Psycho-Sonic

Sonics | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 2003)
• ASIN: B000A2PB4S
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,651,700 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Witch

2. Do You Love Me

3. Roll Over Beethoven

4. Boss Hoss

5. Dirty Robber

6. Have Love, Will Travel

7. Psycho

8. Money (That's What I Want)

9. Walking the Dog

10. Night Time Is the Right Time

11. Strychnine

12. Good Golly Miss Molly

13. The Hustler

14. Psycho [Live]

15. Cinderella

16. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

17. Skinny Minnie

18. Let the Good Times Roll

19. Don't You Just Know It

20. Jenny, Jenny

See all 29 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

THE ORIGINAL PUNK ROCK BAND. Back in the mid-1960s, the legendary Sonics took rock 'n' roll by the scruff of the neck and thrashed it to within an inch of its sorry life, leaving a legacy of some of the most savage, visceral recordings ever made. Compiling their no-holds-barred Etiquette sessions, Psycho-Sonic is the ultimate Sonics anthology.

One of the best selling Big Beat releases of recent years has been Psycho-Sonic, a comprehensive collection of all the sides the much-feted kings of garage rock recorded for the Etiquette label in 1964/65. Only the most cloistered of music fans would be unaware of the mighty Tacoma combo's influence and importance, now stronger than ever thanks to young bucks such as the White Stripes, Hives, Vines etc. constantly dropping the band's name.

With access to first generation tapes recently uncovered by Big Beat's ongoing celebration of the catalogue of Sonics' mentors, the Wailers, we figured it was time to give this decade-old compilation a spring clean.

The newly upgraded Psycho-Sonic features vastly improved sound quality on all tracks, with many presented in ear-blistering true stereo remixes, but taken from the actual tape the band recorded onto, and mastered with Big Beat's customarily sensitive mastering.

The set's sequencing and flow have also been improved, delivering an entertaining and invigorating program from start to finish. Track for track, the first half-hour of this disc is the wildest, most visceral rock 'n' roll listen you're ever likely to have. Also included is a far more in-depth overview of the group's career by reissue producer Alec Palao, based on fresh, first-hand interviews with the band and their associates, including the legendary Sonics' lead singer/songwriter/screamer Jerry Roslie. The revamped package also includes a feast of unseen outtakes from the band's famed photo sessions - photographer Jini Dellaccio granted us full access to her incredible archive of Sonics pictures - plus the usual memorabilia and label shots. For Sonics, start here. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHHOOAAARRGGGGGHHHHHH !, March 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Psycho-Sonic (Audio CD)

That's how you could sum up the Sonics' sound. They played the hardest rock'n'roll that could be played in 1964-65. Their screamer, I mean singer, Jerry Roslie, is fantastic. Not the greatest voice in the world but let's say he puts his heart (and guts) in what he sings. "Do you love me" is incredible : the first five seconds are so loud you could think your stereo will explode, and what follows is something that would make a dead body dance. There's also "Keep a Knockin'", sung in G, almost as high as Little Richard, and when Jerry Roslie sings it you could believe he won't manage to reach the end of the song as he breaks his voice again and again. And what about "Psycho", a self-penned rock'n'roll number ? And "The Witch", and "He's waitin'", which are proto-hard rock numbers ? Even "Louie Louie" is turned into something threatening, raw and loud. A fantastic record. And I'm not an old nostalgic Sonics fan, I'm 22 and I discovered them through the "Nuggets" box set.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They've Got The Feeling, For Real, February 22, 2005

By 

Spiritof67 "spiritof67" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Psycho-Sonic (Audio CD)

Whenever I hear about "garage rock" I brace myself: let's face it, this term has been used to describe everything from the worst sub-high school battle of the bands tripe to misguided attempts to ape other contemporary bands to God knows what.

This is different. The Sonics make it so obvious that they CARE about what's being played and sung that any "faults" or "omissions" are just forgotten in the pure fun of rock and roll in the pre-critic era. Jerry's scream is so, well, visceral he loses his voice a couple of times in songs because he's trying so hard! The playing in the band is never less than servicable, often wonderful, occasionally inspirational. And the best part, the most realistic part, is that all the "you-gotta-play-'em" songs that they would have been forced to play (or not get paid..) at the local bar/high school auditorium/roller rink are on here too, from "Jenny, Jenny" to "Don't You Just Know It", to "Since I Fell For You", whether they knew (or sung) all of the lyrics or not. "Since", as a matter of fact, is missing a whole stanza - and it don't matter! The spirit of the age was "Do you know this song?" "Well, mostly" "Good, let's do it!"

THAT's WHAT GARAGE WAS REALLY ALL ABOUT - AMBITION HAD TO OUTSTRIP ABILITY - BUT NOT TALENT!

This is a great CD. You will not be able to avoid singing (screaming?) along with it, and laughing all the time. A gem.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here Are The Sonics!!, February 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Psycho-Sonic (Audio CD)

Man!! This is one great CD! Lous, Fast Rude, Dirty Rock N' Roll. It doesn't get much better than hearing Gerry Roslie screaming at the top of his lungs to groovy riffs and an overall great album!