Search - Heart So Cold :: Heart So Cold

DIY from the chilly 1960s garages of NE USA

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 09/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As the liner notes point out, there was a lot going on between Elvis' induction into the army and the arrival of the British Invasion. The popular charts may have been clotted with pretty boys, but there were plenty of rock 'n' roll loyalists cranking out 2'30 gems in regional scenes. Bacchus Archives laid out a document of mid-60s Tucson, AZ on 2002's "Think of the Good Times," and now turn their attention to the north country of New York and Vermont.



Much like Tucson, Plattsburgh, NY and Northfield, VT contributed bands, labels and venues to a thriving teen scene. With tracks spanning 1961-1965, there's everything here from Kingsmen-like frat rock to surf sounds and later British Invasion inspired pop and folk-rock. The interconnections between the bands read like the typical garage rock soap opera, lending continuity across the great divide of rock's UK reinvention. Early highlights include a pair of tunes by The Ravens that hang on to Buddy Holly's '50s roots even as the band moves into a more aggressive early-60s sound. The Monterays "Sun Set" similarly edges its prom-ready melody into an early surf context, and "Why Do You Cry" feints towards a doo-wop lead vocal but with a guitar that rings more rock 'n' roll.



"Wild" Bill Kennedy & The Twiliters bridge from the live roller-rink rock of "Shakin' All Over" (reputed to be the first version of this tune cut in America) to the folk-rock of "The Girl From Liverpool." The latter is reminiscent of the sound being developed on the West Coast by The Beau Brummels. A cover of Ronnie Hawkins' "Mary Lou" cops the opening guitar strums of The Beatles' "Things We Said Today" which in turn set the tone for the vocal. The Thunderbolts "There Was I" and "Heart So Cold" also show the same sort of Mersey influence as did The Beau Brummels, with the album's title track picking up the we-can-do-anything vibe of the mid-60s.



There's plenty of great frat-rock here, including The Persuaders "Mojo Workout," replete with growling call-and-response vocals, guitars and sax atop a mix of crowd sounds lifted from a Yankees game. Another great side is Mike & The Ravens' previously unreleased "Ooby Dooby Do" which sounds like The Wailers taking on Ray Charles. Garage rock fans will love The Falcons' "I Gotta See Her," with fuzz guitar and harmonica reminiscent of The Shadows of Knight, and vocals that bring to mind The Strangeloves.



Mastered from a combination of vinyl singles and original tapes, this collection is generally very clean and sports excellent fidelity. Some of these sides have turned up on the hundreds of other garage band compilations, but having pulled them together with detailed liners, Bacchus provides the context that was previously missing. [©2005 hyperbolium dot com]"

Hidden Gems from a different time

J. A. MANKOWSKI | APO, AP United States | 04/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very good CD of lost gems from the Northeast. Lots of mad guitar, low production values, catchy hooks, and one KILLER in the Title track, "Heart So Cold" that SHOULD have been on the Top 40! If you have "PEBBLES" "NUGGETS", and "BACK FROM THE GRAVE" volumes, this will make a nice addition to your collection. If your 60s music collection runs to the popular, give this a try...you wont be disappointed."