A History of Garage & Frat Bands in Memphis 1960-1975, Vol. 1

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 2, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1960
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shangri-La Projects
• ASIN: B00005QG2J
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,932 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Uptight, Tonight (Flash and the Casuals)

2. Rising Mercury Twist (LeSabres)

3. Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Danny Burk and the Invaders)

4. Can't Find a Way (Joe Frank and the Knights)

5. I Tell No Lies (The Escapades)

6. Seven Little Numbers (The Rapids)

7. Leaning on You (The Yo-Yo's)

8. Ain't Got You (The Jades)

9. Possibility (The Coachmen)

10. The Mysterians (Jimmy Tarbutton and the Memphis Sound)

11. Land of Soul (The Rapscallions)

12. All I Want Is You (Shadden and the King Lears)

13. Blue Music Box (The Changin' Tymes)

14. Save a Chance (The Castels)

15. These Windows (The Village Sound)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Collection of Rare Garage Tracks, June 21, 2004

By 

Z. Stiegler "stiegler_z" (Iowa City, IA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A History of Garage & Frat Bands in Memphis 1960-1975, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

Upon first spinning this compilation, listeners will be struck by the audio quality. Certainly, the raw, grainy tone of garage rock is to be embraced, but the quality of the actual production here is definitely not up to industry standards. It's clear that these selections come straight from vinyl sources, and not master recordings. But you have to put that aside for a variety of factors. For one, the overwhelming majority of these tunes are not available elsewhere on cd. Secondly, it is highly possible that the master tapes for these records have either been destroyed or lost over the last 30+ years. Keep in mind too that these hail from small local labels of the era.

With all of that said, once the music is actually moving the molecules around in your room, you will easily overlook
the sonic shortcomings of the recordings presented here. Each track is a gem, and as a whole, the compilation presents fifteen unique, yet consistent-sounding songs spanning 15 years. A track by track analysis isn't necessary, although I will say that The Yo-Yo's take on Billy Joe Royal's "Leaning On You" is nothing short of a masterpiece. That track alone makes this a worthwhile purchase (and admittedly, was my personal motivation for seeking it out). My only real complaint is that, clocking in at 33 minutes, the second volume could have easily been placed on the same disc.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Memphis Rock & Roll!, January 17, 2010

By 

Michael L. Nunnally "scout" (Memphis, TN.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A History of Garage & Frat Bands in Memphis 1960-1975, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

While the general public probably never heard most of these groups they were the top groups in Memphis, Tenn., in the late 60's and early 70's. Rousing rock and roll from the local underground scene. "Don't Send Me No Flowers" by the Breakers, along with Honey Jug's "Warm City Baby," should have been national hits. Memphis garage Rock and Roll played in smokey, dimly lit frat rooms and high school hops. The "unknown" Memphis music, at its best.