The Throb were an R&B/garage band from Sydney, Australia. They existed for just two years, starting from 1965 and briefly shot to national prominence. Despite their short tenure, the group's punkish potential is evident in their two superb singles. The first is their snarling garage-punk version of 'Fortune Teller', which smashed its way to the top of the national charts in early 1966. The second is their arrangement of the traditional folk song "Black (Is the Colour of My True Love's Hair)". A slashing, feedback-drenched rendition of the traditional folk song, which pop culture historian Ian D. Marks calls "the most adventurous pop recording made in Australia in 1966".
Their take on "Fortune Teller' was obviously based on The Rolling Stones and not on the Allen Toussaint original and if I remember correctly, their leader, John Bell (vocals, guitar and harmonica), was The Easybeats' original singer for a while and he was friends also with the duo of Harry Vanda and George Young (for those not in the know, George was the older brother of Malcolm and Angus from AC/DC). Anyway, on stage the group had a wild, leather-clad presence that rivalled the Easybeats for sheer euphoria and their debut record and subsequent live shows were unqualified successes.
Searching for a follow-up to 'Fortune Teller', the group recorded two tracks at Bill Armstrong’s new studios in South Melbourne: a cover of The Kinks' B-side 'I Need You' and a John Bell original called 'One Thing To Do'. However, both tracks were ultimately shelved and did not see the light of day until the '80s when Raven Records included them on Volumes 2 and 3 of the original Ugly Things LP series. Their management eventually selected John Bell's proto-power pop original, 'Turn My Head', and the radical reworking of 'Black' which surpassed the brilliance of their debut, although it was reportedly too shocking for some audiences and radio types in 1966, and didn't perform as well. By the time 'Black' was released in August 1966, some band members were tired of constant touring and after a few lineup changes, sometimes playing as a three-piece, they called it quits.
All Throb seven known recorded tunes are gathered in one place by me for your listening pleasure. Throughout their short lived existence, Throb were renowned for their wailing harmonica and tormented performances. A 60s punk delirium with howling guitars crying out against suffering vocals that could rightly be placed alongside those of The Missing Links, The Purple Hearts or even The Easybeats.
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