GS I Love You: Japanese Garage Bands of the 1960s [Import]

Various Artists - Alternative - Punk | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 13, 1996)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Big Beat UK
• ASIN: B0000004EU
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,187 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #20 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Far East & Asia

Track Listings

1. YOU GAT A CALL ME - The Out Cast

2. EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT - The Out Cast

3. DYNAMITE - The Spiders

4. MONKEY DANCE - The Spiders

5. ONE MORE PLEASE - The Blue Jeans

6. STOP DANCE - The Terrys

7. SHEIVIDE DE YUKO - The Playboy

8. KAETTE OKURE - The Playboy

9. AJOEN AJOEN - The Swing West

10. FIRE - The Swing West

11. LET'S GO RANGERS - The Rangers

12. KOI O KESUNDA - The Napoleon

13. APHRODITE - The Cougars

14. SUKI NANDA - The Cougars

15. WIPE OUT - The Spiders

16. FURI FURI - The Spiders

17. I SAW HER STANDING THERE - The Burns

18. BARA O ANOKONI - The Days And Nights

19. LET'S GO ON THE BEACH - The Out Cast

20. BOKUNO SOBAKARA - The Out Cast

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Japan, like many non-English-speaking countries, was home to a thriving garage/beat band scene in the 1960s. The Japanese scene, at least to Western ears, was more peculiar than most: for one thing, it didn't really kick into gear until well into 1966, and Japanese groups were still playing in an early British Invasion-influenced style until the end of the decade. Singing in both Japanese and heavily accented English, the guitars (as a result of the Ventures huge popularity there) were surf-ish Mosrites, and the material was often a strange fusion of Merseybeat, punk, and over-the-top weirdness. GS I Love You is a 28-track compilation of songs originally released on the Crown and Teichiku labels, and while it's no match for the British groups (or, for that matter, the best beat/punk groups from Holland and Sweden), it's truly like no other '60s rock you've heard. The guitar work is often frenzied and imaginative; the vocals walk the line between tough raunch and low comedy, particularly when they mangle English phonetics (the Swing West's version of Arthur Brown's "Fire," as well as the Out Cast's butchering of "Long Tall Sally" defy printed description). Sound quality and liner notes (in English) are excellent, and cuts like the Blue Jeans "One More Please" are genuinely good fusions of pop and punk, making this a good pickup for the more adventurous '60s collector. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting..., April 16, 2001

By 

David Goodwin (Westchester, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GS I Love You: Japanese Garage Bands of the 1960s (Audio CD)

I bought this because--largely--I expected it to be over the top and psychotic. I was right. But it's also *surprisingly* good, although one gets the sense that there's certainly more interesting material out there that could've been tapped (this release comprises mostly Crown and Teichiku items, which is in itself limiting). What is included, however, it surprising both in its quality and wackiness; the bizarre cover of "Fire" is, well, strange, but it's also very good.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars don't underestimate the japanese music scene!!!, August 23, 1998

By 

fadeaway (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GS I Love You: Japanese Garage Bands of the 1960s (Audio CD)

i bought this cd because I trust anything released from the big beat record label (especially the zombies box set) i did expect this cd to be more of a novelty listen and i was gravely mistaken. the bands on this cd, especially one group called the Outcasts, perform over the top 60s rave -ups like never before heard. I'm a dj and i found plenty here to play to a large audience. I highly recommend this cd if you love the sounds of 60s beat music!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Rocks!, February 26, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GS I Love You: Japanese Garage Bands of the 1960s (Audio CD)

For all of you 60's fans out there, and I know you're listening, buy this! Seriously, I think this is an incredible album. I've been buying j-pop for a little while now and the info inside is a real jem too. I hope this one comes out with a second volume...