Hermann's Corner - The Dirty Wurds(Why)

A: So Hermann.. I've heard you've been vacating down south for a while now. How is the weather?

H: Thanks for asking Anders, the weather in Rio is sunny as always.

A: Anything new?

H: I'm hungry.

A: Uh.. sure. But Hermann, don't you have a song for for us today?

H: Well how about The Dirty Wurds, and their killer(and I should know what a killer is) a-side "Why". I think you first of all should listen to the song, as this is one of the crudest and most mental song you'll ever hear.

"Why"/"Takin' My Blues Away", 1965

Chicago, Illinois, Marina 502

re-released on: Pebbles #5

The line-up of The Dirty Wurds had a lot of changes in the bass and drums department. On the "Why" single however this was the line-up:

Mick Mackles - Vocals
Justin Pomeroy - Rhytm Guitar
Mike Peterson - Lead Guitar
Jim(James) Savage - Bass
Mark Bringman - Drums

Here's the lyrics.. As you can see nothing special. That was probably why the Dirty Wurds decided to spice things up a little, and made the songwriter(not a member of the band) seem like a mental case, with this neurotic way of singing these rather dull lyrics. Rumours says also that the songwriter was displeased after hearing that his song - thought of being a tender love-ballad - would end up like this. Well, I'm not. This is as good 60's punk as it gets.



Why, baby

(Why) I need your lovin'
(Why) I need you very much
(Why) I need your tender touch
(Why) I love you very much

And I say (why, why, why, why, why)

(Why) I want you near me
(Why) I want you very much
(Why) I wanna have you near me
(Why) I need you very much

And I say (why, why, why, why, why)

You notice that all the time I cry
And baby, I want you near me so I wont cry
So tell me, baby, why won't you come near me
You know I love you, baby, you know I really do

(why, why, why, why, why)

(Why) I need your lovin'
(Why) I need you very much
(Why) I need your tender touch
(Why) I love you very much

And I say (why, why, why, why, why)

Oh baby, I want you near me
Oh, why wont you come back
I wanna know, baby
Why wont you come back to me, baby
Why, why, why, why

The Call Of Cthulhu

Instead of creating a world of ghosts, dragons or similar traditional creatures, H.P. Lovecraft wrote about a world of nightmares,  bordering between reality and imaginations, often ruled by non earthly creatures of a higher rank, a some sort of ubermench(Nietzsche in addition to Edgar Allan Poe would have much influence on Lovecraft's writing). But Lovecraft's style manage to build up a sort of accept for the non earthly in a unique way

His methods of writing novels would give many ideas to Stephen King, who was one of those becoming hugely influenced by this type of sci fi/horror stories(even if King's stories had a tendency to end up a little too enthusiastically).

The first release of the short story The Call Of Ctulhu was released
in 1928 as a part of the pulp magazine Weird Tales.

In 2005 ble silent movie The Call Of Ctulhu was released by members of the fanclub the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society(the Dvd can be ordered at their page). The movie follows the 20's style, in black and white, with the actors having the typical exaggerated 20's makeup. The music used is very effective for creating an intence suspense throughout. But the most impressive is perhaps the actors who do a great job to enhance the feel that this is a 20's original, with their great mimics. In particular the main person, played by Matt Foyer, are doing a great job.

It's made a bunch of movies based on Lovecraft stories, but this is the one most faithful to the original. The Call Of Cthulhu was written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1926.

 

Official trailer

Policeman: "No, really. The Keggs won

the 1967 battle of the bands in Detroit."

Cthulhu

The creators sense of details are impressive. The language is flawless Norwegian, and even the crest is the right one.(Would surely be screwed up in a Hollywood movie).

H.P. Lovecraft and garage music

Dunwich Records is localised in Chicago, and named after The Dunwich Horror.  They would release excellent bands like The Shadows Of Knight("Bad Little Woman", "I'm Gonna Make You Be Mine"), The Banshees("Project Blue"), The Luv'd Ones("I'm Leavin' You")  and Things To Come("I'm Not Talkin'"). Yuggoth Music(also influenced by Lovecraft) was the name of their distribution department.

Top 5 - William Hay(The Painted Ship)

This time I've got hold of William Hay, vocalist and songwriter in the magnificent Canadian band The Painted Ship. They've released garage-classics like Frustration(1966), Little White Lies(1966) and And She Said Yes(1966). He is a jolly guy and a true pioneer in 60's punk, and I'm delighted to get to learn about his top 5 songs of the 60's. Thanks for participating William!

Greetings gentle reader. Anders was kind enough to ask me to comment on 5 of my favorite songs from the 60's. I can't remember whether he said:
1) keep your comments brief.....or
2) write your comments while you're wearing only your briefs. hmmmmmm?

Oh, well, here we go.


5. Love: She comes in colors.
I guess this is far from the most popular of the songs by Love but it's my fav. I really like the medieval inspired keyboard work. It's a beautiful ode to a girlfriend without having to resort to the usual trite, sappy bullshit(do I have an opinion?)

4. Jefferson Airplane (Starship): Somebody to love.
Probably my favorite of the so-called San Francisco " hippie songs"
Grace (and Janis of course) showed that a woman can deliver the message as well as any man can. Everything about this song is right.

3. Them: Gloria.
Van is fantastic or course but this song has a lot going for it. Temp changes. Nice keyboard work. tasty drumming. and of course the intrigue: was this recorded by the Belfast boys or.......?

2. 13th Floor Elevators: You're gonna miss me
Imagination. what a treat to hear something completely different. and some very nice playing. check out the bass line. and then there is Roky. enough said!

1. The Sonics: Have love will travel.
For me, this is what rock n roll should sound like. Not the usual over-produced , bloated commercial crap. (oh, oh, another opinion rises)
"I might take a boat or I'll take a train
I might hitchhike or jump a railroad train
your kind of love drives a man insane"

I hear ya brother.

There ya go. thanks for asking Anders. I'm going to put my clothes back on now; I've got some grocery shopping to do. ( why the hell does he ask us to do this in our briefs? must be a Norwegian thing )

Top 5 - Loek Stolwijk(The Suzannes)

This will be followed up by more top 5 favourite songs of artists good enough to make my own top 50. First out is Loek Stolwijk(to the left in the picture) guitarist in the Dutch 70's punk group The Suzannes("Listen To My Heartbeat", "Hippie", "Teenage Abortion"). This is his top 5 from the 60's and 70's. Big thanks to Loek for participating. I have also had the luck to get to interview Loek. The interview will be published in the next number of the best magazine you will ever read, Ugly Things(#35).

5. Q65 - You're The Victor 

4. Motorhead - One More Fucking Time

3. The Pretty Things - Roadrunner

 

2. The Saints - Know Your Product

1. Iggy Pop - Lust For Life 

 

The Dynamite Garage radio station

Direct link here.

I'm delighted to present to you our new DJ, our hired gun, The Garageman, with his show "Back In The Garage".
First episode of "Back In The Garage" will be broadcasted Friday kl 21.00), with reruns Saturday at 22.00 and 04.00.(Oslo time)



Last update of playlist:

Al's Untouchables - Come On Baby(1966)
Iowa City, Iowa, USA, Hunt 1410

Banshees - They Prefer Blondes(1965)
Millbrae, California, Monarch Records

Bees - Voices Green And Purple(1966)
Los Angeles, USA, Liverpool 62225

The Blackstones - The Bag I'm In(196?)
Hammond, Indiana, USA, Invictus

The Blues Company - She's Gone(1968)
Bay City, Michigan, USA, Great Lakes 3002

The Boys - You Deceived Me(1966)
Forth Worth, Texas, Emcee 015,16

The Bruthers - Bad Way To Go(1966)
Pearl River, New York, RCA 8920

Buccaneer's - You're Never Gonna Love Me Anymore(1966)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Amigo 104

The Bucky Rage - Wild Man(2012)
On "Cut 'em Down" Eruption Erupt EP 003

The Chob - Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore(1967)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, Lavette la-5016

Dean Carter - Rebel Woman(1967)
Champaign, Illinois, USA, Milky Way 886m-0111

The Grapes Of Wrath - Cause It Was Her(1966)
San Pedro, California, USA, Vita 006

Haymarket Riot - Trip(1968)
Enid, Oklahoma, USA, Riot 101

The Humans - Warning(1966)
Albion, New York, Audition 6109

The Jades - Confined Congregation(1967)
Sparta, Michigan, USA, Fenton 2134

The Jujus - Do You Understand Me(1966)
Grand Rapids, Mitchigan, USA, United 121569/70

Larry & The Blue Notes - In And Out(1966)
Forth Worth, Texas, Charay 44

Mods - You've Got Another Think Coming(1966)
Toledo, Ohio, Peck no #

The Rats - Rat's Revenge Part One(1963)
Akron, Ohio, USA, Black Cat 502

The Rats - Rat's Revenge Part Two(1963)
Akron, Ohio, USA, Black Cat 502

Roamin' Togas - Bar The Door(1967)
Lafayette, Los Angeles, Lightning lr-101

The Shy Guys - Black Lightening Light(1968)
Florida, M-U 5941/5942

The Shadows Of Knight - Bad Little Woman(1966)
Chicago, Illinois, USA, Dunwich 128

Starfyres - Captain Dueseldorph(1966)
Lansford, Pennsylvania, USA Burr 1001

The Stereo Shoestring - On The Road South(1968)
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA English 1302

Thee Midniters - Jump Jive And Harmonize(1967)
Los Angeles, Whittier 507

Untuned wonders

Some garage songs are so primitive it's almost ridiculous, other can seem like barely having been practised before the band have entered the recording studio. There's no doubt that the price for rental of a recording studio when cutting a record can put a big pressure on highschool teenagers, who rather would let the guitar stay out of tune, than to have to pay for the next hour of studio time. Don't forget either that unless your band was named The Beatles, in the 60's most recordings were done live, with perhaps an overdub of vocals(and in some occurrences a lead guitar). Sometimes this can lead to a directness and a healthy nervousness, that could lead to an interesting recording. Not having ambitions for global success, ain't no obstacle for a killer recording either - far from - check out for example the joy of playing to Dean Carter in their cover of Jailhouse Rock(with the strangest(and funniest) harmonica technique I've ever heard, that probably would ruined their chances of commercial success), when the guitar solo gets off. You can practically see the grin of the guitarist, when the madness reveals. Here is some of the best there is..

Dean Carter - Jailhouse Rock(1967)

Champaign, Illinois, USA, Milky Way 886m-0111
(listen here)

Belles - Come Back(1966)

North Miami Beach, Florida, Tiara 100
(listen here)

It seems that the bass player's E-string has gone totally out of tune. The funny thing is that in addition the bass is so loud in the mix, that it's by far the most dominating instrument. The melody though is something of the best I've heard. Listen to this song more than two times in a row, and be prepared to let it haunt you the entire night.

The Starfyres - Captain Dueseldorph(1966)

Lansford, Pennsylvania, USA, Burr 1001

(listen here)

Making sounds with glass bottles was always fun. This static background "singing" is unlike anything else put on record. The lyrics isn't bad either.. "I bought myself a submarine".. "If you're ever down by the sea, take a look for me... Captain Dueseldorph"..

Modds - Leave My House(Previously Unreleased)

Poplar Bluff, Missouri, USA
(listen here)

Fighting in the band, or a ego trip from the guitarist and vocalist? I'm having a wild guess that the the vocalist and lead guitarist are the two on the left in the picture above.
This recording make "Raw Power" sound well balanced volume wise. There's nothing bad to say about the fuzz-sound and the guitarist's enthusiasm however.

Jack The Ripper - One Way Streets(1966)

Zanesville, Ohio, USA, Sunrise 103
(listen here)

A hilarious cover of the Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages original.
Sounds like the lyrics are partly improvised when the mother of the vocalist comes into the practice-room/studio and nags them about that the dinner is ready. Great mix between the dark tale of Jack The Ripper and a fight with mum.

The Rats  - The Rat's Revenge Part 1(1963) og Part 2(b-side)
Akron, Ohio, USA, Black Cat 502
(listen here)

The name The Rats' was only used for this single. Their real name was The Decades. As The Decades they released "C'mon Pretty Baby"(Janie JL 10645/10646) in 1964.
There's two parts of Rat's Revenge splitted on the a and b-side. That the year of release is as early as 1963 for such a rough garage-punk song is quite unique. The highlight is when one of the Rats says "Don't play with your feet this time", in Part 2, where a somewhat flawed start on the guitar solo, is answered with a disgusted grunt.

"I like you. And when Eric Von Zipper likes someone, they stay liked."

The song is based upon the Beach Party(1963) movie, having a total of 4 follow ups, where the Ratz was a not too bright motorcycle gang, led by Erik Von Zipper.

Sur Royal Da Count & The Parliaments - Scream Mother Scream(1967)

USA, Villa Yore 606

(listen here)

Not much to add other than that these guys were seriously into not being serious. If you listens beyond the jokes it's actually a brilliant song.

The Barking Spyders - I Want Your Love(1966)

Dallas, Texas, USA, Audio Precision 45001

(listen here) 

Not too bothered with tuning the bass guitar, this group get right to it. And even if the bridge almost collapses, they keep going. The vocalist are great, and reminds of an even more laid back cool and sedated version of Lou Reed.

And last but not least, the king of garage rock: The Keggs - Girl.