| English Freakbeat, Volume 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album | ||||
| Released | 1989 (LP) 1996 (CD) | |||
| Recorded | Mid-1960s | |||
| Genre | Beat, freakbeat | |||
| Label | AIP | |||
| chronology | ||||
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English Freakbeat, Volume 2 is a compilation album in the English Freakbeat series, featuring recordings that were released decades earlier, in the mid-1960s.
The album was released as an LP in 1989 by AIP Records (as #AIP-10047) and as a CD in 1996 (as #AIP-CD-1047).
The English Freakbeat LPs and CDs have most tracks in common, although not always in the same order, and some of the LP tracks were not included on the CDs. Also, the CD bonus tracks are not always at the end of the album. Thus, for clarity, we have shown tracks for both editions of the album, with vinyl-only tracks and CD bonus tracks indicated.
The following information is taken mostly from the CD liner notes. Glenn Athens & the Trojans – the leader is also known as Glen Athens – were from Surrey and won the local Beat Trophy in 1964; they were named by Mirabel Magazine as the top "semi-pro" band for two straight years. This track is taken from a 1965 EP on Spot Records.
The song by The Sessions was written by Miki Dallon (who was featured as a solo artist on English Freakbeat, Volume 1 ) and was evidently released only in America.
The original incarnation of Mickey Finn as Mickey Finn & the Blue Men in 1964-65 (see English Freakbeat, Volume 4 ) included a young Jimmy Page. Both sides of their final single are included, from late 1967.
The Kubas/the Koobas had early connections with the Beatles; they had not only toured with the legendary band but were also managed by Brian Epstein. Also, they made an appearance in the film Ferry Cross the Mersey . These two previously un-reissued tracks are from the flip side of their first single as the Kubas and from a later release as the Koobas.
"Messin' with the Man" by the Beat Merchants is the "B" side of their first single; the "A" side is on English Freakbeat, Volume 1 . Their second single, "So Fine" was paired with a song by Freddie and the Dreamers in its American issue.
Reportedly, the Wolf Pack is actually the Animals recording under a pseudonym for a soundtrack album called The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood. Released on ABC-Paramount Records, the song may only have been issued in the U.S.
Members of The Syndicats include Steve Howe – a future member of Tomorrow and then Yes – who was the lead guitarist for this track. Their classic "Crawdaddy Simone" can be found on English Freakbeat, Volume 4 .
At one time, the Soul Agents reputedly included John Anthony, who later managed Genesis and other bands. They also served as the backing band for Rod Stewart for several years. Also, three members of this band later joined the Loot, who are featured on English Freakbeat, Volume 1 . These two tracks are from their rare third single.
The history of the Irish band the Wheels – rivals of Van Morrison's early band Them – is recounted in the original liner notes of the landmark Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968, but only in regard to their connections with the Shadows of Knight, who covered several of their songs. "Don't You Know" is the "B" side of their version of Gloria – the band claimed that Morrison wrote it for them! – while "Road Block" is from the flip side of the second single. Another song by the Wheels can be found on English Freakbeat, Volume 4 .
The estimable Joe Meek produced both singles by the Blueberries; "Little Baby" is their first release. Jimmy Page is rumored to have played on this session, but this is denied by the band; their own guitarist Mike Stubbs later joined the Syndicats.
The curious "7 Pounds of Potatoes" – which "come between me and my love", claim the lyrics – is a surprising number from the Dakotas. Although best known for backing Billy J. Kramer (see English Freakbeat, Volume 5 ) on several more pop-oriented recordings in the British Invasion era, the Dakotas made several hit records in their own right, notably "Cruel Sea" from 1963, which was renamed "Cruel Surf" for its U.S. release and was later covered by the Ventures.
The Limeys released six typical Mersey-oriented singles over the 1964 to 1966 period; "Cara-Lin", originally recorded by the Strangeloves is from their final single.
The Lancasters is one of several English artists that were "discovered" by Kim Fowley in the 1963-1965 period. This is yet another track in the English Freakbeat series that was released only in the U.S., in December 1964. Among the bandmembers are Ritchie Blackmore, one of the co-founders of Deep Purple. "Satan's Holiday" is actually the venerable "Hall of the Mountain King".
Side 1:
Side 2:
The Outsiders were an American rock and roll band from Cleveland, Ohio, that was founded and led by guitarist Tom King. The band released the hit single "Time Won't Let Me" in early 1966, which peaked at No. 5 in the US in April. The band had three other Hot 100 top 40 hit singles in 1966, but none on the Hot 100 afterwards, and released a total of four albums in the mid-1960s.
Freakbeat is a loosely defined subgenre of rock and roll music developed mainly by harder-driving British groups during the Swinging London period of the mid-to late 1960s. The genre bridges British Invasion R&B, beat and psychedelia.
Pebbles is a compilation of US underground and garage single record releases from the mid- to late-1960s. It had a limited original release in 1978 and a more general release in 1979. It was followed by several subsequent Pebbles compilations and albums. This album is nowadays known as Pebbles, Volume 1 and was originally issued in 1978 as Pebbles, Volume One: Artyfacts from the First Punk Era, an obvious riff on Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, a similar, groundbreaking compilation from 1972.
Pebbles, Volume 4 is a compilation album in the Pebbles series that has been issued in both LP and CD formats. Unlike other volumes in the series – which compile obscure garage rock and psychedelic rock music – Volume 4 collects rare examples of surf rock. The LP is subtitled Summer Means Fun, while the CD is subtitled Surf N Tunes. Another Pebbles, Volume 4 was issued on CD a few years earlier by ESD Records and has completely different tracks.
Pebbles, Volume 6 is a compilation album among the LPs in the Pebbles series. Subtitled The Roots of Mod, Volume 6 is the only album in the Pebbles series that features primarily British music. The Pebbles, Volume 6 CD is not at all related to this LP; instead, the CD featuring the songs on this LP was released as English Freakbeat, Volume 6.
The Pebbles Box is a 5-LP box set of mid-1960s garage rock and psychedelic rock recordings, primarily by American bands. Several years later, a similar 5-CD box set was released that was called the Trash Box. The Pebbles Box purports to collect the first five volumes of the Pebbles series, although there are fewer songs than on the original LPs: 72 total tracks on the five discs, as compared with 86 on the original LPs. Also, as is generally true of the CD reissues of these five volumes, the tracks differ significantly on all five discs as compared to both the original Pebbles LPs and the later Pebbles CDs in the corresponding volumes; and the surf rock rarities on Pebbles, Volume 4 have been eschewed entirely.
The Syndicats were an English beat band formed in September 1963 in North London with Thomas Ladd on vocals, Steve Howe on guitar and backing vocals, Kevin Driscoll on bass and backing vocals, Jeff Williams on organ and piano, and John "Truelove" Melton on drums. The latter was replaced by Paul Holm on their last single in 1965. This was Steve Howe's first group. When he left The Syndicats to join the band The In Crowd in November 1965, he was replaced by guitarist Ray Fenwick, who was subsequently replaced by Peter Banks. Banks went on to be the first guitarist in Yes, and was then replaced by Howe in 1970.
Pebbles, Volume 7 is a compilation album among the CDs in the Pebbles series; it is subtitled Chicago 2. The previous CD in the series, Pebbles, Volume 6 also features bands from Chicago, as does the LP Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 4.
Pebbles, Volume 8 is a compilation album among the CDs in the Pebbles series; it is subtitled Southern California 1. The next CD in the series, Pebbles, Volume 9 also feature bands from Southern California; while Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 1, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 2, and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 3 showcase music from Los Angeles specifically.
Pebbles, Volume 9 is a compilation album among the CDs in the Pebbles series; it is subtitled Southern California 2. The previous CD in the series, Pebbles, Volume 8 also features bands from Southern California; while Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 1, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 2, and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 3 showcase music from Los Angeles specifically.
Pebbles, Volume 10 is a compilation album among the CDs in the Pebbles series.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties were a series of compilation albums released in the mid 1980s on AIP Records developed by Greg Shaw. The series was spun off of the similar Pebbles series. Each volume focuses on a specific geographical region.
The English Freakbeat series is a group of five compilation albums, released in the late 1980s, that were issued by AIP Records. The LPs featured recordings that were released in the mid-1960s by English rock bands in the early punk, proto-punk, R&B, mod, and beat genres. The series served as a follow-up to the Pebbles, Volume 6 LP, itself subtitled The Roots of Mod, which was the only album in the Pebbles series that was devoted to English music. When the English Freakbeat series was reissued as CDs in the 1990s, the Pebbles, Volume 6 LP was adapted into the English Freakbeat, Volume 6 CD.
English Freakbeat, Volume 1 is a compilation album in the English Freakbeat series, featuring recordings that were released decades earlier, in the mid-1960s.
English Freakbeat, Volume 3 is a compilation album in the English Freakbeat series, featuring recordings that were released decades earlier, in the mid-1960s.
English Freakbeat, Volume 4 is a compilation album in the English Freakbeat series, featuring recordings that were released decades earlier, in the mid-1960s.
English Freakbeat, Volume 5 is a compilation album in the English Freakbeat series, featuring recordings that were released decades earlier, in the mid-1960s.
The Koobas were an English beat group from Liverpool. Their music, and their early history, is similar in some ways to that of fellow Liverpudlians The Beatles, though they never achieved widespread popularity.
Michael F. Waller, also known by the stage name Mickey Finn, was an English guitarist.
"It's a Cry'n Shame" is a song written by Seab Meador and Mike Kelley and was recorded in 1966 by the Gentlemen, an American garage rock band from Dallas, Texas who were active between 1964 and 1968. It was originally released as the B-side to "You Can't Be True" but has become by far the better-known song. "It's a Cry'n Shame" has been included in several garage rock compilations and is now recognized as one of the greatest songs in the genre.
