THE BAROQUES

The Baroques lone album from 1967 has been a tough one to track down as it is highly collectible and prices are continuously on the rise.  Finding an affordable copy in any condition is near impossible these days, but luckily Lion Productions (a fantastic reissue label out of Chicago) has a deluxe edition reissue on their horizon which I have been waiting patiently for.  Until then I have managed to find a stunning copy of the single released from the album and for a fair price to boot.

'Iowa, A Girl's Name' backed with 'Mary Jane' may not have been the best pick commercially speaking (ha), but both cuts are superb and showcase the dark and slightly lo-fi (especially for the Chess label) garage sound in which The Baroques crafted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  My recent resurgence of interest in this band brought me to this interview from a local Milwaukee radio station that took place April 21, 2014 featuring original Baroques drummer Dean Nimmer.

http://www.radiomilwaukee.org/arts-culture-music-414-music-music/interview-dean-nimmer-baroques

The interviewer sounds slightly disinterested and Dean is a bit slow with his words, but it's still an excellent listen, and a real treat if you're into this sort of thing.  Dean gives some terrific info on the origin of the band, talks about getting signed by Chess Records and the ensuing label politics, recording details, the vision of songwriter Jay Borgenhagen, and provides key info on tracks such as the aforementioned single 'Iowa, A Girls Name'.  The action is still here folks.

THE GARDEN CLUB

Billboard Magazine advert April 15, 1967

THE OPTICAL SOUND #2: SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE SINGLES (1967-69)

TRACKLIST:
01 "THAT SAME OLD FAT MAN" SMASH 2117 / SEPT '67
02 "I FEEL LOVED" SMASH 2117 / SEPT '67
03 "FAIRY TALES CAN COME TRUE (HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT LUCY)" SMASH 2157 / JUNE '68
04 "SU SU" SMASH 2157 / JUNE '68
05 "THE MARCH OF THE JINGLE JANGLE PEOPLE" SMASH 2179 / AUG '68
06 "BRING ME BACK A LITTLE WATER" SMASH 2179 / AUG '68
07 "SOPHIA" SMASH 2203 / JAN '69
08 "HOLD THE NIGHT" SMASH 2203 / JAN '69
09 "THE DAY LORRAINE CAME DOWN" SMASH 2218 / APRIL '69
10 "EVERYBODY LAUGHED" SMASH 2218 / APRIL '69

THE OPTICAL SOUND: EPISODE 1

 

TRACKLIST:
01 THE CRYAN' SHAMES  "SUGAR AND SPICE" (JUN '66 A-SIDE SINGLE)
02 THE CRYAN' SHAMES  "BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANAC" (JUN '66 B-SIDE SINGLE)
03 SAGITTARIUS "VIRGO" (AUG '67 B-SIDE SINGLE)
04 SAGITTARIUS "HOTEL INDISCREET" (AUG '67 A-SIDE SINGLE)
05 JEFFERSON AIRPLANE "RUNNIN' ROUND THIS WORLD" (FEB '66 B-SIDE SINGLE)
06 JEFFERSON AIRPLANE "IT'S NO SECRET" (FEB '66 A-SIDE SINGLE)
07 SAN FRANSISCO EARTHQUAKE "SOPHIA" (JAN '69 A-SIDE SINGLE)
08 SAN FRANSISCO EARTHQUAKE "HOLD THE NIGHT" (JAN '69 B-SIDE SINGLE)
09 NEIGHB'RHOOD CHILDR'N "I WANT ACTION" (JUL '68 B-SIDE SINGLE)
10 NEIGHB'RHOOD CHILDR'N "BEHOLD THE LILIES" (JUL '68 A-SIDE SINGLE)
11 GENE CLARK "I THINK I'M GONNA FEEL BETTER" (JAN '67 MONO LP) 
12 THE APPLETREE THEATRE "HIGHTOWER SQUARE" (NOV '67 A-SIDE SINGLE)
13 THE APPLETREE THEATRE "WHO DO I THINK I AM" (NOV '67 B-SIDE SINGLE)

WINDS HAVE CHANGED

THE MARMALADE - MAN IN A SHOP / CRY (THE SHOOB DOROORIE SONG), JANUARY 1968

Although unsuccessful at release (late 1967 in the UK) this pair of originals from the Marmalade has much to offer.  Both sides are very much in the pop song vein full of strings, horns and sugar coated harmonies, but 'Man A The Shop' is given a distinct edge by the inclusion of what is presumably a backwards fuzz guitar riff that is featured throughout the song.  This is psych at it's lightest, but extremely pleasing nonetheless.

THE CYRKLE - PENNY ARCADE / THE WORDS, JULY 1967

This non LP single from The Cyrkle barely cracked the Billboard top 100 in the summer of 1967 which isn't too surprising.  They had a lot of competition, to say the least.  

'Penny Arcade' written by Denny Randell and Sandy Linzer (a songwriting duo who also wrote a few lightweight numbers for the Monkees) is a decent piano driven pop number with lyrics that could be described as 'typical' for the times.  Some nice harmonies and handclaps are provided from the boys.

The spotlight belongs to the flipside, an original number written by founding member of the Cyrkle Tom Dawes. 'The Words' is lead by some classic folk rock jangle and backed with thumping bass, electric sitar, and treated harmony vocals.  This tune ranks among the best from this short lived group and should not be overlooked.

THE APPLETREE THEATRE - WHAT A WAY TO GO / LOTUS FLOWER, MARCH 1968

No need for any sweet talking, 'What A Way To Go' by The Appletree Theatre is a gorgeous tune with gorgeous lyrics, and I'm quite thrilled to know it.  It's a perfect fit for those of us who are 'world weary' and prefer to 'get lost in the soundscape' so to speak.  Brother Terrance Boylan was the primary writer of the song and was most assuredly going for a 'Day In The Life' feel.  He succeeded in doing so as this song closes out the Appletree Theatre's Playback album perfectly.  Zal Yanovsky of the Lovin' Spoonful was also featured on this record.

The flipside 'Lotus Flower' is a more upbeat instrumental number featuring some killer backwards tape effects.

SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE - FAIRY TALES CAN COME TRUE (HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT LUCY) / SU SU, JUNE 1968

Here we have another delightful single from Kenny Young's 'tinkertoying' San Francisco Earthquake.  'Fairytales Can Come True' is a lightweight bouncy pop ditty which is worthy enough to have had a compilation named after it.  The lyrics are fairly disposable, but it's a nicely arranged tune with multiple parts and variety of instrumentation to keep things interesting.

The flip 'Su Su' evokes a sort of spoken word dictation from Mr. Young concerning a fascination with one Su Su.  Once again the lyrics can be less than impressive, but another nicely arranged backing track with some nice bits of lead flute and other assorted implements make this one a keeper.

I especially enjoy the odd pink promo label on my copy which compliments the music quite nicely...  Both tunes will be featured in an upcoming Drifting Radio Broadcast.