Search - Various Artists :: Destroy That Boy! More Girls with Guitars

DESTROY THAT BOY! MORE GIRLS WITH GUITARS

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 05/24/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One disc 68 minutes approximately. The sound is fine-clean and open with little variance from track to track. The sound has been cleaned up and restored with the usual mastering care from the folks at Ace Records.



This is a follow-up to the previous album GIRLS WITH GUITARS,also from Ace Records. This is,like the first installment,girl groups or girls fronting groups,with the accent on the girls contributions. This set has contributions from all over the western world (Australia,England etc.) and shows how wide a scope r&r truly had on the feminine side. The tunes are from the sixties-which should tell the listener what they're in for. Many of these tracks were inspired by The Beatles rise to fame-a time when everyone wanted to form a band. The arrangements usually have fuzzed out guitar,and a non-stop "beginner" drum sound. Not all the tracks are like that of course. Some are slower with subjects that you usually find in this music-namely boys and girls,and how they don't get along,along with the requisite backing. One of the more interesting tracks here is "Tell Me",the Rolling Stones song,done by THE TERMITES. They play it pretty straight here-sticking to the Stones arrangement,which is slightly surreal,yet a lot of fun to hear.



Some of the more interesting people on these tracks are Scott McKenzie (yes,that Scott McKenzie),who along with the folk singer, Erik Darling,were part of the group PROJECT X. Another short-lived group (weren't they all) THE GIRLS,were actually acquaintances of Sylvester "Sly" Stewart. There song "Here I Am In Love Again" was actually a backing-track done by the BEAU BRUMMELS in 1964. For whatever reason it wasn't finished,so Stewart,who had been hanging out with three Catholic (!) girls,invited them to record a vocal for the unfinished track. Another example is the duo CHERYL AND PAM,whose song,"He's My Guy",was co-written by Steve Cropper,who produced and played guitar on the track. Two interesting tracks performed by the more well known artists here,are the two tracks by Ann-Margret,the dancer and sometime actress. Never a great singer,these are true gems of the era. Her first track,"It's a Nice World to Visit (But Not To Live In)",is full of fuzzed out guitars and a pre-punk attitude in her vocals. The other tune "You Turned My Head Around",has her vocals out front of a semi-Phil Spector arrangement. One of the better finds here is Sharon Tandy. A great vocal with a band that seems in sync with her. Together they produce some good r&r,which is elevated by the white-hot guitar solo that's all fuzzed up. This track is a good indication of what's on her album that's been released on cd ("You Gotta Believe It's...") a while ago.



But these are certainly not the only gems to be heard here. Virtually every track is worth hearing,and will put a smile on your face(listen to "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" by THE PIVOTS,or "He's About A Mover",done here by THE LIVERBIRDS),and set your foot to tapping. And that's what this music was intended to do-no big message,nothing "heavy". Just great music played by groups that never really went anywhere. But that's okay,with this release the listener can go back in time and relive an era that is long gone."