Buckinghams (Glimpses 1)                                                                      

* - "Feelin' No Pain" - ("Feelin' No Pain" was by the Del-Satins (Columbia 42802, 1963).They did the backup vocals on Dion's post-Belmonts records. If I remember rightly Dion wrote or co-wrote the song.)    

* - "Geraldine" - Classic Ruins                                                                                        

* - "Gettin' Plenty Lovin'" - Esquerita                                                                                

* - "Give Your Love To Me" - Les Copains                                                          

* - "Go Go Girl" - John's Children  (Marc Bolan's Freakbeat group)                                                       

* - "Gonna Find A New Love" - Yo Yo's (Teenage Shutdown3)                                                              

* - "Grounded" - Syn (Broken Dreams 1, Magic Rocking Horse, Perfumed Garden)                                    

* - "Happy Now" - See ''But If You're Happy''                                                                            

* - "Have Love Will Travel" - Richard Berry/The Sonics                                                                         

* - "Here's A Heart" - Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich                                                    

* - "How Can I Make Her Mine" - Bobby Roberts & The Ravons (Garage Punk Unkowns 1-or box set-, Vile Vinyl 1)          

* - "The Hustler" - The Sonics                                                                     

* - "I Can Tell" - Bo Diddley                                                                       

* - "I Confess" - New Colony Six                                                                

* - "If You Want My Love" - Nightcrawlers                                                

* - "I Love Her Still I Always Will" - The Outsiders                                     

* - "I'll Make It Up To You" - The Roadrunners 

* - "I'll Try Anyway" - Pete Best Combo                                                     

* - "I Need You" - The Kinks                                                                     

* - "Itchin' In My Heart" - The Supremes                                                    

* - "It's Alright" - The Kinks                                                                        

* - "It's Over" - The Scavengers (IGL Story)                                              

* - "Jagged Time Lapse" - John's Children                                                  

* - "Jezebel" - Teddy Boys (Garage Punk Unknowns)                                  

* - "Let's Have A Party" - Elvis Presley/Wanda Jackson/The Rivieras    

* - "Let's Talk About Girls" - Grodes/Chocolate Watchband                      

* - "Lily" - Drusalee & The Dead (Hang It Out To Dry)                     

* - "Little Sally Tease" - The Standells/Don & The Goodtimes          

* - "Long Gone" - The Customs                                                                  

* - "Louie Louie" - Richard Berry/The Kingsmen                                      

* - "Love Man" - Otis Redding                                                                   

* - "Love Me Till The Sun Shines" - Dave Davies/The Kinks (Dave Davies, brother of main Kinks' songwriter Ray Davies, wrote the tune and originally released as b-side to Dave's first single "Death of a Clown". Later recorded by the Kinks too and appeared on the album "Something Else By The Kinks")                                                

* - "Lovin' Cup" - Paul Butterfield                                                             

* - "Never Be Free" - Dale & the Devonaires (IGL Story 1)             

* - "Never Met A Girl Like You Before" - The Kinks                                  

* - "Nobody But Me" - The Isly Brothers/Human Beinz                           

* - "No  More" - Either the Chessmen, Morning Dew or Ron Grey & The Countdowns, no time yet to check this.

* - "No Reasons To Complain" - Alarm Clocks (Back From The Grave 1)  

* - "Now I've Got A Witness" - The Rolling Stones                                    

* - "Out Of Our Tree" - The Wailers                                                                            

* - "Pain" - Phil and the Frantics                                                                        

* - "Rescue me" - Fontella Bass                                                                            

* - "Ring Dang Doo" - Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs                                                      

* - "Running Through The Night" - Mystic Tide (Ear Piercing Punk)                                          

* - "Security" - Otis Redding                                                                              

* - "Self Centered Girl" - Living Ends                                                                    

* - "7" - The Sevens                                                                                      

* - "Shake It Some More" - Tony Sheridan/Jay Jays                                                          

* - "She's Got Eyes That Tell Lies" - Him & The Others                                                

* - "Sick & Tired" - Fats Domino                                                                       

* - "Signed DC" - Love                                                                                    

* - "Since You've Been Gone" - The Kingsmen/Uncalled Four ?/?                                                  

* - "Skinny Minnie" - Bill Haley/The Sonics                                                                    

* - "Soapy" - Mickey & The Cleancuts (Ho Dad Hootenany)                                                

* - "Stacey" - Hangmen Of Fairfield County (Hipsville 29 BC)                                              

* - "Stay Away" - Mystic Tide (on Mystic Tide comp)                                                        

* - "Stoned" - The Rolling Stones                                                                              

* - "Stormy" - Jesters Of Newport (Back From The Grave)                                                  

* - "Sun Going Down" - The Outsiders                                                                          

* - "Swing Shift" - The Wailers                                                                                

* - "Take A Look At Me" - Mr. Lucky and the Gamblers (Teenage Shutdown 1)                                  

* - "Teach Me To Forget" - The Outsiders                                                                      

* - "Tired Of Waiting" - The Kinks                                                                            

* - "Today I'm Gay" - Jay Jays                                                                            

* - "Touch" - The Outsiders (Pebbles 25)                                                                      

* - "Upside" - ? and the Mysterians                                                                        

* - "The Way I Feel About You" - Pete Best Combo (English Freakbeat 5)                                          

* - "We Sell Soul" - The Spades (Epitaph For A Legend) - ( pre-Elevators Roky Erickson band)             

* - "What A Girl Can't Do" - Hangmen (Psychotic Moose)                                                    

* - "What's A Girl Like You Doing In A Place Like This" -  It's Them (From Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally called themselves Them. In the words of Jeff changed their name to It's Them cause Van Morrison got pissed)                              

* - "What's Wrong With You" - The Outsiders                                                                    

* - "When I Needed You" - Chain Reaction                                                                  

* - "The Witch" - The Sonics                                                                                  

* - "Wooly Bully" - Sam The Sam & The Pharoahs                                                        

* - "You'll Never Do It Baby" - The Pretty Things

PS: Take a good look at the detail from the scanned back sleeve of  the Lyres' "Live at Cantones" LP (Crypt). I always was and i always ll be a huge fan of the loudmouth and provocative Tim Warren! This rude piece made me love the Lyres before even hear a note! It's at least hilarious (if not waaaayyy true!) and i wanted to find a chance to post it here since a long time. I think it's the perfect occasion! Stay tuned, more Monoman goodies are comin'!