You've had to wait, but we know you won't complain ... because this week we're talkin' bout one of the greatest garage tunes ever - "No Reason to Complain" by The Alarm Clocks . A song of no-'count teenage alienation, and man, it swings! Not many noticed, though - until Tim Warren brought it to the people on Back From the Grave , and then The Lyres covered the tune in '86 and it's cool and Cramps- y. 3 out of 5 is The Woggles from 1990, which sounds great but the vocals might register a complain...
Jul 05, 2025•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 235
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 234
This week's tune is a pop-psych confection called "Mr. Personality Man" - and there's only three recorded versions, so you'll hear 'em all if you tune in. The original is from The West Coast Delegation , a band confusingly from England. It's got a pretty heavy backbeat reminiscent of Motown or "Pretty Woman" and it doesn't let up. The lyrics deal with a charming but dangerous rogue, so we think the song might be inspired by "David Watts" by The Kinks (not played). The Foundations are the next pe...
Jun 21, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 233
Friday the 13th is your lucky day - a new episode a lil' early. We pay tribute to the recently-departed James Lowe of the eminently psychedelic combo, The Electric Prunes . And "Get Me To The World On Time" has possibly the best opening of any psych tune. The lyrics describe love as a bad trip but the sounds suggest other worlds - are we caught between the real world and the vast cosmos? Who knows? The second song is by budget rockers The Chellows who turn out a pretty spiffy garage version - a ...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 232
This week we cast our net wide for versions of the classic "Too Many Fish in the Sea." The original by The Marvelettes is still a fresh catch -- it's a classic Motown 'advice' song with punchy instrumentation, top Tambo and a great sound-off from all the members. Marine biologists might prefer our next version by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels , which includes a roll call of different types of actual fish! The next morsel of metaphorical fish food comes from our friends The Gallows , with ...
Jun 07, 2025•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 231
As Erik says, "Pushin' Too Hard" by The Seeds is a garage tune that's more buzz than fuzz. 1 bar of music, 2 chords, no bridge, no chorus, and a relentless beat. It's simple, but is it stoopid? Maybe a little ... Two live covers follow by The Sonics (from the 60s) and Pere Ubu (from the 70s), which go a long way to canonize the tune as a punk classic. Plus Pere Ubu includes frog sounds! The next version, by the cringingly-named The Klan , adds buzzsaw guitar and races to the finish line. The fin...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 230
We're debuting a new series called "Greatest Greatest Hits," which looks at an artist or group's top songs. But this one could also have fit in "Better Than The Beatles," because Quebec's Michel Pagliaro really does sound like John, Paul, or George in several of these songs! You could also consider him an early power-pop exponent, but he's pretty much unknown outside of Canada, where his songs still get played on classic oldies stations. He's important to us because his songs crossed over on the...
May 24, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 229
This won't be the last time you hear the Rolling Stones but this is the episode wherein we discuss "The Last Time" from early 1965. After acknowledging the chorus copped from the Staple Singers , we move on to the riff, the riff, the riff! We also note the strange connection to German Oompah music. The second in the parade comes from their producer and manager Andrew Oldham and his Orchestra . Obviously, this is a rearrangement rather than a cover, and obviously, it's infamous in the wake of Ver...
May 18, 2025•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 228
When did the 60s symbolically end? Altamont? Kent State? No - when the organ stops playing towards the end of "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" by Crazy Elephant . It's bubblegum, but also super rockin'. Who'da thunk it? The first cover of the version was by ... Giorgio Moroder ? It doesn't sound like his 70s stuff but it is wild. Third is a 80s Moroder-esque version from Roxy Perry , a blueswoman who didn't expect a Hi-NRG remix of her vocal. The fourth suitor is Canada's legendary hair metallers, Heli...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 227
It's time to dip your toes into "Dirty Water" - The Standells and their enduring 1965 hit, that is! We gab about the snotty vocals, their appearance on The Munsters , we rank the drum fills - and of course, we crack the code of the song's lyrics. The next version is by The Gants - who add fuzz and relocate the song to Miami. But they musta forgot to learn the song! The Apollos are some North Carolina kids who keep the song in Boston but their accents would rarely be heard in Southy! The song cro...
Apr 26, 2025•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 226
This week we're talking about a Girl Group Goofy Great - 1963's "Dumb Head" by Ginny Arnell. The lyrics are dangerously self-deprecating, the production is Spectorian, and there's FUZZ and a kazoo solo - played by GA herself. OH, and an infamous hook - something the Ramones might have sold their leather jackets for. The second version is super goofy and stoopid and it's by The Sharades , from England. Joe Meek produced it, so it has some otherworldy sounds (via a Clavioline) in addition to GREAT...
Apr 20, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 225
This week the spotlight is on a 1965 folk jangler by The Guilloteens : "I Don't Believe" is a raw, blue-eyed soul vocal outing reminiscent of the Righteous Brothers . They shoulda been on The Flintstones!! In 1966, The Five of Us came out with the first cover version. It's less raw, but it's smooth as Kraft Creamy! The same year, The Moonrakers pepped the song up considerably and made it into a toe-tapper. The song returned to Memphis in 2002 when Reigning Sound payed homage to their 60s forebea...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 224
A theme episode that's so garage you better test for carbon monoxide: Who Do You Love - The Preachers What a Girl Can't Do - The Hangmen Why - The Dirty Wurds When Shadows Fall - The Jades Where You Gonna Go - Art Guy
Apr 06, 2025•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 223
You know what they say about the bird in the hand ... this week the bird is Buffalo Springfield 's "Sit Down I Think I Love You." It's a nice jaunty tune with Stephen Stills (we think) pitchin' some clever woo at a potential beloved. And three guitarists! Lots of tasteful flourishes, with some fuzz . The second version (& the first one in the bush) is the hit version by The Mojo Men . It's like a Mississippi boat ride, or a trippy, caftan walk down Scarth Street in Regina, Saskatchewan. But ...
Mar 29, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 222
Let's go to the 99th Floor ... of an apartment block in London, to view the world as The Rolling Stones did in 1965's "Get Off Of My Cloud." The song is the follow-up to "Satisfaction" and the boys were under pressure to keep makin' hits when they just wanted to relax. As a result, it's snotty, and Mick Jagger rises (!) to the occasion to create some early punk poetry. The song crossed the pond in 66 and got the detergent treatment from Dino, Desi, and Billy - it's cleaner, but remember to take ...
Mar 23, 2025•2 hr 5 min•Ep. 221
For only the second time in four-plus years and 220 episodes, there's a show where Erik & Weldon are in the same room at the same time! And since Erik is visiting Vancouver, we've decided to make the city (and surroundings) the star of the show! First up is Patty Surbey with "Hey Boy," a corny but super-fun number that PS elevates through her wild vocal stylings. Then there's The Nocturnals with "Because You're Gone" which has a cool Peter Gunn-type riff and an overall Pacific Northwest Soun...
Mar 15, 2025•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 220
In the latest episode, we discuss Allen Toussaint's great story-song "Fortune Teller", a fave of garage bands throughout the 60s. Benny Spellman authored the original version and it has that nice New Orleans swampiness - piano, clave, horns, and great backing vocals. What a gumbo! The second rendition is a cute one from the very early Rolling Stones , who add a Orientalist riff and harmonica to their arrangement -& Charlie Watt's drumming keeps the song chugging along nicely. The third versi...
Mar 09, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 219
SIX versions of the ultimate classic garage tune "You're Gonna Miss Me" - the original by The Spades from 1965, the 66 ur-text by 13th Floor Elevators (wherein we provide some potential innovations in the field of electric jug playing), then a bunch of wild renditions by Tom Thumb, The Heard, The Five Kinetics, & The Zoo!
Feb 24, 2025•2 hr 26 min•Ep. 218
Who had a good time on Valentine's Day? Not The Rockin' Ramrods out of Boston, who, in 1964, authored a poison pen letter towards the (imaginary) girls who did them wrong on the wild, ahead-of-its-time tune, "She Lied." Imagine The Dave Clark Five crossed with The Ramones and you have an idea. Not for the faint of heart, and probably mostly unheard, the song didn't get picked up by other bands until the late 70s, but we start with Naz Nomad & The Nightmares from 1984. A sick guitar tone and ...
Feb 15, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 217
Time to get back on the bus for this follow-up to our theme episode last week - The Who 's classic "Magic Bus", no less. We start with Pete Townshend 's 1966 demo, which is cute & weird & British - that is, psychedelic. The first released version was by some guys called The Pudding , and it's got a Mose Allison/Georgie Fame vibe, according to Erik. The Who 's first full-band version is third, and did you ever really think it's just a buncha pals putting on a little skit or pantomime with...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 216
All aboard the ... bus! This week we feature several songs about the poor man's chariot, the loser cruiser, etc - and the songs are comin' like London busses. Our first stop is "Midnight Bus" by Betty McQuade . From 1961, this one is an atmospheric tale of tragic young love, but more importantly, it sets up a crucial discussion of the "buzzer cord" ... where did the buzz go? Second on our route is "Bus Stop" by The Hollies. This one is also about young love but it has a happier ending, though th...
Feb 01, 2025•2 hr 57 min•Ep. 215
We know you love us - but "Do You Love Me"? Berry Gordy got Motown started in 62 with The Contours and it might be a little revenge-romance fantasy. You will love Billy Gordon's vocal performance, the amazing backing vocal performance by FOUR other singers, to say nothing of The Funk Brothers . In '65, Paul Revere & The Raiders cranked out a version that's a lil bit ska, a lil bit surf. With palm muting - wild! The dawn of the 70s brought a strange, easy listening rendition by Essex's finest...
Jan 24, 2025•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 214
We're taking a second* kick at the ol' garage chestnut "I Can Only Give You Everything" (see episode 110 for our previous gabfest). We start with Them again to examine the RIFF and the rest. We quickly move on to The Ambertones and their version will make you carsick, so take some Gravol before this rough ride. If you like it, do the lurch! She'll be right by the next version, a swingin' rendition by Australia's Clefs . They're in the kangaroo pocket! Chicago's Little Boy Blues are up next and t...
Jan 18, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 213
What a way to start 2025! A Happy/Sad New Year - the tune is "So Sad About Us" and we begin with Pete Townhend 's demo which is probably from 1966. A melodic guitar ostinato with drone notes and sensitive soprano choirboy singing that ends abruptly. The song then gets overorchestrated by The Merseys - the first released version - but it's less a Wall of Sound and more a Ball of Mud. We're saved by The Who, who produce a proto-powepop masterpiece when they finally wax it. Sweden's The Mascots aut...
Jan 10, 2025•2 hr 16 min•Ep. 212
It's time for our year-end gala! Categories include: Bo Diddliest Goofy Great Bo Diddliest Girl Group Bo Diddliest Song From A Theme Episode Bo Diddliest Tambo and the big one: Most Insane Song!!
Dec 28, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 211
Xmas time is here! So we're bringing our annual Yuletide gifts to you in the form of rockin' and poppin' tunes. The first present under the tree is "I Want a Beatle For Christmas" by Patty Surbey & The Canadian VIPs . Requests for people put Santa Claus in an awkward position. The next gift is "Deck Five" by Saturday's Children . We think this one should be more well-known: it joins "Deck The Halls" with Dave Brubeck Quartet 's "Take Five" and ... it works? Sometimes you get an inappropriate...
Dec 22, 2024•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 210
Bo Diddley time! In this episode, we examine his 1955 b-side, "I'm A Man." The original is sparse, minimal, sexual, spiritual and powerful. We get real deep into the lyrics and textbooks get slammed. It took a long time, but in 1964, The Yardbirds authored a version that sounds like it comes from a utopian future of highly skilled R&B robots. And it has the ultimate Royalette! In 1965, Netherland's The Bintangs put out a garage version that's snotty, lazy, lethargic, hypnotic and cool. The G...
Dec 19, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 209
Ringo on the bongos! That's right, it's "You're Going to Lose That Girl" by The Beatles . John is at his snarly best in this number, and George & Paul provide some nice call-and-response. Anyways, the bongos and lyrics are our main focus, as they should be. And who sings "yeah" better?! - no one's better than the Beatles, there. The second version comes from The Villagers , a Zone Press Variation that comes from Florida - it's garage and great! Next up is Chicago's Cryan' Shames and who's go...
Dec 06, 2024•2 hr 49 min•Ep. 208
This week, we feel the need ... the need - for speed! The first song out of the blocks is "Bad Girl" by The Zakary Thaks . Crazy words, great guitar work, and a fast tempo by a drummer whose snare sounds like two textbooks slamming! The second speedster is "7 & 7 is" by Love . More wild lyrics and singing, and again ... it's a drummer who holds the thing together ... barely, at times. It's a classic! The third throttler is "Love at Psychedelic Velocity" by The Human Expression - one of the a...
Nov 30, 2024•2 hr 36 min•Ep. 207
This one's as garage as it gets: 5 Versions of "I Need You"! - The Kinks , The Zakary Thaks , The Rationals , and two (!) versions by The Ascots.
Nov 23, 2024•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 206
