This week we pick a Canuck classic that's two songs in one - "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature" by The Guess Who . The lyrics are faux-profound, but Burton Cummings' pipes and scattin' will spike your blood sugar. We scoured the record bins for our second version - a dirtbag bubblegum version by Steel Wool . They bring the song back to perfect popsong length by axing "New Mother Nature", but the guitar stings might be too long. The third in the pack definitely isn't sugar-free - The Shirelles ...
Mar 30, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 175
It's time to revisit The Kinks Kanon and do "All Day & All of the Night." Have you ever noticed how weird the title is? Probably not, because of the Riff ! It's dirty and has that "Louie Louie" fairy dust which produces misty brain fog where you can't remember how many duh duh s are in it. And Ray Davies savors syllables - apeman poet! The song travelled across the puddle and New York's Knickerbockers were one of the first to kover it. Their version adds sax and has a great sproing-y solo, b...
Mar 24, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 174
The first in a series celebrating Goofy Greats! : the 1975 K-Tel compilation that turned a generation of kids onto novelty songs, old rock n roll and R & B, and some very questionable tunes, too (we're looking at you, Ray Stevens ) ... we go back to our old friends The Royal Guardsmen and their enduring hit, "Snoopy vs. The Red Baron." A lighhearted song about combat during the escalation of the Vietnam War? Sign me up! There's a LOT of Canadian connections with this tune, including the fact...
Mar 16, 2024•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 173
We're a bit weary of garage rock tropes, so it's time to head to the country. First this week is "The Woods" by The Nickel Bag. This 66er advocates leaving the city, but should you follow this pied piper? I might - the swirling organ has me hyp - mo - tized!! That same year, the "Old Macdonald" nursery rhyme got rewritten by some LA weirdos - The Seeds called it "Mr. Farmer." Lots of seedy sibilance, and when has Sky Saxon ever ssssteered you wrong? Let's cross the pond to celebrate the changing...
Mar 09, 2024•2 hr 17 min•Ep. 172
This one's a doozy - 4 versions of "Be My Baby" and a close relative! The first-born by The Ronettes is so good it's disqualified from the Bo Diddley Awards . We discuss Ronnie's "vibrato in a phone booth," Hal Blaine's boom-crash, the smiley backing vocals and so much more! The second child comes from the same year of 1963, it's by The Georgettes . Girl group workhorse Rickie Page makes you almost forget the absence of the Wall of Sound! A visit from a kissin' cousin comes third, "Don't Worry B...
Feb 29, 2024•2 hr 28 min•Ep. 171
We're back with a great garage tune that is the inverse? obverse? reverse? of 1965's "Satisfaction" - the tune is "(Don't Give Me No) Friction" by The Green Beans , released the same year as the Rolling Stones gem. The lyrics were written by a couple of middle-aged people, so it appears to be masquerading as hip, but of course our analysis finds deeeeeper meanings. It has a great chorus, a cavernous scream midway thru, and lotsa FUZZ! Australia's Misslng Links discovered the song like a group of...
Feb 17, 2024•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 170
It's early February, and time for love & conversation ... so this week's song is the 1965 classic "She's About A Mover" by the Sir Douglas Quintet (2:57). A simple groove, great manly singing from SIr Doug himself, and a cavernous, carnivalesque organ sound will keep this in the canon for years to come. The song migrated to Germany later in the year and The Boots gave it a good home (42:29). The organ is comparatively chintzy & warbly, but this is a remarkable raucous racket with strangl...
Feb 03, 2024•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 169
In this episode, we throw the book at The Equals and their 1967 non-hit, "Police on my Back." Written by the indestructible Eddy Grant , the debate centers around the song's rude boy narrative (Stratton 2013) and the question of the narrator's guilt or innocence. The next in the line up is The Stacattos (from South Africa). These guys mess the song up in interesting ways, but is it a social statement? Was the original? Well, on "Sandinista," The Clash made the song famous and it's taken on new d...
Jan 27, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 168
We recorded this a few days before the very sad passing of Mary Weiss on Friday, January 19, 2024. We hope that this episode honours her memory, and the other departed Shangri-La's, Marge & Mary Ann Ganser. Love forever <3. Versions by The Shangri-Las, The Compacts, Die Crazy Girls, The Detergents, Twisted Sister.
Jan 20, 2024•3 hr 5 min•Ep. 167
Single File is back and we're talking about a real rager: Shelby, Ohio's Shepherd's Heard and their only record "I Know" b/w "But That's Life." The first sounds like a demented version of The Rascals ' "Good Lovin'." The drums and vocals are CRAZY and they're both performed by the same guy, Kim Shepherd, who rightfully named the band after himself since he does most of the work! Kim takes a breather on the flip, "But That's Life", an organ-driven sorta ballad. Man, Jonathan Richman should cover ...
Jan 13, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 166
Our podcast's New Year's Resolution? To be quicker ! Hence, we present you with "We're Pretty Quick," a wild 1967 side by New Mexico's finest, The Chob (4:32). There are covers by The Fuzztones and The Cannibals that fly by, too. But then we introduce The Lucky Seven Lightning Round Countdown , SEVEN other versions that we have progressively less time to listen to (for the first time) and react to! Take that challenge, Tik Tokers!!!
Jan 06, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 165
We end 2023 and start 2024 with some final thoughts and we pick our favourite songs out of all the Bo Diddley Awards nominees. Is the discussion insightful? Maybe. Incisive? Probably not. Insane? Always!!
Jan 03, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 164
The categories are: Bo Diddliest Girl Group Song: Dedicated to the One I Love - Shirelles He’s Gone - Chantels Then He Kissed Me - Crystals Uncle Willie - Juliettes Mr. Scrooge - Orchids Bo Diddliest Video: Liar Liar - The Castaways Now and Then - The Beatles Must Be Santa - Bob Dylan You Really Got Me - Van Halen Jack The Ripper - Screaming Lord Sutch Bo Diddliest Song From A Theme Episode: Open Up Your Door - Richard & The Young Lions (Table Toppers) Oh Mom, Teach Me How to Uncle Willie - ...
Dec 30, 2023•2 hr 37 min•Ep. 163
We kept the tape rolling after the recent episode we did with John & Bobby from The Gruesomes and we said more stuff about John's favourite song ever - "Say It" by the Five Royales . Along the way, we solve the problems of modern music.
Dec 22, 2023•55 min•Ep. 162
We know Pastronauts love it when John & Bobby of The Gruesomes visit our podcast, but this one's extra exciting because it's two episodes in one! John has picked two of his favourite songs by the unsung Five Royales ("Think" and "Dedicated to the One I Love"), and then the four of us talk about 2 cover versions. This means versions by James Brown (who did "Think" twice!) , The Shirelles, and The Mamas and Papas. Top notch analysis from two esteemed scholars of Garage Studies, plus those no-g...
Dec 16, 2023•2 hr 34 min•Ep. 161
We enjoyed the eggnog so much last week that we decided to gift Pastronauts two more Holiday songs, and the talk that goes with it. 'Tis the season!!!
Dec 13, 2023•54 min•Ep. 160
Forget about all those uncool Xmas tunes you hear in the malls - we've got the good stuff for this Holiday season! The first present for you is "Mr. Scrooge" by England's GREATEST 60S girl group, The Orchids (2:16). If Georgina Oliver isn't in your 60s British Music Icons Advent Calendar - then one listen to this, and she will be! Great backing from Pamela Jarman & Valerie Jones . John Lennon gets coal in his stocking for puttin' 'em down on TV in '63. The next carol is by the legendary Soni...
Dec 10, 2023•2 hr 28 min•Ep. 159
Erik & Weldon discuss band names they hate. Will YOUR favourite band be included? - Listen and find out!!!
Dec 03, 2023•2 hr 22 min•Ep. 158
Let's not Beat(les) around the bush here - the Garage Studies world has been waiting for Weldon & Erik to weigh in on the new Fab 4 tune, "Now and Then." We play it, talk about it, and also throw in some other AI versions of said tune. Along the way, there's questions from Erik and answers by Weldon, textbook slams, and a whole lot of goofiness and crucial digressions. What do the lads think? Is the song good, great, gear, or ghastly? More importantly, is it better than "Mr. Moonlight"?!?! O...
Nov 24, 2023•2 hr 41 min•Ep. 157
Theme episode time! This one's a simian sensation, so we start off with Chuck Berry 's 1957 baboon tune, "Too Much Monkey Business" (2:32:31). Is it anti-monkey, or anti-business? It may not really be about monkeys. but it's rock n roll poetry! The next in the evolutionary order is "Mickey's Monkey", sung by Smokey of Motown's The Miracles (59:37). A dance craze song, this one has a great hook, boozy organ, bongos, and the tasteful licks of one of our fave axemen, Marv Tarplin . Movin' thru the ...
Nov 19, 2023•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 156
Wouldn't you love it if we published every day? Well, we can't do that, but here's Buddy Holly 's magical 1957 b-side "Everyday" as compensation (3:35). A concerto for hambone, celesta, and hiccupping hillbilly vocals! A gentle, innocent, and hopeful rock'n'roll hay ride ... it's special! In 1964, surf duo The Rogues had a date with the song in the studio and it's a real rollycoaster ride! (1:09:54). Is this first bubblegum song ever? It has yakety sax and a "Louie Louie" reference, which means ...
Nov 12, 2023•2 hr 38 min•Ep. 155
Live! From Room 711 of the Georgian Court Hotel in Vancouver, BC - it's Erik & Weldon broadcasting in the same spot for the first time in In The Past history!! We say hello to Ike & Tina Turner 's 1965 tune, "Goodbye, So Long" and then gab about it behind its back. Up second is a Raiders-y version by one of the many bands named The Uniques. It's a real cut up kinda cut! Third is a reprise by Ike & Tina from 1970 - does this version show development and maturity? Yes, by the bucketloa...
Oct 29, 2023•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 154
This week the boys talk about the girls - it's doo wop time and we start with the fabulous Chantels and their 1957 debut, "He's Gone" (1:32). Picture perfect in every way, from Arlene Smith's powerful voice and glittering, subtle songwriting to the beautiful backing from Lois, Sonia, Jackie, and Renee. A real Teenage Symphony to God! In 1964, podcast favourite The Royalettes adopted the song and here's where the strings come in (Teddy Randazzo's, that is ...) (1:00:45). Sheila Ross skips and jum...
Oct 21, 2023•2 hr 29 min•Ep. 153
It's Episode 152 and we're finally gettin' to "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks (1:06). Knife, amp, and THEE garage rock riff! But is it FUZZ ? Is the song's repetitiveness a representation of obsessive thoughts of lust? Is it choral music? Yep Yep Yep! In 1966, The 13th Floor Elevators got the song and made it long (1:01:24). There's solos, acoustic jug, and the bassist adds another Kinks riff to the mix ... Remember Van Halen ? In 1978, they were just beginning their climb to the heights of roc...
Oct 15, 2023•2 hr 28 min•Ep. 152
Some people flip houses, but we at In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast flip singles . Yes, it's a return to the tried-and-true Single File format, and this week the subject is The Huns from Arlington Heights, Illinois, and their rampaging 1966 everblack, " Destination Lonely / Winning Ticket ." The first side is a furious, fuzz-laden foray powered by the energy of Mom's snickerdoodles. The reverse is less terse and has a lot of verses: a jangly folk-rock number that's eight miles high! The singer s...
Oct 07, 2023•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 151
We celebrate Episode #150 with 1 artist , 5 great songs , and 0 misses ! The spotlight is on Bo Diddley , and 5 of our favourite tunes by him. The beat starts with 1955's "Bo Diddley" (2:41). The second selection introduces you to Bo's legendary maracas rattler, Jerome Green, with "Bring it to Jerome" (1:02:06). A Bo ballad is up next with "Mona" and he sure moans for her (1:24:50)! We start "Crackin' Up" with Bo at (1:47:17) and you might worry that there is "No More Lovin" after song five (2:2...
Sep 30, 2023•3 hr 14 min•Ep. 150
No one's gonna protest about this week's songs! Three of the greatest garage tunes PERIOD - with some astute social commentary as well?! The first missile we hurl is "Social End Product" by New Zealand refuseniks The Bluestars (1:59) A proto-punk anthem with a pounding rhythm, dive-bombing bass, extra-enunciated vocals, and a FUZZ riff for the ages. The second dissentful ditty comes from Bermuda boys The Savages , who riotously remind us "The World Ain't Round, It's Square" (51:46). Clangy and d...
Sep 16, 2023•2 hr 33 min•Ep. 149
This week we talk about "Let's Talk About Girls"! The original was done by Tucson's The Grodes (aka The Tongues of Truth) (1:10). This gem features slinky guitar & organ, deft drumming, and a psychedelic pulse of a bassline. Not to mention Jagger-esque vocals and a fun, fantastic chorus! The most famous version (due to Nuggets ) is by patron Saints of the podcast, The Chocolate Watchband (1:04:46). Huh! Singer Don Bennett takes the tune out of teen-town and makes an ADULT version (he even ta...
Sep 10, 2023•2 hr 41 min•Ep. 148
Ch-Chk! This week we step out of the garage to discuss many people's favourite song, "Save It For Later" by The (English) Beat (1:27). A ringing guitar sound, soaring strings, and cheeky lyrics with some clever Catcher in the wry -ness. Dave Wakeling 's timeless tune has a meaningful feel & an appealingly feelingful meaning! A lil later, his elder Pete Townshend showed his reverence for the song, making a quiet, beautiful, and vulnerable epic out of it (1:08:25). In 1999, Harvey Danger parti...
Sep 03, 2023•2 hr 18 min•Ep. 147
Enough of the big names - Beatles and Dylan have dominated the podcast for too long! This week we're talkin' bout the Moody Blues and their 1965 album track "And My Baby's Gone" (1:10). A little known slice of (squeaky) blue eyed soul an' R&B - it even has a faint "Bayou via Birmingham" feel because of the Allen Toussaint -esque piano rhythm. And it's the first song we've ever done with a guitar "swole-o" - listen and find out! ... In '66 or '67 (no one really knows), the awesomely-named Bed...
Aug 20, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 146
