News & Nuggets *DECEMBER 27, 2007* Thanks to Beatle Bob, whom will be emceeing both nights, here is informationon a '60's garage band happening taking place this weekend:   A JOURNEY TO TYME Friday, December 28th / Austin, Texas Ruta Maya / 3601 South Congress Ave. / 9PM Freddie Steadie's A-GoGo featuring Freddie Steadie Five w/ guests: Dennis Keller (Fever Tree), Chris Gernottis (Zachary Thaks), Mike Claxton (Sherwoods), Jenny Wolfe, McLemore Ave. and a light show-AR of Fireflies and more to be announced! Saturday, December 29th / Dallas, Texas / Lakewood Theatre/ 1825 Abrams / 7pm Featuring Kenny & The Kasuals, Freddie Steadie Five, Dennis Keller, Nitecaps, Floyd Dakil, Danny Freeman, Mark Benno, Apes Of Wrath, Little Brucie & The Kut Krew (including some members of The Novas), Dead Pyrates Society, Voodoo Lounge, Deauvilles and more to be announced! *DECEMBER 22, 2007* Recently released by Arf Arf Records: "Lightning was an offshoot of Minneapolis ’60s legends Litter that featured guitar wizard Tom “Zippy” Caplan. After recording the Litter’s 1966 garage classic Distortions and 1968 psych masterpiece $100 Fine, Caplan split from the Litter and formed Lightning. The band started out as a power trio and cut one fierce Cream-inspired single 'William' b/w 'Of Paupers And Poets' in 1968 under the White Lightning moniker with Twin Cities record producer Warren Kendrick. The band regrouped into a quintet and scored a record deal with P.I.P. which issued their eight-song album. That album has since become a highly collectable LP. Lightning became one of the Midwest’s hardest working rock acts and toured extensively throughout the region during their three-year tenure. This authorized CD reissue includes their entire LP, the aforementioned 45, plus six additional bonus tracks (including edited 45 mixes of two album tracks) all wrapped in an archival 12-page booklet with lots of photos and liner notes by Litter-scribe Doug Sheppard. Between this package and Arf Arf’s White Lightning Strikes Twice [1968-1969] release, the band’s entire musical legacy has been properly archived. Fans of Blue Cheer, Cream, Hendrix, and Arf Arf’s four psychedelic Dose comps will really dig this new disc." *DECEMBER 21, 2007* Sundazed's February releases look to be excellent: The United States of America — The United States of America (LP) The Pretty Things — S.F. Sorrow LP Various Artists — Don't Press You Luck! The IN Sound of 60's Connecticut (CD & 2xLP) The Del-Vetts — The Del-Vetts (10" EP) The Druids of Stonehenge — The Druids of Stonehenge (10" EP) We'll have more information as it becomes available... *DECEMBER 20, 2007* "Sunday the 23rd, Knitting Factory is helping present a very special event at the Rhino Pop Up Store, the California Garage Special. The event is an in-store prequel to our Friday, December 28th concert starring The Electric Prunes and The Strawberry Alarm Clock. Members of both bands will be at the in-store signing memorabilia and chatting with fans. Knitting Factory will have tickets to the show and posters for giveaway at the event, and Rhino Nuggets-guru John Hagelston will be playing choice San Franciscan and Southern Cali garage rarities on the Wheels of steel. Meanwhile, tickets for the Prunes 'n' Berrys are going fast, do not miss this historical, once-in-a-lifetime event!" *DECEMBER 16, 2007*  CD Baby is offering a CD-R of vintage Gentrys' recordings compiled by leader Larry Raspeberry.  The scant description states: "The founder, leader, first member and, today, the remaining leader/member, of The Gentrys and he sang their hit record (a Top Five rock hit in 1965) during which time he maintained a grand collection of song recordings." *DECEMBER 14, 2007* Snapper is releasing Never Ever Land - International Artists Singles Collection): "This 3-CD set collects classic tracks from the label’s flagship acts like The 13th Floor Elevators, The Red Crayola, The Bubble Puppy and Golden Dawn alongside a host of sought-after lesser known gems from the likes of Thursday’s Children, The Chaynes, The Rubayaat, Sterling Damon and The Shayds. Quite a number of these tracks are here making their CD debut, several not having seen the light of day since their first release forty years ago. The accompanying 48-page color booklet is lavishly illustrated and presents a detailed account of the label’s rise and fall, biographies of the artists with track notes and a full discography. It Includes Jon Savage’s interview with Lelan Rogers which accompanied the 1980 compilation double album, Epitaph For A Legend." Expect it about mid-January. *DECEMBER 8, 2007*  Now available for pre-order and due out on December 20th.  Total cost with postage is $19.  Orders may be placed via PayPal to psychofthesouth@yahoo.com: "From the depths of the most rural parts of the country emerges a wild collection of garage and psychedelic unknowns in the upcoming Psych Of The South release: Lost Souls - Volume 1: 1960s Garage and Psychedelic Music from the Un-Natural State: Arkansas.  After a tireless search through collector's bins, local newspapers, and band member's memories, we have collected the garage and psych unknowns of Arkansas.  Not only will Lost Souls Volume 1 introduce the music community to a number of  unknown tracks, Psych of the South has sought to uncover the story behind the sounds, having tracked down and visited a number of original band members.  PLUS Killers of previously unknown origin are revealed...For a taste...'Psychedelic Cycle' on Universal by Soul Society of previously unknown origin is actually an Arkansas record!  Not only that, Psych of the South has talked to and became pals with band members to gain the full story of – The Sole Society – the label-printed name is an actual misspelling! To celebrate this discovery and the awesome story behind it all, the COLOR photo on the CD cover is Sole Society in all their glory opening for The Hombres at War Memorial Swimming Pool in Little Rock, Arkansas 1967. And if you like that, there’s much more.  This CD is full of cryptic killers and psychedelic cycles from custom labels and obscurities of Arkansas, many of which never landed outside of the town where they originated.  They all share a unique sound that comes from being isolated in rural communites yet brimming with teen abandon.  Liners with detailed exclusive info on The Lost Souls, Sole Society, Purple Canteen, and more will aim to please for the curious listener.  This CD is simply some of the best garage out there, with most of it appearing here for the first time. You may have heard an Arkansas compilation before, but Lost Souls Volume 1 is Arkansas done RIGHT by the people who live there and love it.  To hear clips from the CD and see footage from the upcoming documentary film on these Arkansas garage bands visit here. *DECEMBER 3, 2007* The Oklahoma Guide to 45 rpm Records & Bands - 1955-1975 is now available for ordering and for delivery before Christmas.  Written by Rhett Lake and Teb Blackwell, the book is subtitled A Chronicle of The Music, The Musicians and The Madness (Volume One: Oklahoma City Metro Area and Southern Oklahoma).  Featuring a forward by Ronnie Kaye, the book also includes a discography of Oklahoma record labels, lists of bands that recorded and those that did not (segmented by metro area), list of band members, speical stories and recollections from those that lived in the area, and photos of band business cards.  The book retails for $30 and can be purchased from: South Padre Office center 2600 Padre Blvd., Ste. R South Padre Island, TX 78597 Those interested may call (956) 761-1182 or email with questions. *NOVEMBER 29, 2007*  Stepping a bit outside of the garage comes news on a forthcoming documentary on The Magnificent Men: "This Magnificent Moment tells one of pop music's greatest untold stories: the poignant struggles of seven college-aged kids from York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania who, amid the strife and division of the late 1960s, realized a once-in-a-lifetime dream, becoming the first white act to ever headline New York's legendary Apollo Theatre and the other venues that made up the rhythm and blues 'chitlin circuit.' The documentary follows The Magnificent Men as they create a soul sound that for four years bridged America's racial fault line while stirring age-old questions about music, color, culture, and identity."  Visit the film's Web site for more information...  *NOVEMBER 28, 2007* Gary Hunt from WGVU and WGVK provided the following Press Release pertaining to West Michigan group The Kingtones: "On Monday, December 3 at 8 p.m., WGVU TV will air a special encore presentation of the documentary The Kingtones: A Retrospective, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of West Michigan’s most memorable acts.  Original members of the band will be joined by Len O’Kelly of Oldies 98.7 WFGR in the WGVU studios to help support WGVU TV during its Holiday Membership Campaign. In 1961, The Kingtones hit the charts and started a musical legacy that would last half a century.  In the midst of the British Invasion, The Kingtones were a hugely popular live act that has stood the test of time and remained one of West Michigan’s most popular musical groups.  Today, the heritage of The Kingtones lives on in the remaining original Kingtones, and in the newest incarnation of the band.  Taken from 45s, film clips of the band from the '60s, and live music from their 2002 Dance Party Reunion, The Kingtones: A Retro-Spective brings back the days when rock and roll was born.  The program was produced in 2003 by WGVU Productions. On November 10, The Kingtones will perform their 50th Anniversary and Farewell Concert to a sold-out crowd, hosted by WFGR.  To find out more about the The Kingtones: A Retro-Spective, visit wgvu.org." *NOVEMBER 27, 2007*  Press Release: "That infamous 'Blackout Of Gretely' Rhino Nuggets band from 1966, GONN, will reunite for the first time since their 2005 Cleveland Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame appearance to bring in the New Year at the legendary & intimate 'Off Broadway' music club in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday, January 5, 2008. As of this writing, GONN will be joined by fave St. Louis rockers The Nevermores, and The Vultures, for one set each, and possibly some other guests during the evening. GONN officially reunited and released their reunion album Gonn With The Wind in 1996, toured Europe in 1997 and again in 2001, and capped a short 2004 summer southern U.S. tour with a wild gig in New Orleans. They were inducted into the Iowa Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, alongside The Trashmen, Dee Jay & The Runaways, Bobby Vee, Buddy Holly and others, also in 2004, and appeared at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland in 2005. The Sundazed 180-gram LP The Loudest Band In Town is again on store racks, and the long out-of-print compact disc Frenzology - Punks Along The Mississippi (the complete '60's recordings) should be re-released (with two new bonus tracks, live at Malo Eloe in Amsterdam 1997) by St. Louis show time. Stay tuned to www.myspace.com/GONN66 and other garage band Web sites for further details.  Put it on your calendar!  January 5, 2008."  For more information visit http://www.offbroadwaystl.com/. *NOVEMBER 22, 2007* A new book by Doug Lubahn details his days as "The Fifth Door": "When The Doors were at the peak of their creative and commercial powers, Doug Lubahn was the man they chose to be their bass player. Through three crucial albums – Strange Days, Waiting for the Sun, and The Soft Parade, Lubahn plays most of the bass lines that are such an important part of The Doors' sound. Now -- for the first time -- Lubahn tells the story of his days among the greats of rock 'n' roll. He quickly reaches the pinnacle during his years with The Doors, from the quiet days before they were big (Jim Morrison would chauffeur him to the studio each day in a Volkswagen), to his 2004 reunion with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger. Come inside the studio as Lubahn recalls The Doors' highs and lows, the day Ray gets bashed in the face, and the awful silence as he sits with Ray, Robby and John after Morrison's death. Lubahn also offers song-by-song notes and inside stories from The Doors' recording sessions. The man Ray Manzarek has called...'The Fifth Door.'"  Titled My Days With The Doors & Other Strories, perhaps more interestingly Lubahn also details his time as a member of Clear Light... *NOVEMBER 18, 2007*  Birdhouse Records has recently released Unknown Mystery '60's Group Volume III: Love Songs: "Thanks to the band archivist in Spain, another volume of brilliant songs by the 'Unknown Group!"  Mastered from the original tapes, this collection of 12 love songs showcases the band at the height of their songwriting and musical powers.  As Birdhouse President Buddy Whelan noted in our review package, "It's a good story - so we're sticking with it!"  Read into that what you will!  *NOVEMBER 18, 2007*  The contents for the January/February issue of Shindig Magazine have been announced: "Yes indeed, the story of Gary Walker & The Rain. The album will be reissued on CD next year too on Bob Stanley's Eclipse label--this will be this superb psych-pop album's first official release! Stefan tells its story in Shindig! Elsewhere we cover The 13th Floor Elevators, The Sonics, Wendy & Bonnie, Moby Grape, Garage Fashion, Procession and a whole lot more. Subscribe today and don't miss an issue." *NOVEMBER 8, 2007*  Those of you looking to pick up Sundazed's recently released Moby Grape titles better act fast: "Sundazed Music, along with the members of Moby Grape and their management, regret to announce that Sundazed has discontinued the sale and distribution of the first three Moby Grape titles, Moby Grape, Wow and Grape Jam. The two remaining albums, Moby Grape '69 and Truly Fine Citizen, will continue to be available from Sundazed. These titles were manufactured under license for Sundazed by Sony BMG Music Entertainment. It was Sony BMG Music Entertainment' s decision to cease production of the first three titles, as a result of a longstanding and ongoing dispute over control of the Moby Grape album catalog between Sony BMG Music Entertainment and an outside party. As Moby Grape's fans are well aware, the band's career has long been dogged by business disputes far beyond the musicians' control. These issues have contributed to keeping the band's music out of print for lengthy periods—a situation that Sundazed Music had hoped to redress with its exhaustive Moby Grape reissue series. Sony BMG's decision comes as a surprise to Moby Grape and Sundazed, to say the least. Both band and label had invested considerable time, energy and attention into reissuing these albums with the respect and loving care that they have always deserved, and were excited to have the opportunity to make this music available once again to old and new fans. We at Sundazed are disappointed to be unable to continue to distribute the first three Moby Grape titles, but we remain honored to have Moby Grape '69 and Truly Fine Citizen as part of the Sundazed catalog." *NOVEMBER 6, 2007* Ron Bowell of Friar Tuck & The Monks emailed us with this bit of good news: "Thought you guys would like to know the news below that came yesterday. Friar Tuck and The Monks will be officially inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame on Saturday March 22. The Induction Ceremony and Concert will be at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas (old Red Dog Inn) on the evening of March 22. Tickets will go fast so if you’re interested in attending check the Kansas Music Hall of Fame Web site. They will most likely be available soon from Liberty Hall (785-749-1972) or through any Ticketmaster outlet. Friar Tuck and The Monks will be playing that evening."  Other inductees include The Classmen, The Soul Express, The Fabulous Four, Pat Matheny, Big Al Downing, Ann Brewer & The Flames, Gerry Mac & The Mac Truque, Chet Nichols and Beth Scalet. *NOVEMBER 4, 2007* Eric Bergman provided the following update on the Patron Saints' before Bohob collection (titled Before Bohob Volume 1: Birth Of A Garage Basement Band: "After years of prodding by fans and reviewers, The Patron Saints will be releasing a 2-CD, 45-song set of cover tunes recorded from September, 1966 to late spring/early summer 1968, entitled Before Bohob, Vol. 1. If all goes well, it will be available in mid-to-late November, 2007."  Visit the excellent and exhaustive Patron Saints' Web site for more information. *NOVEMBER 1, 2007* Courtesy Brent Hosier comes news on the latest volume of the excellent Aliens, Psychos & Wild Things series: "Fore - that's Volume 4 if you're counting. Arcania's Aliens' series is primarily known for illuminating the shadow world of Virginia's mid-to-late Sixties garage and psychedelic bands. The last Volume (it's been almost five years) did include half a dozen cuts from outside of Virginia.  This is the reverse of that. Only half a dozen of the tracks on Fore are from the Old Dominion State. The roots of proto-psychedelia are to be heard on this compilation's first two tracks. Hollywood unknowns from 1965, never released until Arcania tracked them down: 'The Wind Blows Your Hair' is the same song recorded by The Seeds two years later. 'Don't Be Afraid' may have a very famous musician on it. 'It' is all in the notes of our 20-page booklet, along with loads of other info.  All told 7 of the 25 songs are previously unreleased.  Only one song out of the batch has ever been reissued. Those that came out in the Sixties are virtually unknown, even to most collectors. Unknown for now.  But soon comes...Aliens, Psychos & Wild Things Fore!"  The CD will be available within the week and available via Get Hip, Crypt, Norton, Clear Spot and other fine distributors... *OCTOBER 28, 2007*  As initially reported in May, and once again courtesy of Joey D., Frantic Records' next batch of cool '60's garage/psych releases will be available in the coming weeks.  This go 'round features: Up From The Grave: North Valley Garage and Psych 1965-1969 Colours: Voluptuous Doom (2-CD set featuring an unreleased 1968 LP by the post-Boy Blues band Colours from Chico, California and later unreleased recordings from 1969 when the band was known as Christian) Gunge: Feel It!!! (Unreleased heavy shit from 1968 by a Chico group, think early Blue Cheer) We'll report on other forthcoming titles as they get closer to their release dates.  In the meantime, below is a selection of the current releases covers (and some alternate covers)... Up From The Grave (Frantic Records) - Alternate Cover Gunge (Frantic Records) - Alternate Cover Colours (Frantic Records) Up From The Grave (Frantic Records) Gunge (Frantic Records) *OCTOBER 26, 2007*  The last two (and only surviving) DISC-O-TEEN shows are now available on DVD.  Hosted by Zacherley, the New York area show regularly featured local bands and the top hitmakers of the day. The DVD includes 1967 appearances by Every Mother's Son and The Box Tops although, regrettably, the groups do not perform their music and appear only in interview and skit segments.  Visit here for more information. *OCTOBER 21, 2007* UPDATE: A sneak preview of the November 1st Blue Things: Blow Your Mind set, featuring two previously unreleased songs that will be released for the first time on the double disc release ('Punkin' Doodle' and 'Waitin' For Changes'), is now ready for sampling at the Cicadelic Records Web site. The 2-CD Blue Things: Blow Your Mind collection from Cicadelic Records will be available on November 1st.  Pre-orders are being accepted now.  The set contains 65 recordings - many previously unheard - and comes with a 24-page booklet that features previously unseen photos.  Visit here to place your pre-order. Apparently there was a problem with the Web site yesterday that prevented orders from being placed.  That has now been corrected and orders are being accepted. *OCTOBER 19, 2007*  Ugly Things #26 will be printed shortly:  "This issue is sure to make a big splash with our big MC5 cover story, featuring a lengthy, previously unpublished interview with Rob Tyner and some incredible rare photos. Our other features include the story of '66 Sunset Strip rockers The Sons of Adam, English folk-rock outfit Trees, the Norwegian beat and rock scene in the '60s, and British punk rock & rollers The Pop Rivets (Billy Childish's first band, 1977-79). There's also an extensive Pre-Punk feature by Johan Kugelberg, with a foreword by Jon Savage. We also have articles on California garage band The Floggs (who featured a pre-Kaleidoscope Chris Darrow), legendary Ohio psychsters The Tiffany Shade, and the amazing tale of The Cedars from Lebanon. There's also exclusive interviews with The Pretty Things, Arthur Brown, Dave Lambert (of U.K. freakbeat icons Fire: 'Father's Name Was Dad'), Zappa associate Jeff Simmons, and much more, including of course our massive review section covering all the latest reissues and music-related books and DVDs." The Brymers: Where Are They Now Is Now Available For Ordering! Click On Photo To Visit The New Brymers Website And To Place Your Order. *OCTOBER 11, 2007* We received the below email from Carla Rabon and strongly encorage all visitors to sign the petition: Laura Margo, wife of Mitch of The Tokens, has started a petition to have The Five Americans nominated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you would click on the link below and vote it would help. More importantly it would help if you sent this link to your friends in your address book and ask them to vote as well. http://www.petitiononline.com/m5r65/petition.html *OCTOBER 11, 2007*  Press Release: The Ambassador Theater--DC Psychedelic Concert Hall 1967 40th Anniversary Panel Discussion Saturday 11/3/07 3PM DC Historical Studies Conference For six glorious months beginning in July 1967, the Summer of Love landed right in Adams Morgan when three entrepreneurs convinced a skeptical neighborhood to allow DC's very own Fillmore--The Ambassador Theater.  Tony Finestra, Court Rodgers and Joel Mednick were selling fire extinguishers on college campuses when they heard the siren call of San Francisco, and after visiting the Fillmore and Avalon Ballroom, decided to pour all available resources into duplicating that psychedelic experience in an abandoned movie theater at 18th and Columbia Road. Within months, they had defied the odds and opened a psychedelic concert hall, hippie hangout and community center that also boasted The Psychedelic Power and Light Company, one of the most happening psychedelic light shows on the East Coast! Every name rock band on tour at the time passed through the Ambassador, including a five night stand by Jimi Hendrix in August '67 (with two 3PM matinee performances), as well as the Fugs, Moby Grape and many more. It was even one of the staging points for the March on the Pentagon, with Norman Mailer rallying the protesters from the stage days before the October 21, 1967 march. WAMAdc President Mike Schreibman was not only there, he helped run the place, and he'll be part of a panel discussion, with Richard Harrington of The Washington Post, and more guests to be announced. Promoters Court Rodgers and Joel Mednick have been invited, as well as Jerry Mermelstein who helped run The Psychedelic Power and Light Company light show. We've also located Bill Havu, drummer for the band Natty Bumppo, as well as Walter Hart who ran the head shop on the mezzanine of the theater. The presentation will include a slide show of concert posters, personal photos, and newspaper clippings from the mainstream, college and underground newspapers, and memories, anecdotes and recollections provided by members of the audience.  It will be moderated and presented by Jeff Krulik, who was six years old at the time but wishes he could have been there for Vanilla Fudge. Cultural historians Mark Opsasnick (www.capitolrock.com), Mara Cherkasky (www.culturaltourismdc.org) and Bob Embery (DC Monuments fanzine) will assist. There will be an after party to be determined. 34th Annual Conference on Washington, D.C. Historical Studies November 1 - 3, 2007 Presented by: Cultural Tourism, D.C. D.C. Public Library, Washingtoniana Division George Washington University The Historical Society of Washington, DC Location: The Historical Society of Washington, DC (Old Carnegie Library), 801 K Street, NW, Washington, DC No Admission Charge Info: www.historydc.org You can contact Jeff directly with anecdotes or for more information. *OCTOBER 9, 2007*  Greg Kihn, Papa Doo Run Run (aka Zu and Goodie Two Shoes) and People ('I Love You') are the 2007 inductees into the San Jose Rocks Hall of Fame.  A benefit concert will be held on October 19th at History park in San Jose.  More information is available here. *OCTOBER 7, 2007* Coming from EMI on November 5 is Ah Feel Like Ahcid: 24 American Psychedelic Artefacts From The EMI Vaults.  The compilation actually features many previously comped tracks including songs by The Balloon Farm, Third Bardo and First Crow To The Moon, but also obscurities by Book Of Changes, Human Beinz and Time.  Perhaps a bit surprisingly, the disc also features well known bands like The Steve Miller Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (whose song is the basis for the comp title) and The Beach Boys (!) Coming in November on Regenerator Records *OCTOBER 6, 2007* We received word from Jamie Anstey from Regenerator Records that November 15th will be the release date for Chad Allan & The Reflections: Early Roots (see above).  The release is a limited edition of 1000 CDs and 500 LPs and will be available via Neptoon Records in Vancouver or directly from Jamie. *OCTOBER 5, 2007* Due in November on Sundazed: Moby Grape '69 - On Compact Disc & High Definition Vinyl  Moby Grape Truly Fine Citizen  - On Compact Disc Moby Grape, the San Francisco band synonymous with everything starry-eyed and laughing about the Summer of Love and the West Coast revolution, wrapped up its Columbia Records career with a pair of solid albums that showed just how much they’d grown musically since their first three releases—even after they’d lost a couple of band members. Moby Grape ‘69 demonstrated traits heretofore unnoticed: vibrant shades of doo-wop on “Ooh Mama Ooh” and 18-wheeler, freeway-cruising, redneck-rock on 'Trucking Man.' Although Skip Spence had departed, his blistering song 'Seeing' sounds like a preview of Oar, his landmark 1969 solo album. And Bob Mosley’s lovely ballad 'It’s A Beautiful Day Today' can stand toe-to-toe with any song the Grape ever cut. With Spence out of commission and Mosley serving in the U.S. Marines, the Grape was reduced to the trio of Peter Lewis, Jerry Miller and Don Stevenson for their Columbia swansong, 1969’s Truly Fine Citizen. Even with a pair of cylinders missing, the threesome sucked it up and cut a very handsome little record. The chugging title track, coupled with Lewis’ heartfelt 'Changes, Circles Spinning,' make it plain: Moby Grape was capable of greatness, even with two hands tied behind its back. The Kaleidoscope Side Trips - On High Definition Vinyl Like a mind-boggling combination of Summer of Love acid-rock, goodtime saloon music and a Middle Eastern jam session, Side Trips, the debut album by Kaleidoscope, stood out, even in the eye of the psychedelic hurricane, as something altogether different! Staffed by a hall of fame roster of multi-instrumentalists—David Lindley, Chris Darrow, Solomon Feldthouse, Chester Crill (aka: Fenrus Epp) and John Vidican—this Berkeley, Calif.-based combo cut their dazzling 1967 album with a startling arsenal of instruments that included banjo, fiddle, doumbeg, mandolin, viola, saz bouzoukee, dobro, vina, authoharp, oud and clarinet. When they entertained the wide-eyed customers of San Francisco’s Fillmore and Avalon Ballrooms and Los Angeles’ Ash Grove, they frequently employed flamenco and belly dancers onstage. Just like the see-through tube with bits of colored glass and mirrors that gave the band their name, the Kaleidoscope was never the same, no matter which way you turned it!  *SEPTEMBER 25, 2007* According to an email we received from member Eric Bergman, "I'm in the process of putting together a 2-CD set of The Patron Saints (Fohhoh Bohob) from 1966-1967. If all goes well, it may even be out sometime this fall!"  We'll provide updates we receive them... *SEPTEMBER 21, 2007* It's official!  Following closely on the word that The Sonics are reuniting for Cavestomp comes word from the band that The Green Fuz will be perfoming for the first time since the '60's in New Orleans at the House of Blues in April 2008!  We're assuming this is part of the Ponderosa Stomp. More details will be posted here as they come in... *SEPTEMBER 17, 2007*  From Globe Records: "Sandi and The Accents was the premier rock 'n' roll band of the mid-sixties in San Diego. Their first single, 'Better Watch Out Boy,' climbed to the top ten in San Diego and top 20 in L.A. in 1964, and was followed by three top 20 singles in the region. They appeared on television shows like those of Lloyd Thaxton and Regis Philbin, and routinely sold out the largest venues in Southern California. They opened for The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, Herman's Hermits, The Righteous Brothers and The Coasters, and according to a regional radio station poll were more popular than any band except The Beatles. This CD is a compilation of their hits together with live recordings of their fans' favorites. Members include Tony Johnson, Sandi Rouse and Gabe Lapano. Included in this CD are The Accents' four original singles and fourteen tracks recorded live at the San Diego Community Concourse and other venues in 1965 and 1966. You may have been there! The sound quality is not up to today's standards but the performances are everything you remember and more." In related news, Sandi & The Accents performed together over this past weekend for the only the second time since 1966.  We hope to have more information on the band shortly. 60sgaragebands.com artists The Brymers are reuniting for a huge Melco Reunion Dance on October 13th. In addition, The Brymers are self-releasing a CD of all-new and all original recordings (with a couple of bonus surprises) that will be available via CDBaby, Digistation and their soon-to-be announced website. *SEPTEMBER 3, 2007* Thanks to Alec Palao,here is news on another very interesting Ace/Big Beat title, Randy & The Radiants, Memphis Beat: The Sun Recordings 1964-66: "If Sam Phillips felt threatened when the British Invasion reared its ugly – to the established American record biz – head in 1964, he didn’t let on. But even if the Sun Records honcho was blissfully ignorant of the Brits burgeoning omnipotence, he was savvy enough that, when it was presented to him in the shape of the preternaturally disposed Radiants, Sam decided he was gonna get himself a piece of this here Limey action. The garage rock crowd know their name for the crunchy chording of ‘My Way Of Thinking’, but the considerable cache of sessions that Phillips and his son Knox indulged them in retrospectively reveal the Radiants as several fret-notches above the average teenaged combo of the time. The true gems in the Radiants' canon are Bob Simon’s contemplative originals, with their own mature blend of harmony and soul, akin to that of the best British beat like The Searchers. The searing, irrestible ‘Truth From My Eyes’ would have made a great mid-period Hollies single, and  tunes like ‘To Seek & Then Find’, ‘Nobody Walks Out On Me’ or ‘I Won’t Ask Why’ are so effortlessly Mersey in execution, it’s easy to forget the grandaddy of rockabilly is behind the mixing desk. Add the warm, authoritative rasp of Haspel, Memphis’ answer to Allan Clarke, and one can understand Phillips’ excitement in having found a local and commercially-potent interpretation of the Beatle beat. This is the first of a series of Made In Memphis releases on Big Beat - upcoming are volumes devoted to The Jesters (The Sonics of the mid-South), Ardent Records (a 2-disc set covering both their '60's psych-garage and '70's powerpop eras) and a Memphis '60's garage anthology with many unreleased tracks." *September 1, 2007*  We received an email from Dennis Dragon informing of us the CD release of his and brothers' Doug and Darryl's 1969 BFI LP.  From the Dragons' MySpace page: "It was nearing the end of the sixties’ decade. My brothers, Doug, Daryl and I were living in Malibu, surfing and gigging around the Los Angeles area in various bands including our own. We came from a very musical family; our father Carmen Dragon was a well known symphony conductor and arranger around Hollywood, our mother Eloise, a colaratura soprano singer and our two sisters, Carmen and Kathy, played harp and flute respectively. I was the youngest of the brothers. I played drums and was dabbling with recording equipment and photography. My brothers played great keys. Daryl also played the vibes, bass, guitar and a few other instruments. That all being said, it was a great time for music. The Beatles with George Martin opened up a big door to just about anything musically and production-wise. Hendrix was blowing minds with his trip and Zep defined new parameters for rock and roll. Around the same time The Doors and others were freaking us out with their hypnotic sounds. Doug and I thought it was time for us to enter the arena and put something serious on tape. We hooked up with my high school buddy/recording engineer Donn Landee who was working at Sunwest Recording Studios in Hollywood at the time. We worked out a 'spec deal' and arrived in the off hours, sometimes after our club gigs around 3:00 a.m. and working ‘till morning. We became more 'driven' as we laid down more tracks; Doug and I had never explored this territory before, especially in the vocal department. I was playing my usual 'jazzy' style with Doug laying down the groove on the keys. Doug was singing the low parts and I was experimenting with high layered harmonies. Donn added his great recording and production ideas and as we listened to the playbacks we were all fired up! There was a unique sound coming from the JBL control room speakers…  We called it BFI, for 'Blue Forces Intelligence!' Don’t ask me why. We were certain we had a 'hit.' We shopped the finished product all over Hollywood to the major labels with no luck. We got comments from the big boys like, 'Great production but I don’t hear a hit' to 'We can’t fit it into a niche.' After a few months we became discouraged and shelved the tapes. It was fun recording, but The Dragons and the BFI project seemed destined to obscurity. Advance the clock 37 years…I get an e-mail from Kevin, DJ Food at Ninja Tune, and he says he loves the song 'Food For My Soul' by The Dragons and wants to include it in his latest mix. He found the song on a surf film soundtrack album that I produced that was released in the mid seventies. I had put that one BFI tune on that record because the film’s producer, the late Hal Jepsen, really liked it. I told Kev there was more that was recorded at the same time period and sent him MP3s of the album. He liked what he heard. All I had in my possession was a copy of the master tape. I tracked Donn down after losing contact with him decades ago. I asked him if he knew where the BFI master tapes were. He said he was 'looking right at them.' Miraculously, the tapes were 'rescued' in 1974 by his friend, Howard Weiss when the tape vault at Sunwest was being cleaned out and they were headed for the trash. What a trip. We’re now up to speed. BFI is finally released. My brothers, Donn and I couldn’t be more pleased. In the early ‘70s, we three brothers all 'did some time' with The Beach Boys backup band. In the mid seventies, Doug moved to Hawaii. Around ‘79-’80, he made a name for himself gigging around Australia. Daryl went on to join Toni Tennille as “The Captain,' and I am still producing and recording bands and now doing music television, occasionally drumming and 'beaching it' in the Santa Barbara area. Donn went on to make records at Warner Brothers with Ted Templeman, Lenny Waronker and Ed Van Halen. He is currently doing Internet commerce and still photography. There’s a lesson here to be learned… Don’t throw your old master tapes way!" Watch for it on Ninja Tunes. *AUGUST 31, 2007* Cavestomp is back with a vengeance!  The line-up for 2007 features The Sonics (featuring original members Gerry Roslie on throat/keyboards, Larry Parypa on guitar and Rob Lind on tenor sax! With Dave Rowland of The Wailers on drums and Don Wilhelm of The Daily Flash on bass!), New Colony Six and Strawberry Alarm Clock (performing their first LP Incense and Peppermints in its entirety complete with surface noise. With original members George Bunnell, Lee Freeman, Randy Seoul, Mark Weitz, Gene Gunnels, and Steve Bartek!  The event takes place November 2nd through the 4th and more information is available at Cavestomp's MySpace page. *AUGUST 31, 2007* Coming September 18th from Video Music,Inc.: The Byrds Under Review is a documentary film which explores the music, career and background of one of America's most influential bands. With the aid of many who were there at the time, as either part of the group or close at hand, this 2-DVD set is a celebration of one of Rock 'N Roll's truly great bands. It includes rare and classic performances re-assessed by a panel of experts, live and studio recordings of Byrds' classics, footage and interviews from then and now, and exclusive and extensive contributions from Byrds' members John York and Gene Parsons, further enlightenment from various collaborators, plus more!" *AUGUST 31, 2007* Coming from Ace Records: "This CD compiles the very best of the non-Fireballs rock instrumentals that Norman Petty cut in the early 1960s, and a rocking little disc it is too. Established professionals like Canada's successful Wes Dakus' Rebels rub shoulders with obscure outfits such as The Tiaras and The Chandelles, all showcasing the patented excitement that Petty pioneered with The Fireballs. There's R&B flavoured items from The Gliders and The Chances, moody melodies from The Techniques, King Pins and Bentleys, and several quasi-surf classics such as 'Jetster', 'Riptide' and 'Termites'. Most of the acts are from New Mexico and West Texas, and feature local guitar heroes like John Wagner (Five Counts) and Ysidro Garcia (Gliders)." Oregon Hall Of Fame Event *AUGUST 29, 2007*  Tonight on KFPA is Sing Out!, an overview of the upcoming San Francisco Nuggets boxed set by Alec Palao: "A special program devoted to new Rhino records 4-CD box, Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970, with the compilation's producer Alec Palao (of El Cerrito) giving a guided tour of the music, including the hits and rarities from garage bands to unreleased songs."  Click here for more information. *AUGUST 25, 2007* Rhino Records has announced that pre-orders (while supllies last) for the Love Is The Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets (1965-1970) boxed set will receive an exclusive DVD: "Pre-Order now and receive the exclusive DVD The Making Of Love Is The Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970. This 35-minute documentary, available only through rhino.com, tells the story behind the boxed set, diving deeper into the cultural and musical influences that are captured in this magnificent collection . Includes interviews with boxed set producer Alec Palao as well as members of Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Charlatans, Big Brother and Holding Company and more. Offer ends September 18, or while supplies last." *AUGUST 24, 2007* According to a letter from Jerry Schollenberger to the Forgotten Hits newsletter, Rev-Ola is preparing a New Colony Six rarities collection for November release: "A licensing contract between original New Colony Six founder and lead vocalists Ray Graffia Jr. and Rev-Ola Records in the U.K. was completed and signed earlier this week.  The new upcoming CD release was compiled and produced by myself, and the title of the compilation is, Sides - Rare & Unreleased Recordings by The New Colony Six & The Raymond John Michael Band.  The new 24-song CD compilation will include ten rare and previously unreleased tracks by The New Colony Six, and ten rare and unreleased recordings by The Raymond John Michael Band (otherwise more commonly referred to as, Raymond John Michael or RJM).  Also included will be four bonus tracks which includes a brand new 2007 recording by The Graffia Brothers (Ray and Ron Graffia). This recording is the first all new recording by Ray Graffia in nearly 35 years.  After his departure from The New Colony Six in August 1969...founder Ray Graffia Jr. teamed up with fellow ex-New Colony members Craig Kemp (original New Colony Six organist), and Chic James (original New Colony Six drummer). After adding two additional members, the new musical outfit became The Raymond John Michael Band. Between 1969 thru 1971, RJM released three singles for the Ivanhoe and London labels, and recorded a number of tracks for a planned (but never released) album. So in essence, RJM was made up of half of the the original members of The New Colony Six!  The recordings on this CD came from 'one of a kind' demo acetates, a never-before released 1965 live New Colony Six performance and numerous (some recently discovered) original mono and stereo studio session master tapes - Lots of unreleased alternate versions, never issued demos, and first-time stereo versions!New Colony Six fan! As of this writing, the The New Colony Six /RJM Sides CD is scheduled for November 2007 release. Any questions regarding this CD compilation can be sent to me at jschollenberger@ameritech.net." *AUGUST 15, 2007* Look cool new releases to look forward to shortly from Norton Records: BOBBY FULLER - ROCK AND ROLL KING OF THE SOUTHWEST (Norton 325) We heard your call and we're heeding the needy - here comes Bobby Fuller and The Fanatics on black wax full lengths - all recorded in his garage studio on Album Avenue in El Paso, Texas. Dig our obsession with Bobby and with the great teen stomp combos of the Southwest with our wax series on the scene, starting right here!  I Fought The Law/Shakedown/Unreliable Irresistible Girl/Summertime Blues/Fool Of Love/Pamela/Only For You/Saturday Night/King Of The Beach/Rock House/You Made Me Cry/Keep On Dancing/Nancy Jean/Nervous Breakdown/A New Shade Of Blue/I Fought The Law. BOBBY FULLER LIVE!!! (Norton 326) Bobby Fuller was making records, running a night club, and dragging a professional recording deck to his shows in Texas years before he made any records outside of his home state. Check out this astonishing sampling of live sounds and prepare yourselves for another upcoming volume of mayhem from West Texas!  El Paso Rock/Angel Face/(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care/Night Train/It's Love Come What May/Miserlou/Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/Peggy Sue/Pamela/2000 Lb. Bee/Wine Wine Wine/Louie Louie/Farmer John/Jenny Lee (Do The Jerk With Me). JUSTICE IS SERVED! Norton delves into the vaults of North Carolina's legendary Justice label for three vinyl sets - straight up reissues on the garage classic SPEAKING OF THE TEMPOS and THE PHANTOM RAIDERS - NEW SOUND '67, a big in demand teen genius nugget and for the first time ever, THE BEST OF JUSTICE RECORDS culled from the label's nearly two dozen ultra rare albums! *AUGUST 13, 2007* Misty Lane No. 21 is now available.  This issue features articles on Blues Magoos, Dovers, Peck's Bad Boys, Twiliters, Nite Owls, Choir, Jefferson Airplane, Chosen Few, Third World War, Jaguars, Rising Storm, Elastik Band, Cryers, Blues Project and more...along with more modern sound coverage and the usual stack of reviews.  The Misty Lane website will soon be updated a brand new look. Zacherely *AUGUST 8, 2007* Press Release: Nancy Semon-Krauss, Reunion Coordinator 41 Tropicana Drive § Punta Gorda, FL 33950 § USA (941) 575-5169 cell (941) 276-0116  nancykrauss@speedymail.org We're celebrating the 40th anniversary of WNJU-TV’s (Channel 47) teen dance show Disc-O-Teen with host Zacherley, and his 90th birthday bash! PLACE AND TIME: Saturday, November 3, from 6 p.m. to Midnight at the Hilton Newark Airport Hotel, 1170 Spring St., Elizabeth, New Jersey. PUNTA GORDA – The (former) teen dancers of Channel 47’s Disc-O-Teen, broadcast from the Mosque Theatre (Symphony Hall) in Newark, New Jersey are looking for all dancers who appeared on the show - broadcast throughout the New York metropolitan area from 1965 to 1967 - and invite them to attend the 40th anniversary of the last episode. The reunion gala will also celebrate Zacherley’s 90th birthday. Fans of Disc-O-Teen are invited to attend. In addition to hosting Disc-O-Teen, Zacherley was the host of WABC-TV’s (Channel 7) Shock Theatre, WOR-TV’s (Channel 9) Zacherley at 12:00, WPIX-TV’s (Channel 11) Chiller Theatre, a popular DJ on WNEW-FM and WPLJ-FM, and a recording star and movie actor in his long, illustrious career. Sign up for the reunion here.    Members of the press covering this event are invited to join us for dinner and dancing; interviews with John Zacherley can be arranged by calling him: 212-866-7225. Surprise celebrity guests will be at the reunion. Please help us to get the word out that we are seeking former dancers to attend Disc-O-Teen’s 40th anniversary/Zacherley’s 90th birthday bash.  Oh, and keep on dancing! Nancy Semon-Krauss *AUGUST 7, 2007* Press Release: "Join Mayor Reed & KFOX 98.5 Live at San Jose City Hall with Syndicate of Sound. Tuesday, August 14, 12 - 1 p.m., at City Hall Plaza.  Syndicate of Sound's blockbuster 1966 hit 'Little Gir' has just passed a milestone having aired more than a million times on radio stations worldwide. Hear it live! One Night Only! Syndicate of Sound Thank You Party Tuesday 8/14, 6:30 p.m. The Blank Club 44 South Almaden Downtown San Jose   Featuring: Back Pearl, Odd Numbers, Billy the Kid, Syndicate Of Sound A donation of $5 at the door.  All funds benefit San Jose Rocks, and the San Jose Rocks Hall of Fame, celebrating Silicon Valley's Role 'N Rock.  For more information contact: Email: dorloff@orloffwilliams.com Phone: (408) 293-1791 Web: http://www.orloffwilliams.com *AUGUST 3, 2007* We received an email from Nancy Semon-Krauss: "I'm the coordinator of the 40th anniversary of the last show of Disc-O-Teen (Channel 47 TV dance show, 1965-1967) to be held at the Hilton Airport Newark, Saturday, November 3. The Doughboys and Every Mother's Son are tentatively scheduled to perform. Zacherley, the Cool Ghoul, and our show's host, will be honored for his 90th birthday! Fans of Disc-O-Teen, and fans of Zacherley, are invited to attend. Go to our website to sign up!"  DVDs of the the final two Disc-O-Teen shows - one with Every Mother's Son and the other with The Box Tops - are also promised. Watch this space for updates. *AUGUST 1, 2007* Here's some news we grabbed from the excellent '60's Indiana Band Szene Blog: "A large number of musicians from Columbus (Indiana) are putting on a Memorial Jam in honor of several friends who have passed on. We would like to honor: Greg Weisner, John Arrington, Ross Hubler, Bill Taylor, Jim Sparrow, Garry Hamilton, Terry Green and others who are no longer with us. We would also like to thank 4th Street Bar, Coca-Cola Bottling and Brands Lumber for sponsoring this event.  Featuring Toby Myers Band (ask him about his '67 band - Clarence Brown's Memorial String Band! Not a violin or cello in sight!)  Also 'The All-Star Reunion Band' Featuring members from: XL's, Fabulous XL's, Grub & The Gargoyles, Garry & The Twi-liters, Raven Blues, Calientes and 3-Chord Monty.  Come on down and pay your respects to the ones who helped blaze the '60s Rock & Roll trail in Columbus, Indiana!" *AUGUST 1, 2007* Press Release: "Moby Grape, the three-guitar/five-man vocal-harmony rock 'n' roll juggernaut who epitomized the 'Summer of Love' San Francisco scene, will have its classic Columbia Records catalog restored to print by Sundazed Music on October 9. The critically-lauded five albums that Bob Mosley, Skip Spence, Jerry Miller, Peter Lewis and Don Stevenson cut for Columbia from 1967-1969 will get the deluxe treatment from Sundazed. Moby Grape's self-titled debut, Wow, Grape Jam, Moby Grape '69 and Truly Fine Citizen will be made available as remastered, first-time-ever compact disc reissues, complete with bonus tracks, rare photos and informative liner notes. Sundazed will also release exact replicas of the original 12-inch vinyl versions of Moby Grape, Wow, Grape Jam and Moby Grape '69." *JULY 29, 2007* Two new interesting vinyl only releases from RD Records: New Age: All Around - "This is what can be called one of the major sensations in the raga influenced 'Psychedelic/Acid Folk' field. Also some of the earliest recordings in this genre and hitherto unreleased. After the release of the Light of Day album in 1966 the now legendary Pat Kilroy and Susan Graubard went on with playing and creating music together. What you hear on this album is what they recorded for Warner Brothers in the summer of 1967, a true groundbreaking adventure of the highest order. They expanded in the direction they started in 1966 and the result is far beyond and superior to everything I heard from that time period before in this musical style except for Tim Buckley. No wonder that it didn't come out at that time because those recordings were for sure far too adventurous for Warner Brothers and also for almost other leading music companies at the time. Incredible - and I mean INCREDIBLE raga influenced Psychedelic/Acid Folk with some of the best songwriting I know of with monstrous lyrics and deep lead vocals. Also a wide range of instruments were played like incredible raga-esque acoustic guitar, electric bass, Spanish cowbells, bell tree, silver flute, bamboo flutes, viola, tamboura, conga drums, tables, acoustic and electric bass and tambourine. Pat Kilroy sadly died of Hodgkin’s disease in December of 1967 at a very young age. If this record had a proper release at the time, it would be a major classic and a milestone today in the psychedelic history book." Prufrock: Visions - "Here is another lost and unreleased at the time Californian psychedelic masterpiece of the highest caliber from 1967! Only a few (if even a few) acetate 45 singles where known by this incredible great band from the Ojai, California area. The recordings for an album were done in the Two:Dot Studios in 1967. (The same studios the ARTHUR recordings and e.g. HENDRICKSON ROADHOUSE came from) and the acetates were pressed in the legendary Gold Star Studios the same year. The music is a mixture of superb garage folk, swinging London style garage pop and heavy fuzz loaded psychedelic to the max tracks with some incredible great eastern influences!" Album covers are presented below.  Visit the RD Records website for ordering information. *JULY 28, 2007* Yet another new book that should interest many visitors to thiis website, Chicano Soul: Recordings & HIstory Of An American Culture by Ruben Molina by Mictlan Publishing: "The product of three years of reseach into the soul/ R&B groups of the Chicano Southwest. The history is told in the words of the musicians, singers, producers and promoters. I conducted over seventy interviews in San Antonio, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, El Paso, Phoenix, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and South Texas. The book is loaded with over 200 rare photos, record labels, album covers, posters and handbills from the great soul years of 1958-1973.  Includes a 30 page discography with all group members, city of orgin, record label and matrix number." *JULY 28, 2007* Just published by Rounder Books is Love That Dirty Water: The Standells And The Improbable Red Sox Victory Anthem by Chuck Burgess and Bill Nowlin: "The Standells have long been considered one of the pioneering garage/punk bands. The intricate, intriguing nexus that defines them includes a cast member of the Mickey Mouse Club, a fraternal connection to West Side Story, The Four Preps, a few tracks produced by Sonny Bono, a manager shared with Liberace, and - most improbable of all - the song 'Dirty Water' serving for almost a decade as the victory anthem of the underdog Boston Red Sox. One of the most exciting experiences for each of the original Standells was learning of this recent tradition at Boston's Fenway Park and then being invited to perform on the field during the 2004 World Series! The more we dug into the story, the more we learned of the longstanding ties between music and the Red Sox , dating back to 'Tessie' and the very first World Series in 1903 up through the singing careers of Mickey McDermott and Tony Conigliaro, the ballpark organ of John Kiley, and the strange story of how Annette Funicello's old drum kit, a mugging in Boston, and a Los Angeles nightclub band came together to create this most unique cultural artifact - an ode to a quirky city that resonates more fully now than it did back in the Sixties." We'll have a review shortly... *JULY 23, 2007* A story by Ramon Renteria in The El Paso Times provide an update on Hector Gonzalez' documentary, A History Of The West Coast Eastside Sound.  "These days, Gonzalez is trying to finish the musical documentary The History of the West Coast Eastside Sound, featuring East Los Angeles Chicano rock groups of the 1960s. The short version of the documentary has been screened on college campuses, but he would prefer to have a theatrical release. Gonzalez's heart is set on producing a movie depicting how restaurateur (Eddie) Davis discovered Cannibal and The Headhunters when they were still playing in the housing projects as Bobby and The Classics. He describes Davis as a visionary who promoted the assimilation of young Mexican-American musicians into American pop culture and who wanted to show the rest of the country that they had more to contribute than the traditional mariachi and Mexican music on AM radio in that period." Click here to read the entire article.