Not as good as VOL. 1, but still has plenty of rockin' tunes
Casey Scott | 06/06/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The follow-up to PEBBLES VOL. 8: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA isn't as jam-packed with classic garage soul-smashers as its predecessor, but still has several good songs I'm glad have been released somewhere! Highlights you'll find yourself loving: Ty Wagner's "I'm a No Count", The Caretakers' "East Side Story", The Standells' "Someday You'll Cry", The Magic Mushrooms' "I'm Gone" (yeah, believe it or not, they recorded something else after "It's A-Happening"!), Fenwyck's "IYE", The The Good Feelins' "Shattered", The Gypsy Trips' "Ain't It Hard" (the Electric Prunes' version is better, though), The Nervous Breakdowns' "I Dig Your Mind", The W.C. Fields' Memorial Electric String Band's "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone" (better than The Monkees' more popular version!), The Velvet Illusions' "Velvet Illusions", Children of the Mushrooms' "August Mademoiselle", The Crumpets' "Mama Baby" (which sounds uncannily like The Chocolate Watchband's "Sweet Young Thing"), The Sounds Unreal's "Scene of the Crime", and The Starfires' "Cry for Freedom" (taken from the only surviving acetate!).There are too many disposable singles here, unfortunately, but don't hesitate to add this to your garage rock collection. It's often better than previous PEBBLES installments in spots, and despite the inclusion of too much psychedelic pap, it's still essential listening."
Awesome Garage Rawk!!!!!
JOHN SPOKUS | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND United States | 05/13/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think this was the first Pebbles volume I found (on vinyl)at a record show. It's still my favorite; I also own #'s 1,3,8 & 13.Great tunes especially "I'm Not Trying To Hurt You","Pretty Girl","Show Me The Way" (no not Frampton!!!), and "The Girl I Threw Away"."