Dark Clouds, Vol. 6

image from Pacific Northwest Bands

There it happened again...
The sixth volume of the epic Dark Clouds series: an array of moody garage music recorded in the mid-to-late-60s! If you want to start from the beginning of the hexalogy, you can download Vols. 1-3, Vol. 4 and Vol. 5.

So this is what I came up with for Vol. 6: a nice little mix of uncomped rarities to appease the garage gods, and a few of my absolute favorites (psst, the Amoebas and the Weads) to welcome my friends who are just delving into this profound musical realm.

This is the real deal. No sophisticated production, no pretension. Just raw, real, emotive performances. Record hiss, crackle and pop, and anomalous (okay, at times downright off-pitch) vocals galore. I can't tell you how much of a joy and surprise it is to continually stumble upon and unveil these types of nuggets. I hope you enjoy! Please feel free to contact me if you can provide additional band info or corrections. Thank you!


01 The Ascensions - "All Alone" [Gemini 100] (1967) Philadelphia, PA
02 The Wild Cherries - "I Cried Once" [Shoestring 112] (1966) Hampton, VA
03 The Soule Survivors - "Shadows" [River 1306] (1967] Biloxi, MS
04 The Amoebas - "Look At The Moon" [unknown] (1964) Baltimore, MD
05 Sleepy Hollow - "Dark Of The Night" [unknown] (1967) Bridgeport, CT
06 The Intruders - "Bringin' Me Down" [Claremont 665] (1966) Rockford, IL
07 The Royal Knights - "I Don't Want To Go" [Snap SN-005] (196?) USA
08 Lindy Blaskey & The LaVelles - "My Baby Done Left Me" [Space 0003] (1965) Albuquerque, NM
09 The Nomadds - "I'm In Transit" [Radex MLP 6521] (1965) Freeport, IL
10 Billy & The Kids - "It's Not The Same" [Julian 104] (1965) Wenatchee, WA
11 The Squires - "I Can't Do It" [Atco] (1966) Bristol, CT
12 The Counts - "I Will Lose My Mind" [Kingston 19693/4] (1969) Valley View, PA 
13 The Swaydes - "Why" [Paris Tower 108] (1967) Tampa, FL
14 Druids - "Old Willow" [Columbia 4-43639] (1966) Scranton, PA
15 Public Nuisance - "Time Can't Wait" [demo] (1968) Sacramento, CA
16 The Meen - "Say You Love Me" [Varmint VPB-103] (1967) USA
17 The Newports - "Feelin' Low" [Zebb 155] (196?) Ormond Beach, FL
18 The Jades - "I Cried" [Holiday H-101] (1966) Union, KT
19 The Weads - "Don't Call My Name" [Duane 1042] (1965) Stonybrook, NY
20 Road's End - "When I Look At You" [Brahma 621661/2] (1966) New York, NY
21 The Kan Dells - "Do You Know" [Bear 1971] (1965) Minneapolis, MN 
22 The Grapes - "You'd Better Come Home" [Purple 110] (196?) La Porte, IN
23 The Second Generation - "Baby I Need You" [Klan] (196?) USA
24 The Dukes - "Take Your Love" [Signett 3265] (1967) Goshen, IN
25 The Society - "One Way Ride" [Feature 817R-112] (1966) Janesville, WI
26 Low Ebb - "Somewhere" [Patten Bennett 1001] (1965) MI
27 The Willing Mind - "Decide" [Night Owl 6912] (1969) Horicon, WI
28 The Alexander Rabbit - "I Didn't Even Thank Her" [A&M 1101] (1969) Trenton, NJ
29 The Mirror's Image - "If You Are Nowhere Now" [Catamount 01000] (196?) NJ
30 The Members - "I'll Get By Without You" [Label 102] (1966) St. Petersburg, FL


Grab Dark Clouds, Vol. VI -------> Over here!

still from Frank Capra's The Miracle Woman (1932)

A warm, fuzzy and prosperous 2013 to all of you!
xoxo

Dark Clouds, Vol. 5: An Ode To Winter

(still from the 1948 weeper, Portrait of Jennie, dir. William Dieterle)

Hi friends! So for months I've had the idea floating around for a wintery themed mix, but was waiting for the weather to get cold, rainy, windy, just super duper gnarly so I'd have some kind of inspiration to draw upon. And I'm still waiting! I should know by now, being a native/naive Californian, that not a chance in hell was Mother Nature gonna grant us such prolonged weather. We might as well be ground zero for global warming! Not that I don't mind one bit, but I'd one day love to stare sullenly out the window at a torrential storm or play in the snow like most normal kids do... not admire colorful, fiery sunsets from my 15th floor office building or shuffle around the beach in ironic graphic tees, BBQing, sipping icy Tecates at the end of January/beginning of February. Siiiigh. But I digress...

Oakland did get several hours of rain and apocalyptic-like fog last week. And for that, I was ever so grateful to use that precious time to assemble a slightly eclectic mix of seasonal moody tunes for you, opening with the predictably distressing "Lonely Winter" (a song later covered by the Bee Gees), and drawing to an optimistic close, finishing with the haunting yet encouraging chorus on "Need Some Sunshine." This mix is slightly distinguished from its Dark Clouds peers in 1) genre: garage rock reigns, but I had to throw in some soft/sunshiny, folk rock, and a Joe Meek production that were just too rad to pass, and 2) location: with the occasional Canadian exception, you might've noticed my unintentional sense of patriotism in past mixes. But for this one I've gone global (thanks to a newly renewed passport) - bowing down to England, Norway and Australia! 

01 Steve & the Board - "Lonely Winter" [Spin EL 31997] (1966) Sydney, AU
02 Hollie Helloms & the Rhythm Kings - "Don't Blame It On the Rain" [Major 1015] (196?) Waynesboro, VA
03 The Whether Bureau - "White and Frosty" [Laurie 3431] (1968) New York, NY
04 The Unrelated Segments - "It's Gonna Rain" [Liberty 55992] (1966) Detroit, MI
05 Nocturnal Day Dream - "Dark Dreary Night" [Unknown] (196?) U.S.A.
06 Firebeats Inc. - "This Rain" [His Master's Voice NCLP 5] (1966) Oslo, Norway
07 The Rainy Daze - "Snow and Ice and Burning Sand" [UNI 73002] (1967) Denver, CO
08 The Kasuals - "Listen to the Rain" [GMA 4] (1964) Chicago, IL
09 The Early Americans - "It's So Cold Outside" [Paris Tower 106] (1967) Tampa, FL
10 John Leyton - "Wild Wind" [Top Rank International JAR 585] (1961) Essex, UK
11 The Fredric - "Saturday Morning With Rain" [Forte 80461] (1968) Grand Rapids, MI
12 Jan & Lorraine - "Snow Roses" [ABCS 691] (1969) London, UK
13 Brigadune - "Misty Mornin'" [Verve VK 10655] (1971) Los Angeles, CA
14 The New Dawn - "It's Rainin'" [Garland GR 70-4569] (1970) Salem, OR
15 Teen Tones - "Long Cold Winter" [T&T 2487/8] (1964) South Bend, IN
16 The Sinners - "Only On A Rainy Day" [Craig 210] (1966) PA
17 Sunset Love - "Winter's Day" [Collectables 0665] (1968) Odessa, TX
18 The Rising Storm - "The Rain Falls Down" [Remnant BBA 3571] (1966) Andover, MA
19 Philamore Lincoln - "The North Wind Blew South" [Epic BN 26497] (1970) UK
20 The Ill Winds - "Fear of the Rain" [Reprise 0423] (1965) Los Angeles, CA
21 The Rock Garden - "The Wind Is My Keeper" [Revise 300] (1967) Camden, AR
22 Electric Train - "Thru Winter and Sunshine" [Moxie M 106] (196?) Marin County, CA
23 The Magic Mushrooms - "Let The Rain Be Me" [East Coast 1001] (1968) Philadelphia, PA
24 The Morning Dew - "Winter Dreams" [Audio House Acetate] (1966) Topeka, KS
25 The Omen & Their Luv - "Need Some Sunshine" [Daisy 4825] (196?) Tuscaloosa, AL

Download 'Dark Clouds Vol. 5: An Ode To Winter' --> HERE!!
Download Vols. 1-3 --> right here
Download Vol. 4 --> and here

Hope you enjoy! Feedback (be it good, bad, constructive, creepy, off-topic, etc.) is always welcome. Thanks!

Dark Clouds, Vol. 4

Let's ring in the new decade with yet another volume to add to the Dark Clouds series.
Happy Melancholy New Year everyone! Listen and weep -

01 The Smubbs - "Down On The Corner" [ABC Paramount] (1966) New York, NY
02 The Dynamics - "All She Said" [Jerden] (1966) Seattle, WA
03 The Beau-Jives - "Something's Wrong" [Tamio] (196?) U.S.A.
04 The Invaders - "Cryin' All Night Long" [TMS] (1967) U.S.A.
05 The Grodes - "I've Lost My Way" [Rally] (1966) Phoenix, AZ
06 Terry Randall - "Tell Her" [Valiant] (1966) Los Angeles, CA
07 The Dangs - "Lil' Girl" [RBP] (196?) U.S.A.
08 Leaping Ferns - "It Never Works Out For Me" [X-P-A-N-D-E-D Sound] (1965) Los Angeles, CA
09 Charlotte And Emily - "Love Not Have I" [New Voice] (196?) New York, NY
10 The Distant Cousins - "Empty House" [Date] (1967) New York, NY
11 The Dolphins - "I Should Have Stayed" [Yorkshire] (1966) Larchmont, NY
12 Robb London & The Rogues - "Bitter Tears" [Beckingham] (1965) San Antonio, TX
13 The Satins - "The Lonely One" [Aldon] (1967) New York, NY
14 The Era Of Sound - "Stay With Me" [Delta] (1966) Espanola, NM
15 The Fabulous Four - "Now You Cry" [Coral] (1966) Kansas City, MO
16 The Tuesday Club - "A Goddess In Many Ways" [Unknown label] (1967) U.S.A.
17 The Five Tymes - "Hold Me Now" [Bear] (1965) Duluth, MN
18 The Monacles - "You'll Do It Again" [Variety Films] (1966) Garden Grove, CA
19 The Remains - "But I Ain't Got You" [Epic] (1965) Boston, MA
20 The High & The Mighty - "Trying To Stop Cryin'" [ABC] (1966) Detroit, MI
21 The Avlons - "Mad Man's Fate" [Pyramid] (196?) Toccoa, GA
22 The Other Half - "I Won't Be Back" [Bell Sound] (196?) U.S.A.
23 The Strangers - "Plan On Someone New" [Jubilee] (1965) U.S.A.
24 Those Boys - "The Only Girl" [FED] (1966) Houston, TX
25 The Fugitives - "Don't Pretend" [Trophy] (196?) Portland, OR
26 The Travelers - "Libby" [Prism] (1966) Dayton, OH
27 The Other Side Of Time - "What Ya Gonna Do" [R.S.D.] (196?) U.S.A.
28 The Fogcutters - "Cry Cry Cry" [Liberty] (1965) Denver, CO
29 The Embermen Five - "My Love For You Won't Die" [Studio City] (1967) Minot, ND
30 The Mourning Formation - "Rider" [Pinpoint] (196?) U.S.A.

Download Vol. 4 -----> HERE

Find the first three volumes -----> HERE


Feedback is always appreciated : )

Dark Clouds: A Moody Garage Compilation - In Three Acts !

Sigh, cry, die! This series of comps focuses on the moody side of the 60's. For those of you who are new to the "garage rock" genre I'll give you a brief introduction:

"Garage rock" is a musical genre that was coined in late-70s to define the raw form of rock'n' roll that popularized the United States and Canada in the early to late 60s. Why is it called "Garage"? Because it was made in the garage? To some extent, yes. Many performers did often rehearse in their families garages with their cheap Sears-bought instruments. Most were young, very amateur and naive. Most themes centered around high school life and a certain deceitful girl. Lyrics and delivery were notably more passionate and aggressive than what was common for the time. And bands ranged from one-chord repetetiveness to near studio musician quality.

All of the songs you will find on the 'Dark Clouds' series never made the commercial charts, let alone the local/regional charts. In fact, the majority of 60s garage bands only released a few singles and then called it quits (or got drafted!). Besides a few exceptions, there were hardly any stars that emerged from the Garage rock heyday of the 1960s; although I believe their influence is still felt to the present day.

Dark Clouds, Vol. 1

01 The Peers - "Once Upon A Time" [Le Jac] (1966) Minneapolis, MN
02 Me & The Rest - "Dark Clouds" [Brass City] (196?) Waterbury, CT
03 The Cobras - "I'm Hurtin'" [Scoop] (1964) Santa Cruz, CA
04 The Driving Wheels - "One Year Ago Today" [Pan Am] (1966) San Antonio, TX
05 The Younts Bros., Inc. - "Love Is A Game" [Grey Ghost] (1967) U.S.A.
06 The Patriots - "As Fall The Leaves" [1776] (1966) Cedar Rapids, IA
07 The Great Society - "And I Know" [USA] (1966) Villa Park, IL
08 The Valiants - "Don't Make The Same Mistake" [Dot] (1966) U.S.A.
09 The Vandals - "Ballad Of A Loser" [Big Rock] (1965) Bradford, PA
10 The West Coast Branch - "Linda's Gone" [Valiant] (1966) Redondo Beach, CA
11 The Creation - "Sun And Stars" [Centrocord] (196?) U.S.A.
12 The Canoise - "Something I Could Do" [IGL] (1966) St. Cloud, MN
13 The Prophets - "Sad On Me" [Twin Spin] (1967) Chicago, IL
14 The Hangmen - "The Girl Who Faded Away" [Monument] (1966) Washington, D.C.
15 John Winfield, Jr. - "Laugh" [Dore] (1966) Los Angeles, CA
16 The Quarrymen - "Why" [Sara] (1966) East Dubuque, IL
17 Tresa Leigh - "Until Then" [Lyndell] (196?) PA
18 The Wild Flowers - "Moving Along With The Sun" [Aster] (1967) Phoenix, AZ
19 The Elegant Four - "Time To Say Goodbye" [Cousins] (1967) Bronx, NY
20 The Rocks - "My Only Love" [Woodrich] (1965) Nashville, TN
21 The Druids - "A Man Should Never Cry" [Columbia] (1965) Scranton, PA
22 The Decompressed Impossibility - "You Can't Ride Away" [Inevitable] (196?) U.S.A.
23 The Trodden Path - "Don't Follow Me" [Night Owl] (1967) Mequon, WI
24 The Hucksters - "It's So Hard" [Brutal] (196?) U.S.A.
25 $1,000,000 War Babies - "Hey Little Boy" [Dante] (1966) Chicago, IL
26 Dale & The Devonaires - "Come Back To Me" [IGL] (1967) Fort Dodge, IA
27 The Younger Brothers - "This Feelin' In My Heart" [Wendy] (1967) Statesboro, GA
28 The Kings Ransom - "Mistakes" [Integra] (1968) Allentown, PA
29 The Wind - "He Who Laughs Last (Laughs Best)" [Early Morning] (1966) Canoga Park, CA

Dark Clouds, Vol. 2

01 The Castaways - "Should Happen To Me" [Soma] (1967) Minneapolis, MN
02 The End - "Can't Get Free" [Northeast] (1967) Worcester, MA
03 The Birth Of Spring - "Cause You Lied To Me" [Mercury] (1967) U.S.A.
04 The Rationals - "Gave My Love" [A2] (1965) Ann Arbor, MI
05 The Counts - "Change Your Mind" [B-J] (1966) U.S.A.
06 Lindy Blaskey & The LaVelles - "Movin' Away" [Space] (1966) Albuquerque, NM
07 Steve Melshenker - "(I've Got) Time On My Hands" [Orlyn] (1967) Champaign, IL
08 The What Four - "Tossin' Ship" [Rollem] (1967) Little Neck, NY
09 The Shan Dels - "Please Stay" [Showcase] (1965) Levittown, NY
10 James T. & The Workers - "Let Me See You Crying" [Prophonics] (1967) Bay City, MI
11 The Fabulous Wunz - "If I Cry" [Pyramid] (1966) Charlotte, NC
12 Denny Provisor - "It Really Tears Me Up" [Valiant] (1965) Los Angeles, CA
13 The Emperor's - "And Then" [Sabra] (1965) San Bernardino, CA
14 Black & The Blues - "Another Day" [Rigby] (1966) Magnolia, NJ
15 The New Era - "Won't You Please Be My Friend" [Great Lakes] (1967) Grand Rapids, MI
16 The Moxies - "I Must Apologize" [Monza] (1965) Paducah, KY
17 Flowers, Fruits, & Pretty Things - "Wanting You" [GEP] (1968) Saginaw, MI
18 The Mysterions - "Why Should I Love You" [Jox] (1965) San Antonio, TX
19 The Fogcutters - "I Want Your Love Again" [Apex] (1965) Denver, CO
20 The Banshees - "Why" [Dunwich] (1966) Chicago, IL
21 The Rejects - "Down This Street Before" [Cabell] (1967) Richmond, VA
22 The Warlox - "You Can't Win" [Vermillion] (1967) Alexandria, VA
23 The Clue - "She's The Reason" [Byron] (1967) Midland, TX
24 The Devilles - "You've Made Up My Mind" [Kerry] (1966) Duluth, MN
25 The Missing Lynx - "(You Don't Love Me) Anymore" [Dynovoice] (1966) Cleveland, OH
26 The Rooney Brothers - "Just A Friend" [Columbia] (1968) Los Angeles, CA
27 The Brotherly Lovers - "I'm Gonna Cry" [Eskee] (1965) Philadelphia, PA
28 The Chateaus - "Summer Has Come And Gone" [Jam] (1966) Louisville, KY
29 Creation's Disciples - "I'll Remember" [Dawn] (1966) Bronx, NY

Dark Clouds, Vol. 3

01 Wally & The Rights - "Hey Now Little Girl" [GM] (1967) Gladewater, TX
02 The Blue Dells - "Trust Me" [Starfire] (196?) Cincinnati, OH
03 The Herd - "Sun Has Gone" [Octopus] (196?) East Lansing, MI
04 The Rogues - "Something Beautiful Is Dying" [Mirage] (1966) Dallas, TX
05 The Squiremen Four - "Bitter End" [Squire] (1967) Miami, FL
06 The Preachers - "Pain And Sorrow" [Moonglow] (1965) Los Angeles, CA
07 Bob & Gaylon - "It Belongs To You" [Ventural] (1966) Austin, TX
08 Exchequers - "Is There Some Girl" [Boom] (1965) La Crosse, WI
09 Me & The Other Guys - "I Don't Care" [Hinda] (1967) Centerville, OH
10 The Revolvers - "Like Me" [Ty Tex] (1966) Tyler, TX
11 The Reasons Why - "Why Pack Up" [Amy] (1966) Syosset, NY
12 The Bossmen - "Listen My Girl" [Unreleased] (1966) Flint, MI
13 The Barracudas - "Realize" [Flare] (1966) Bangor, ME
14 The Citations - "Now I'm Gone" [Tuscumbia] (1965) Tuscumbia, AL
15 The Ceeds - "You Won't Do That" [Emlar] (1966) Colorado Springs, CO
16 The Deverons - "Unnoticed" [Raynard] (1965) Milwaukee, WI
17 The Chantells - "I'm Leavin' Here Today" [Century] (196?) VA
18 The Immigrants - "I'm Feelin' Blue" [Starburst] (1966) Salina, KS
19 The Boss Blues - "Before The Dawn" [Direction] (1967) Danbury, CT
20 The Wonders - "Baby Come Back" [MMC] (1966) Omaha, NE
21 The Chessmen - "Sad" [Bismark] (1965) Dallas, TX
22 Neal Ford & The Fanatics - "I Have Thoughts Of You" [Hickory] (1967) Houston, TX
23 Art Guy - "Where You Gonna Go" [Valiant] (1967) Los Angeles, CA
24 The Ill Winds - "(I Won't Cry) So Be On Your Way" [Reprise] (1965) Santa Ana, CA
25 The 7th Seal - "Proud Reflections" [Justice] (1967) Bridgewater, VA
26 The Wild Things - "Love Comes, Love Goes" [Showboat] (1966) Santa Claus, IN
27 The Cornerstones - "You Rule Me" [Metrobeat] (1967] Grand Forks, ND
28 Bobby & Dave with The Royal Flairs - "Hat On Tie" [Tonorous] (196?) Council Bluffs, IA
29 The Sheffields - "Please Come Back" [Destination] (1966) Grand Rapids, MI
30 The Mynt Julep - "Rip Tide" [Ty] (196?) U.S.A.



Download Vol. 1 ----> HERE

Download Vol. 2 -----> HERE

Download Vol. 3------> HERE