Blues Magoos: (We Ain't Got) Nothing Yet 1967

Originally formed in The Bronx, New York in 1964 as The Trenchcoats. In 1966 they changed their name to Bloos Magoos, before settling on Blues Magoos. Their debut album (Psychedelic Lollipop) was released in 1966. Even though (We Ain’t Got) Nothing Yet was included on that album, it was not released as a single until 1967. Written by Ron Gilbert, Ralph Scala and Mike Esposito, it pecked at number 5 on the Billboard Top 100.  Gotta Get Away was the B-Side. Just over a year later, after releasing two more albums, they broke up.  But the band’s management and singer/guitarist Peppy Castro backed by various hired musicians kept the name alive until 1972. 

    It's fair to say Deep Purple’s 1970 hit, Black Knight owes a debit to (We Ain’t Got) Nothing Yet’s main riff.

Produced by Bob Wyld, Art Polhemus

Mike Esposito                 Guitar
Geoff Daking                 Drums
Ronnie Gilbert                  Bass
Peppy Castro      Vocals/Guitar
Ralph Scala        Organ/Vocals

(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet.mp3

Gotta Get Away.mp3

Chant R&B: I 'm Your Witchdoctor 1966

 

Chant R&B were formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1964. That same year they won a Battle Of The Bands contest at Addington Showgrounds. Their prize was time in a recording studio. They rarely played outside of Christchurch.  Only releasing two singles before moving to Australia and disbanding in 1967. I 'm Your Witchdoctor was their second single, like their first (I've Been Loving You Too Long) it was a cover.  It was written by John Mayal. At the time Witchdoctor was recorded the band included Australian Max Croke, who it turned out was really named Max Kelly and was a deserter from the Australian Air Force.

 

Produced by James Tomlin

Trevor Courtney                Drums
Michael Rudd         Guitar/Vocals
Martin Forrer                        Bass
Max Kelly                           Guitar

I 'm Your Witchdoctor

Neighbour Neighbour

The Creation: How Does It Feel To Feel 1968

In 1966, Cheshunt based Pop Art band The Mark Four changed their name to The Creation. Guitarist Eddie Phillips is credited as the first person to play his electric guitar using a violin bow. Jimmy Page, who later popularised the technique in Led Zeppelin, always cited Phillips as the inventor. By 1968 they started to introduce more psychedelic elements into their sound.  How Does It Feel To Feel was The Creation's sixth single. Released in Europe on Ploydor Records and in the US (with a different mix) on Decca Records. In the UK the B-Side was Tom Tom (released as an A-Side in German) but in the US it was Life Is Just Beginning.

Produced By Shel Talmy

Bob Garner               Vocals
Eddie Phillips             Guitar
Jack Jones               Drums
Kim Gardner                Bass

How Does It Feel To Feel
Tom Tom

The Pretty Things: Talking About The Good Times 1968

In 1967 the legendary wild men of the British Blues movement, The Pretty Things, sign to a new label (EMI's Columbia label). They took that opportunity to change their sound to a more Psychedelic one. Their first ‘Psychedelic’ single, Defecting Grey fail to chart. Talking About The Good Times was their second Columbia Records single. Unfortunately it also failed. Recorded at the beginning of the sessions for their S. F. Sorrow album. Although, neither it or the B-Side Walking Through My Dreams appeared on the concept album.

Produced by Norman Smith

Dick Taylor                 Guitar
Phil May                    Vocals
John Povey                Organ
Wally Waller                 Bass
John Charles Alder     Drums

Talking About The Good Times 

Walking Through My Dreams

Wimple Winch: Rumble On Mersey Square South 1967

Liverpool’s Wimple Winch originally formed 1964 as Dee Fenton & the Silhouettes, before changing their name to Four Just Men, then to Just Four Men. In 1966 their sound changed from MerseyBeat to a more Psychedelic Freckbeat sound. So, they changed their name once again, this time to Wimple Winch. They got a new manager, and record label (Fontana) and moved to Stockport. Rumble On Mersey Square South was their third and final single. Mersey Square South is in Stockport. Wimple Winch were the house band at The Sinking Ship nightclub, which was near the square. In 1967 they spilt up after all their band gear was destroyed by a fire at the The Sinking Ship and they where dropped by their label.

Dee Christopholus     Vocal/Guitar
John Kelman                      Guitar
Barry Ashall                         Bass
Larry King                          Drums

Rumble On Mersey Square South
Typical British Workmanship

House Of Nimrod: Slightly-Delic 1967

When Auckland, New Zealand’s House of Nimrod released Slightly-Delic in October 1967 they had only been together for a couple of weeks. They only really knew two songs, Slightly-Delic and the B-Side Reflections Of Our Time. The single was a hit in Auckland. So the band got a set together and hit the road. The following year they released their second and final single Psychothartic. The band fell apart shortly after it was released. Both Slightly-Delic and Reflections Of Our Time were written by Bryce Peterson.

Producer  Bruce Barton

Bryce Peterson          Guitar / Vocals
Tony Pilcher                    Lead Guitar
John Breslin                             Guitar
Billy Lawton                            Drums
Larry Latimer                Bass / Vocals

***Warning recorded off of vinyl, surface noise and some clicks.***       
Slightly-Delic 
Reflections Of Our Time
 

The Monks: Complication 1966

The Monks were one of those bands that were unlike any one else. In 1966 they had their hair cut very short with a tonsure (like real Monks). They wore nothing but black and had a noose for a necktie.  On top of that they had a "electrified banjo" player. They were also different in that they were not hippies they were ex-G.I.s. Original formed as the 5 Torquays, when all the members were stationed at the same U.S. Army base in Germany.  But they weren't red necks either. They were not a clean cut wholesome band and conservative was not a word used to describe The Monks.

 This is their 1966 debut single as The Monks (in 1964 they released There She Walks as The 5 Torquays). Complication was their take on the escalation of the Vietnam War. There’re no flowers in their hair. Fuzzbox guitars and lyrics about death and killing sung by some who knows what they’re talking about. The B-side was Oh, How To Do Now. 

Gary Burger                  Guitar, vocals
Larry Clark                   Organ, vocals
Dave Day                       Banjo, vocals
Eddie Shaw                     Bass,vocals
Roger Johnston            Drums vocals

Produced by Jimmy Bowien

Complications

Oh, How To Do Now

The Original 'How Is The Air Up There?' by The Changin' Times 1965

Firstly, sorry about the quality of this mp3. Its taken from a pretty messed up vinyl copy. It is a very rare recording. If anyone has a cleaner version please send me an email. The La de das’ 1966 version of this song is rightfully coincided legendary in New Zealand. This is the original version from 1965 by The Changin’ Times. I know nothing about them I can’t even find a photo of them.

**Warning! Recorded off of old worn vinyl. A lot of surface noise**

The Changin' Times - How Is The Air Up There