The best thing about 1960’s and 1970’s garage and psych music is that, once everything hits at the right time and in the right place, you’ll hear an amazing two-minute gem.ย It might be the best thing the band ever recorded, or it might be a small prelude to something they’ll make in the future.ย It’ll get pressed on a 7-inch platter of polystyrene, and maybe a few copies will sell here and there.
And it’ll eventually land on a weblog playlist like K-Chuck Radio.
So let’s crank up the computer speakers and enjoy…
THE CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
The San Francisco garage / psych band had several hits, including “Sweet Young Thing” and “Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love-In),” but they also had a chance to cover this Bob Dylan classic, and their efforts created this nice little masterpiece.
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION
Trouble Every Day
Frank Zappa and the Mothers.ย Let this soak in for a second.ย This is the band that helped produce one of the most enigmatic and brilliant singers / songwriters / satirists / guitarists in rock music history.
MOTHER’S WORRY
Can’t Seem to Come Down
Gotta love this psychedelic garage sound. Kinda makes me wish there was more about this group than just this track.
SIMON T. STOKES
Big City Blues
It’s strange to hear this snarling, twangy guitar-thick recording on a label that finds a more direct association to The Flintstones, but stranger things have happened.
CRABBY APPLETON
Go Back
Crabby Appleton was a San Francisco-based psych band whose only hit dug into the Billboard Top 40 in 1970.ย Their name was once shared with one of the villains in the Tom Terrific cartoon series.
THE FUN AND GAMES
The Grooviest Girl in the World
This Texas-based sunshine pop band’s track was racing up the charts when their manager introduced the band at a music industry function.ย The lead singer took the time to berate the audience at the showcase – including many top movers and shakers in the music world – and the song’s promotions quickly stopped.ย The band broke up later, leaving only this sweet fragment of a potential hit record.
TOM THUMB
Witchi Tai To
This song has been recorded by several artists, and is maybe the only pop track with actual Native American lyrics.ย Wow.
THE VEJTABLES
I Still Love You
Another California-based group; the Vejtables were one of the few pop groups of the 1960’s to feature a female drummer in its otherwise male-dominated lineup (the Honeycombs of “Have I The Right?” were the other).
JAY TELFER
Hippy Philosophy
This Canadian Bo Diddley-influenced track sure sounds as thick as a Canadian singer-songwriter can make it.ย “I can cook a Kraft Dinner in a half an hour // so why don’t you love me?”
THE EYES OF DAWN
Time To Be Going
This song, originally recorded by the Fortunes, was the only hit for The Eyes of Dawn, who had the misfortune of opening for Eric Burdon and the Animals – at a concert where Burdon refused to perform until the band was paid, causing a riot at the venue.ย The Eyes of Dawn broke up shortly thereafter.
A nice collection of pop garage and psych nuggets here… and more to follow as time progresses.
Right here on your station for the best music in the world… K-Chuck Radio!
Chuck The Writer 
The Bees-Voices Green and Purple!
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And a request this week from Philly Boy Roy on K-Chuck Radio, here’s the Bees with their hit, “Voices Green and Purple.”
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What a great list of music. I had the single, “Go Back.” Living so close to the Canadian border, we were lucky enough to be able to listen to Montreal’s CKGM. They played the song, I bought the single.
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