Outstanding regional 1960s rock from Northern NY and VT
hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 06/20/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first volume of this series, "Heart So Cold!: The North Country 60's Scene" pulled together eighteen regional rock 'n' roll sides that fell between Elvis' induction into the army and the coming of the British Invasion. Volume two adds eighteen more, stretching the time frame to include the waning years of rock's first emergence in the '50s through to the transition of mid-60s beat rock into psychedelia. Both volumes mine their selections from the Plattsburgh, NY and Burlington, VT scenes, pulling in sides from the Rondack and Melbourne labels and several smaller indies.
The variety here is a regional microcosm of the larger American rock scene, spurred on by local radio play and friendly competition in local battles-of-the-bands and nightclubs. The earliest tracks include the slap-back rockabilly of The Rockers' 1958 "Rock, Rock, Rocket Ship," and the Elvis/Ricky influenced cover of "Tryin' to Get to You" by The Tyros. The Vistas, easily the collection's most versatile band, offer up Gary Usher styled car songs and frat rock from '64, and Brit-inspired beat music, folk-rock and lite-psych from '65. There's twangy sax-surf, an East Side styled stomper, frat rockers, and even the New Orleans influenced second-line rhythm of Freedie & The Freeloaders "The Octopus Song." For hard-core garage fans, the just-turned-15-year-olds of the Kon-Taks turn in the disc's most raw and truly Pebbles-worth rocker, "One of These Days."
As with volume one, this set was remastered from a combination of original tapes, vinyl singles and acetates, but even the occasional snap, crackle or pop can't detract from the vitality and wide-eyed lack of major label calculation heard throughout. Some of these tracks have turned up on other garage collections, but several are heard here for the first time anywhere; besides, pulling them together into a scene-oriented volume and adding Will Shade's liner notes makes this a super solid package. Surprisingly, given that this is the second dip into the upstate waters, this collection is even stronger than volume one! Fans who can't get enough are also recommended to the companion Mike & The Ravens' release, "Nevermore: Plattsburgh 62 and Beyond." [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
