Garage/Soul '66

We start with a band that reversed a trend. Many garage bands broke up in the 1960's when one or more of their members were drafted and sent to Vietnam. The Beachnuts was a band made up of young musicians returning from Southeast Asia.
The New Directions turn in a heavy dose of psych with their 1969 track, "Springtime Lady"
Mel Gaines and the Regents shine in the Soul Spotlight with "What'cha Gonna Do?" It's not only a good example of mid-60's soul, but perfectly captures the sound of East Coast beach music.
We finish with a track from the Scorpios. Could it be that the title of the track "Ninety-nine and a Half" is actually a reference to "Ninety-six Tears?" There's a distinct similarity in the organ work...
Remember -- you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast. Just download it straight to your computer from this link!
Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #041 - 99 and a Half and New Directions
The Radio Star
This program we play:
The Beachnuts: What Makes You Think
Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. 1

The New Directions: Springtime Lady
Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. 1
Mel Gaines and the Regents: What'cha Gonna Do?
Ol' Virginia Soul, Part 2
The Scorpios - Ninety-nine and a Half
Lost Souls, Vol. 2 - Garage and Psychedelic Rock from Arkansas and Beyond

There was more going on in Nashville than just country music in the 1960's. We start the show with a group from the Music City known as the House of David.

No, they weren't Jewish. They actually took their name from the recording studio they were in, the House of David. In any case, their 1968 track "A Long Way Back Home" serves up a nice slice of psych.

This time, we present a double shot of soul (just because we can). The first act is Al Glover and Gloria, a seasoned duo from Eastern Virginia. "Til the End of Time" is one of the few songs they saved to vinyl. It's a soulful, laid-back track from 1972.

Our second shot is a lo-fi ballad by Reginald C from 1969. "Take What You Want But Leave a Little Bit" sounds like it was recorded in someone's bedroom, but there's a lot of soul that comes through in the vocals nonetheless.

We finish with "Roses, Roses," by I.D. Mitchell and the Amalgamated Taxi Service. This Arkansas group wrote their war protest song shortly after some of the band members became eligible for the draft!

Remember, you don't need an iPod (or even an iPhone) to enjoy this podcast. Just click on the link below and start listening.

The Radio Star


This program we play:

The House of David - A Long Way Back Home
Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. Fore

Al Glover and Gloria - Til the End of Time
Ol' Virginia Soul, Encore!

Reginald C. - Take What You Want But Leave a Little Bit
Ol' Virginia Soul, Encore!

I.D. Mitchell and the Amalgamated Taxi Service - Roses, Roses
Lost Souls, Vol. 2 - Garage and Psychedelic Rock from Arkansas and Beyond

One of the best bands out of Richmond, VA kick off this episode of the Garage/Soul '66 podcast. Wilson Castle had strong songwriting skills and a mature sound.

For some reason though, their tracks were never released (well, until Arcania International came along that is). This episode they perform a heartfelt ballad, "The Greatest Moment," which might owe  a little of its sound to the Byrds.

Sometimes "rare" doesn't begin to describe the music Arcania International rescues from the past. The Psychotrons' "Death is a Dream" is the lone 45 rpm put out by the group. There are only three copies of this 45 known to exist -- and Arcania International had access to one of them. And so we share this single shot of psych with you.

The Soul Spotlight shines on Blue-Eyed Soul. Not the term, but the group of the same name. This integrated ensemble had a tough time getting gigs in the south, but when they took to the stage, they really delivered. "Are You Ready for This?" Are you ready indeed for Blue-Eyed Soul!

We finish with the Woo Too Country Band and their version of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Whatever you think this song will sound like -- you're likely to be wrong. The band strips this old song down to its essence and reassembles it as a raw-sounding rocker.

Remember, you don't need an iPod (or even an iPhone) to enjoy this podcast. Just click on the link below and start listening.


The Radio Star


This program we play:

Wilson Castle - The Greatest Moment
Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. 3

The Psychotrons - Death is a Dream
Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. Fore

Blue-Eyed Soul - Are You Ready
Ol' Virginia Soul, Part 2

Woo Too Country Band -What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Lost Souls, Vol. 2 - Garage and Psychedelic Rock from Arkansas and Beyond

The Bar Boys from Arkansas start the podcast. In the mid-60's they traveled up to Memphis to do some recording, and their song "That's the Sound of My Heart" comes from that session. I think they got their money's worth.
The Soulmasters may have been from the middle part of Virginia, but their sound was pure East Coast Beach. "You Took Away the Sunshine" has sassy brass and a shuffling groove to it that's perfect for the Carolina Shag (that's a dance, y'all).
We searched for some more vintage soul for the podcast, and came up with William Cummings and "Your Soul-Searching Love." A rock-steady bass and some sweet soulful singing. Score!
Robin and the Hoods finish things up with "Slow Down," from a live 1968 performance.
Remember, you don't need an iPod (or even an iPhone) to enjoy this podcast. Just click on the link below and start listening.
Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #052 - Lost Souls, Vol. 3 The Radio Star
This program we play:
The Bar Boys - That's the Sound of My Heart
Lost Souls, Volume 3
The Soulmasters - You Took Away the Sunshine
Ol' Virginia Soul, Volume 1
William Cummings - Your Soul-Searching Love
Ol' Virginia Soul, Volume 2
Robin and the Hoods - Slow Down
Lost Souls, Volume 3

A mixed bag on this edition of the podcast. We start with the Perpetuated Spirits of Turpentine. The title of their song is almost as long as the group name -- "The Girl With The Sandy Blonde Hair." Far out!
The Smacks were big in the Washington, DC area, and for good reason. One of the two friends that started the group lived in Virginia, the other in Maryland. Their song Reckless Ways is a corker from 1966. Our Soul Spotlight shines Prince George, a regional heavyweight from the Portsmouth, Virginia area. And we finish with the another psychedelic gem from Arkansas, "Colour of My Days" by the Mystic Illusion.
Remember -- you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast. Just download it straight to your computer from this link!
Garage/Soul '66 Podcast #028 Mystic Illusion and the Wrong Crowd
The Radio Star
This program we play:
The Perpetuated Spirits of Turpentine - The Girl With the Sandy Blonde Hair
Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. Fore
The Smacks - Restless Ways
Aliens, Psychos, and Wild Things, Vol. 2
Prince George - Wrong Crowd
Ol' Virginia Soul, Part 2
Mystic Illusion - Colour of My Dayes
Lost Souls, Vol. 1 - Garage and Psychedelic Rock n' Roll from Arkansas