Paul McCarthy is in shambles! The third in our “ Better than the Beatles ” series features the Dave Clark Five, the southern rivals of the Fab Four. Both Erik & Weldon list their reasons why the DC5 are superior in every way and scientists and philosophers alike have described their logic as “airtight.” Our discussion of “ Bits and Pieces” (5:24) reveals Dave to be a true 60s auteur who beats the Beatles in revolutionary strategy. We then break down how “ Anyway You Want It ” (44:55) is a st...
Mar 14, 2021•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 25
We announced in January that 2021 is the “Year of the Cha Cha”, and Heinz ’s 1964 track “Questions I Can’t Answer” (3:36), along with our selected covers of same will keep you quick-stepping into Spring! Erik brings his full music theory and philosophical knowledge to bear on the original and Weldon thinks the whole world was in the studio for this Joe Meek jam. Later that year, Don Atello (aka Bernie Schwartz) released a sorta Sonics-y statement, with cranked amps and some Flintstones-esque fla...
Mar 07, 2021•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 24
On this episode, we discuss the 1964 song “I Took My Baby Home”, the B-side of the second Kinks single, and the first Ray Davies-penned song ever released (1:21). Erik and Weldon discuss the semiotics of Beat-era “whoa whoa whoas” and “yeah yeah yeahs” and some serious eggheadery ensues. We then examine the Pickwicks even beatier version from the same year, and no – Jimmy Page isn’t on it (40:09). Finally, we palaver about the New Piccadillys interpretation from 2014 (57:40), and our wild tangen...
Feb 28, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 23
In the first episode of a new series, we flip over the Count Five ’s 1966 hit “Psychotic Reaction” (discussed in Episode 2), to check out its B-side, “They’re Gonna Get You.” And we think it might be even crazier than the A-side!! Is this a simple song about a young rocker being afraid of the barbershop – or something even more scary? We make the discovery early in the series that B-sides are often cryptic and hard to decode messages from deep within the Zeitgeist, so skip your next class and li...
Feb 21, 2021•47 min•Ep. 22
Now that Valentine’s Day is over, let’s acknowledge that love stinks!! Just like this song by Rob Thomas from 2005 – another one of the Worst Songs Ever!– “This is How a Heart Breaks.” How can so many one-syllable words mean so little? How much cocaine did the band snort in the studio? How long can Erik & Weldon talk about it? If you love bad vibes and good conversation, then join us in this Hate-In!
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 21
Our latest episode arrives just in time for St. Valentine’s Day, so three versions of the Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman classic, “Sweets for my Sweet” are just what Cupid ordered. First off is The Drifters ’ original version from 1961, and it’s a cha-cha calypso party in the studio with the swaggery Charlie Thomas on lead and Dionne Warwick on backing vocals! (1:00) Next up is those Merseybeat treblemakers, The Searchers ! Their 1963 rendition leads Erik & Weldon into a philosophical discussion of “...
Feb 14, 2021•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 20
In this week’s episode, we discuss a rock’n’roll jam written all the way back in 1953!: Giddy Up A Ding Dong. first up is Freddy Bell and the Bell Boys ’ 1956 performance of the song from the movie Rock Around The Clock, and along the way we have things to say about poetry, Wikipedia entries about music videos, and “tail sales” (0:48). The song was only ever a hit in the Commonwealth, so we then move to 1964 England to discuss the Snobs , whose surfy sounds and standoffish showmanship are studie...
Feb 07, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 19
In this week’s episode we celebrate the classic “Little Bit o’ Soul,” penned in 1964 by the British beat songwriting duo of John Carter & Ken Lewis. Your hosts Erik & Weldon spin the original 1965 version by long-haired Coventry combo the Little Darlings and discourse on the song’s profane and holy implications (0:39). The Music Explosion ’s boffo box-office 1967 version reached the top of the charts and is a staple of oldies radio to this day, which proves that bubblegum stays in your b...
Jan 31, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 18
The Gruesomes take over the podcast! We visit (via videoconferencing) the Montreal castle of rock and roll legends Bobby Beaton & John Davis, who aren’t L7 and give us the 4-1-1 on The Haunted ’s 1966 undisputed masterpiece “1-2-5” (versions found at 3:53, 47:34, and 1:12:45). These guys analyze the subversion of garage tropes in this song and tell us how harmonicas are supposed to sound and record covers are supposed to look!! Things get wild and woolly, and maybe even a little … fuzzy?...
Jan 24, 2021•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 17
In this episode, we play the song that inspired our podcast: the remarkable “In the Past” – written by Wayne Proctor and recorded by his band We The People back in the very psychedelic year of 1966 (1:08). Gearheads will love Erik’s discussion of WP’s “octachord,” which gives the song (and our intro) its way-out sound. We also listen to & discuss the Chocolate Watchband ’s precision version, with its organ swells and copious percussion that’ll expand your mind more than you can handle! (1:04...
Jan 17, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 16
Special bonus episode! Every once in a while on a Wednesday, we may be dropping a surprise episode on y'all - here's the first one! It’s time once again to investigate why some bands do the Beatles better than the Beatles: Erik and Weldon break down The Eyes ’ superior version of “Good Day Sunshine” (0:58), then The Score ’s epic retelling of “Please Please Me” (20:07). When Merseybeat meets Freakbeat, you know you’re in for a treat! inthepastpodcast@gmail.com...
Jan 13, 2021•54 min•Ep. 15
This week's episode features three versions of the crazy, Allen Toussaint-penned semi-classic "A Certain Girl": Ernie K-Doe's inimitable New Orleans strut n' sass original (1:08), British beat combo First Gear's raved-up version with a roving spy movie bassline (32:05), and the Ne'er Do Wells seriously fun 90s rewrite titled "Carn't Tell Ya" (51:40). All this alongside the usual tangents & intern drama PLUS a wild 2020 remake by a mysterious figure named Erik K-Doe (1:17:03) with, of course,...
Jan 10, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 14
This week’s episode features a song so nice, we play it twice! Namely, The Carnaby ’s 1965 fuzz-powered, mod-bubblegum, cha-cha rhythm confection “Jump and Dance.” Is this the ultimate sheep-shearing song? Does it even have a chorus? Don’t stop the New Year’s revelry until you’ve heard Erik & Weldon hip you to this track! Contact us at: inthepastpodcast@gmail.com
Jan 03, 2021•49 min•Ep. 13
In this final episode of ITP in the pandemic year of 2020, we discuss the simple, fun, and infectious dance track “Hully Gully” by the Olympics (0:55), along with Paul Revere and the Raiders ’ explication of an urban myth in “Crisco Party,” (31:13) and we applaud “Doin’ The Mod” by Van Dyke and The Bambis (1:00:00) and its treatment of rockers.
Dec 27, 2020•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 12
In this week’s episode of ITP, we discuss three versions of the Bob Dylan classic “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”: Weldon confirms his love of Ireland and its people as we discuss Van Morrison and Them ’s beautiful version (0:57), Erik discusses the hypnotic guitar intertwinery of The 13th Floor Elevators (38:56), and we both freak out over Falco ’s jazz-inspired take (58:52). Stay tuned at the end for a SPECIAL BONUS VERSH by one of our house bands: Thee Preverikaters (1:36:12)....
Dec 20, 2020•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 11
This week's episode is another in our "Psychotic Reaction" series, where we listen to a rockin' track for the first time and flip out about it on air. In this one, we put the spotlight on one of the girls in the garage - Bonnie Jo Mason , also known as Cher ! - and her debut recording, a slab of stalker rock entitled "Ringo, I Love You" from 1964. Oh, and we also discuss the Japanese new wave band, the Plastics (17:51) - it's hard to stay on topic when you're drinking scotch and cider ......
Dec 13, 2020•38 min•Ep. 10
This week’s episode is not for the faint of heart. In this edition of Psychotic Reaction (where we react to garage rock songs we have not heard before) we’re talking about a wild growler by the 14th Wray which came out in 1990. The song is lo-fi, the lyrics are controversial, and the singer is pretty aggro. But it’s a wild ride, and along the way we mention Margaret Atwood, fanzines, spaceships, and the mystery of the band’s name and backing vocals.
Dec 06, 2020•38 min•Ep. 9
In 1966, The Wailers , who some believe to be the first garage rock band ever, released "Out Of Our Tree": a true stompin' garage classic. We give you the deluxe tour of this mind-exploding tune including an intrepid journey into its truly insane lyrics. We also break down two other memorable versions by the great garage revival group, The Gruesomes (44:48), and a swingin' version from '67 by The Bear Fax (1:03:58).
Nov 29, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 8
In this series, we discuss the songs we dislike the most, regardless of period or genre. Erik will explain why his most reviled tune is "Home for a Rest" by Spirit of the West ... but will Weldon decree that this beloved Canadian anthem is "Cool" OR "Trash"?? Listen and find out.
Nov 22, 2020•57 min•Ep. 15
Did you know that in 1965 The Turtles served up a blistering garage punk classic called, "Almost There"? We discuss the Turtles' original version and compare it to a couple other well executed renditions by Hawaiian garage band, The Spirits (36:32), and Fort Worth, Texas' Trycerz (51:54).
Nov 15, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 6
Join Weldon Hunter and Erik Komarnicki for weekly, in depth, madcap discussions of garage rock music and other lunatic fringe genres.
Oct 31, 2020•2 min0
