This blog is dedicated to the youngsters involved in the 60s music scene. Their love for music, enthusiasm and tension to experiment, created fantastic beats and grooves. 60s garage, psych, beat, freakbeat, pop, psychedelic, and even bubblegum has inspired a lot of musicians and generations.
Let’s make this
http://garage60s.blogspot.com/ a live community full with 60s amazing stories and sounds from all over the world.
The shake begins right now

Wednesday 30 December 2009

The World For Us (Compilation)



Dear friends hi again,

Today I have the pleasure to present you the compilation "The World For s" with 18 tracks recorded in several European countries betweenn 1965-1965.

Music styles vary from beat, mod, freakbeat and garage with nice guitar breaks, fuzz, organ and various weird sounds, different languages and influences from local scenes and music.

European youngsters did their miracle again !!!!!

Track List

Side 1
1 The Sad Sack Set - The World For Us (Frankfurt, Germany)
2 Roosters - Waiting For You Baby (Lulea, Sweden) *
3 The Mascots - I Want To Live (Stockholm, Sweden)
4 Group $oall - By My Side (Hillegom, Holland) *
5 The Rolling Beats - Sweeter Than You (Maastricht, Holland)
6 Les Sauterelles - Forget It All (Zurich, Switzerland)
7 Les 5 Gentlemen - Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi (Marseilles, France)
8 Goblins - We Like The Rain (Oudenbosch, Holland) *
9 Het - Allen Op Het Kerkhof (Amsterdam, Holland)

Side 2
1 The Moonjacks - Come On (Stockholm, Sweden)
2 The Moonjacks - I Remember Her Smile (Stockholm, Sweden) *
3 The Bintangs - Groovin' (Beverwijk, Holland)
4 Ragges - Make Me Love (Lulea, Sweden)
5 Les Problemes - Je Ne Vois Rien (Puteaux, France)
6 The Hound Dogs - Clarabella (Berlin, Germany)
7 The Matadors - Sing A Song Of Six Pence (Prague, Cze)
8 The Sheiks - Running For You (Amstelveen, Holland) *
9 The Humbugs - A Little Bit Time (Almelo, Holland)

Download here

Sunday 27 December 2009

Skasiarheio - The Flyers


Dear Garage60s friends,

I present you here a garage masterpiece from Greece, Skasiarheio (Truant) - The Flyers. It is a song I've been trying to find it for ages now (I had it only in a cassette recorded from a radio show with lots of bias). I think that this would be one of the rarest 60s pop songs that have been recorded in Athens during the sixties.
Not much is known about The Flyers, who most probably hailed from Athens and most probably cut a couple of singles after 1967.
This song is sang in the Greek language, and the lyrics are about a young pupil falling in love with a young girl and in order to see her he had to play truant from school. Back in the 60s almost 50% or more of the Greek Highscools, were divided to Male and Female schools. So young adolescents had to figure many ways to be able to meet their love. So in this song, everything was solved after 9 months when school was over, and the young couple were free to see each other.

The vocals are not so great in my opinion and the lyrics quite lame (but we talk about teenage music anyway), and I wish the song was in the English language.

But the music is great with a swirling farfisa, nice guitar breaks in the appropriate sections of the composition and quite powerfull bass guitar.

I am sure you will enjoy it and appreciate a true garage gem coming out from a non speaking English teenage group

Friday 25 December 2009

Santa Claus - The Sonics

Merry Christmas with lots of
Love and Happiness
Keep the Garage going on !!!


Saturday 12 December 2009

Churchill's - Churchill's (Israel 1968)




Dear friends hi again from your garage60s friend

Today I am not going to present you something that is purely garage. I am going to present you one of the most sought after lps coming from a non English speaking country
Here are the Churchill's from Israel and their omonymous album Churchill's from 1968

The Churchill’s were formed in 1965, at Tel Aviv in Israel, and they got disbanded in 1971 at London

The Churchills' sole album is above average for a rare psychedelic late-'60s obscurity, and an important document as the only Israeli psychedelic record to achieve even a bit of an international cult. The albub is influenced by both West Coast psychedelia and late-'60s British hard rock, and spacy lyrics. Some tracks are also influenced by Middle Eastern sounds, as on "Subsequent Final," a mandolin tune which sounds like the Electric Prunes “Sold to the Highest Bidder”.

My favourite track is the down tempo and dreamy “Song from the Sea” with its very nice fuzzy guitar.

Members:
Yitzhak "Churchill" Klepter (guitar, 1965-67),
Selvin Lifshiz (vocals, 1965-67),
Amy Triebitch (drums, 1965-71),
Haim Romano (various guitars, mandolin, vocals, 1965-71),
Miki Gavrielov (bass, vocals, 1965-71),
Robb Huxley (various guitars, vocals, 1967-71),
Stan Solomon (vocals, 1967-70),
Danny Shoshan (vocals, 1970-71)

Tracks:
01 - Open Up Your Eyes
02 - Song From The Sea
03 - Pictures In My Mind
04 - Comics
05 - Where You're Gone
06 - Strangulation
07 - Straight People
08 - Subsequent Final
09 - So Alone Today
10 - Debka
Bonus tracks:
11 - Living Loving
12 - Signs Of You
13 - She's A Woman
14 - Sunshine Man

Download here

Friday 20 November 2009

Shakin' in Athens


The emergence of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and other groups from the British Invasion era of the 60’s, gave the opportunity to many youngsters all around the world to start forming their own groups, trying to leave their dream.

Greece wasn’t the exception, and the first groups started to assemble together around 1963, started to appear in night clubs with live-dance performances, and in 1964 they started their first recordings. In their live performances their material included English, Italian and French songs and their first recordings were also in these languages.
The peak was between 1966-67 where hundreds of groups had been formed, and its neighborhood claimed to have its own group. Their equipment was not always the best one but their enthusiasm was great and there were playing in parties, school dances, morning recitals, and even battles of groups. Around this time they have started singing and writing in the Greek language and the whole movement went to a decline around 1969-1970 as many groups were disbanded due to military obligations and the rise the political song against the dictatorship.

Here I present you 16 tracks representative of Shakin’ in Athens most in English and most of them with Original Material

1. The Knacks – Devil Girl: an Athenian group with very young members which recorded a few 45s within what had been later called as Garage Music. This song must have been recorded after 1967 and is a purely a punkish tune with fast and slow pace (one of the best recorded in Greece during the 60e and not only)
2. Zoo – Go: and English group with a short lived career in the Athenian scene. Most probably the came for vacation and decided to prolong their stay by playing in Night Clubs. They recorded 2 or 3 45s and this one is can be characterized as folk-garage with nice harmonies and a very nice guitar solo break
3. Idols-Wanted by the law: Idols were one of the most famous Greek groups in the 60s. Their career began in 1964 and ended in the beginning of the 70s. They have recorded some fantastic 45s in English but sadly at the end of the decade and due to commercial reasons they turned their repertoire into covering lame hits in Greek. The Idols was a group with many changes in its members, the most famous of them was Demis Roussos as a bass player. Anyway they had some fantastic moments like this song who is calling you straight away to the dance floor for shake (pay attention to the fine arrangements of the organ and the slightly fuzzed guitar)
4. The Crowns- You’re my only love: This group was not so popular and their appearances were in a few Night Clubs and Morning Recitals (live shows in Sunday mornings). Their most famous recording was the Troggs Wild Thing which was dominated by the organ sound being slower than the original with some insane screaming. This song here has a nice catchy tune with a very discrete guitar solo on the back sound.
5. Idols-He’s the one: Another original song showing the powerful use of the farfrisa organ. Idols used to have a piano and a farfrisa player at the same tine as well !!!!
6. New Hopes- I found a love (Vrika mia agapi): This groups was formed around late 1967 in Pireas (Athens Port), they recorded a few succesull 45s, and all of their material was in Greek. In my opinion this is considered to be their best one with a punkudelic feeling and a fast rhythm (what a shame that this song is not in English)
7. Blue Birds-Just Remember: Blue Birds were formed in Pireas as well and they were quite popular as they cut a lot successful 45s. They were one of the most long lived groups as they split in 1973-1974, they had many changes in their members. During their career in the 60s they were solely singing in English and during the 70s they turned to the Greek language singing religious rock. This song has very nice vocals (G. Petridis was a very good singer), and a positive happy tune and very nice organ. A really nice song !!!!
8. Vikings- I am trying: Vikings were formed in 1966-67 and their biggest hit was the slow Francoise which was quite popular at the parties of its era. The most famous member of the Vikings was Antonis Vardis which has followed a very successful career as a composer and a singer in the Greek music. This is a moody song which has shakin’ feeling but in a slower way. The sound of the guitar break is quite unique and quite peculiar (would say that is influenced by eastern sounds and looks like a weep)
9. Olympians-Hopeless endless way: Olympians are considered to be the most successful Greek group of the 60s. They were formed in Thessaloniki and they were very popular all over Greece by selling tens of thousands of records with their biggest hits O Tropos (the way) and To Sholeio (the school). Their lead singer and bassist, Pashalis, after the group was disbanded followed a successful career in the what so called Greek Pop. This song was recorded in 1967 and is a real garage-psychedelic one with the right proportion of organ and guitar (even a saxophone was used) and has been included in many compilations and has been recorded by other groups as well.
10. Zoo-Six miles from the cage: A folkish-garage one by the English group with the sort career in Greece
11. Juniors-Miss blue jeans: Juniors were one of the best groups in the middle of the decade with the most “English” sound. But unfortunately were one of the most unfortunate ones, as at the peak of their career in 1966, a car accident caused the death of their manager, their leader Thanos Sogioul (bassist) and the serious injury of their guitarist Alekos Karakantas, which lead to their disbanded after a while. This was the time when Eric Clapton replaced him for a few live appearances!!!!!!! Eric Clapton had left Yoardbirds for good and was in Athens with an amateurish Group and The Juniors who were in a need for guitarist proposed him to play with them for a few appearances. If they only knew!!!!!!! Miss Blue Jeans is my favourite ever song from a Greek 60s groups as it is totally inside in 1966. Nice harmonies, nice melody, fantastic farfrisa and guitar break. This song has it all !!!! It is purely Shakin’1966!!!!
12. Phoenix-Senza Amore: This song is in Italian language as there were some groups who were singing and recorded songs in Italian. Phoenix (Foinikes) played live in many Night Clubs and also had sang in Greek and were formed in 1967 and most famous member was the composer Stamatis Ganossellis. This is a donwtempo song with an interesting organ solo break and nice vocal harmonies.
13. Uptight-I love you (Min Fevgeis): This is the second song in the Greek language in this compilation. Uptight were formed in Thessaloniki and were quite popular there. They played in many Night Clubs, they recorded a few 45s but it said that their recordings could not reveal the excellence of energy of their live appearnces as they were covering a wide range of songs (including soul covers as well). This song is the cover of the original Zombies one. Zombies released it in 1965, while The Uptight released it at the end of the decade. Nice cover though, really worth digging it.
14. Nelli Manou-Crazy Girl: The Shakiest Greek Pop Song from the 60s ever!!!!!! There are not many things to say as there is no breath as your feet are moving in the dance floor!!!!! This song was originally released in 1967 by Nelli Manou (composer the famous Greek composer Mimis Plessas) and later was released by Aleka Kanellidou as well. The song was one of the main themes of the Greek Musical Comedy “Oi thalassies oi handres” (The blue beads), and was about the love of a young rich ye-ye girl and a bouzouki player….
15. Blue Birds-Sweet Polly: An original by the Blue Birds from 1965, a fantastic song which could be among the others in the garage hall of fame
16. Charms-It’s my life: Charms were one of the most famous Greek groups in the 60s. Their career began in 1964 and ended in the beginning of the 70s. They have recorded some fantastic 45s in English but sadly at the end of the decade and due to commercial reasons they turned their repertoire into covering lame hits in Greek (like the Idols). This one is not one of their most powerful ones and it is the cover of the Animals original. It is a very interesting cover though, as it wasn’t released long after the Animals release and has a different and more soft approach to its original
It is a rare compilation, really worth diggin' it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Download here

Saturday 14 November 2009

Shake Per Sempre-Toni Pinelli (1965)


During the 60s, Italian and French songs were very popular in Greece.

Many Greek Groups were singing covers or their own material in Italian or French as well, among with the english language (after 1966 they started their own material in Greek).

So, a lot a well known or not famous artists especially from Italy, came to Greece for some live appearances in the Athenian Night Clubs. Some of them, the most famous, even recorded their Italian hits in the Greek language as well.


One of the infamous Italian artists who came to Greece and became famous was Toni Pinelli. Toni Pinelli had an excellent voice and recorded both in Itlaian and Greek language. He was more famous for singing love songs. But he also sang some real shakin' tunes.


So, I present you here one of them, the Shake Per Sepmpre from 1965.

This outage has been taken from the Greek Movie "Yie Mou, Yie Mou" (My Son, My Son), a Comedy with a father and a son fallining in for the same women.


It is a real up tempo beat song, with a real shakin tune that is shouting "come and dance", which coould be considered as being really close to the Garage Music Standards. It has been composed by George Theodosiadis (real jazz composer).




Enjoy the Video


Monday 2 November 2009

October 2009: record month over the 2 past years, with more that 100 daily visitors throughout the world


Dear friends hi,


The reason of creating this blog 2 years ago in October 2007, was my true love of the 60s music scene and especially the garage and psychedelic scene.


Last month was the best throughout the short life of this blog, in terms of daily visits with more than 100 visitors per day. I know that this number is not so big compared to other blogs or websites. But it is milestone for garage60s.blogspot.com and a big inspiration of continuing this trip into the 60s music around the world and among different music styles.


Keep fuzzing and listening to the swirling organ !!!!!

Thursday 17 September 2009

(Those) Rogues - Girl


Dear Friends hi,

I am really happy to present you a video footage from the swinging 60s where the ultra cool garage song Girl from (Those) Rogues is being heard.

The band was coming Sault Ste Marie, Toronto, Cnanada.Members were Bryan Primeau organ and vocals, Rick Rogers guitar, Terry Davey on saxophone, Harvey Bell on bass and Mike Jargan on drums. Terry Davey left the group sometime before they recorded their 45. The single was recorded at Arc Studios in Toronto most probably on February 1967 with Marshall Shapiro engineering the session.


Enjoy the ultra cool video and song. Pure 60s shake !!!

Monday 8 June 2009

Fiori & Colori: Beat Psichedelico 1967-1969


Late 1966 and 1967, found British and American groups on moving to more complexed and experimental music forms.
Certainly this new development couldn'f leave without influence music groups in other countries as well. Italy was one of these countries and this compilation brings you some samples of the Italian psychedelic scene between 1967-1969 who later eveolved to the Italian Progressive scene of that raly and mid seventies.
Songs in this complation are full of sitar, wah wah guitars, mellotron, strange sounds and vocals.
For sure a compilation that really woths to dig, as it is not coming from the traditional British or American 60s psychedelic scenes.

Saturday 28 March 2009

The Pretty Things - Promo Film 1966

Dear friends,

With great pleasure I present you one of my favourite 60s bands, The Pretty Things from their 1966 promo film for their LP "Get The Picture" . The Pretty Things were one of the wildest groups which emerged from the UK in the 60s and have influenced hundrends of music groups.

In the live scene footages you can see their raw, powerful and primitive live performance !!!

In both parts you can see them in their 1966 line-up with:
Phil May: vocals
Dick Taylor: lead guitar
Birian Pendleton: rhythm guitar
John Stax: bass
Skip Alan: drums

The songs that are heard and performed in both parts are:
1. Me needing you
2. Midnight to six man (studio recording)
3. Can't stand the pain
4. Me needing you (live from a night club)
5. L.S.D (live from a night club)

PS: in part 2 on the 1:27 minute please note the Greek-Cypriot newspaper Χαραυγή (Haravgi). Amazing, Greeks are everywhere !!!!!


PART 1

PART 2

Sunday 15 March 2009

Marina-George Romanos 1968


Dear friends,

With great pleasure I present you Marina from George Romanos which was issued in 1968.

This is a fantastic song and can be considered as the first Greek psychedelic song. The lyrics are quite haunted, odd and moody while the music arrangement is fantastic.

Music was composed and lyrics were written by George Romanos, a singer and compser mainly in the era of the Greek "Neo Kyma" (trans: new wave) in the middle 60s combining Greek folk music with ballads. Later at the end of 1969 early 1970 George Romanos recorded a fantastic rock record "Dyo Mikra Galazia Aloga" (trans: two small blue horses), and then he left for France where he continued his carreer.

Please note that the music had been arranged by Vangelis Papathanasiou and his Orchestra just a few months before the formation of Aphrodite's Child in France during 1968.
In my opinion it is great song that really worths to dig it !!!

Here are the lyrics:

I Marina mou gennithike mes' s' ena triantafillo
pou to' kapse o keravnos
mia nihta

I agapi mou megalose mes' s' ena spiti apo harti
pou to' skisan o anemos
ke mia tholi vrohi.

I agapi mou me kitaxe mes' apo prasino giali
ke ide ena sinnefo
hlomo
Perpatisame mazi
ki imaste mia skia
se mia limni makrini
pou' he mavra nera
ke onira

I agapi mou m' agapise pano se petres ke fito
ke gelase sto dilino
sklira

I agapi mou polemise ke nikise olous tous ehthrous
ki o kosmos tin agkaliase me mia krifi fotia

Ma i Marina mou kremastike apo t' asteria t' ouranou
giati ena vradi xehasa
ena fili

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Marina

My Marina was born inside a rose
that was burned by lightning
one night.

My love grew up inside a house
made of paper,
torn by the wind
and muddy rain.

My love looked at me through a piece of green glass
and saw a pale cloud.

We walked together
and we were a shadow
on a far away lake
with dark waters
and dreams.

My love loved me on stones and [a] plant
and cruelly laughed at the twilight.

My love fought and defeated all the enemies
and the world embraced her
with a hidden fire.

But my Marina hanged herself from the stars of the sky
because one evening I forgot
a kiss.