The Highs in the Mid-Sixties series is a group of 23 compilation albums of garage rock and psychedelic rock recordings that were issued by AIP Records in the mid-1980s. [1] This series is a companion to the Pebbles series of similar music; the title is technically preceded by "Pebbles Presents:". The title sounds like it might have come from a weather report, although "Highs" intends to mean "the best" (and is also an apparent drug reference), while the recordings on these albums were originally released in the mid-1960s.
The individual albums in the Pebbles series include records from throughout the US, along with a few from Canada and other countries. Additionally, the Pebbles, Volume 6 LP features British bands, while the recordings on The Continent Lashes Back sub-series within the Pebbles series are taken from continental Europe. By contrast, the recordings on the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series are strictly by American artists, and the individual albums showcase garage rock recordings by bands from particular cities, states and regions. As a result, many of the albums evidence a particular regional "sound" in the musical scene in that part of the country.
The first three albums concentrate on recordings that were released in the Los Angeles area; this is appropriate, since AIP Records is headquartered in southern California. However, the specific years are not actually correct, since the original years of release are not limited to the year shown on any of these three albums. Further information on the nature of the music is given in the article on the Pebbles series.
The areas that are documented in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series cover a large portion of the nation, particularly between the Pacific Coast and the Mississippi River. However, the series is hardly comprehensive; among the notable omissions are New York, along with the rest of the Northeast, plus San Francisco (although the last album among the CDs in the Pebbles series, Pebbles, Volume 11 covers northern California). Areas that are particularly rich in excellent garage rock recordings are represented by several LPs; for example, five of the albums are devoted to Texas, which is probably the most widely anthologized state on compilation albums of this type of music. However, the only areas that are not represented on at least two of the albums are Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 4 (Chicago) and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 18 (Colorado).
Unlike the Pebbles series – which has been released over an extended period of time by several record labels and in a variety of formats – the 23 albums in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series were released only as LPs and in a short time span of 1983 to 1986 (in fact, the 23rd album is the only 1986 release). This is one of the fastest series of releases among garage rock compilation albums. By way of example, the 28 LPs in the Pebbles series were released between 1978 and 1988, and the 20 LPs in the Rubble series were released between 1984 and 2002.
AIP Records is a record label that was started by Greg Shaw's Bomp! Records in 1983 to continue the Pebbles series. AIP stands for "Archive International Productions". The first 10 volumes in the Pebbles series had been released by BFD Records of Kookaburra, Australia in 1979–1980 and have been kept in print by AIP for many years. Including those in the companion Highs in the Mid-Sixties series – which concentrated on American regional music scenes – there are over 50 LPs covering some 800 obscure, mostly American "Original Punk Rock" songs recorded in the mid-1960s – primarily known today as the garage rock and psychedelic rock genres – that were previously known only to a handful of collectors.
Pebbles is an extensive series of compilation albums in both LP and CD formats that have been issued on several record labels, though mostly by AIP. Together with the companion Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, the Pebbles series made available over 800 obscure, mostly American "Original Punk Rock" songs recorded in the mid-1960s — primarily known today as the garage rock and psychedelic rock genres — that were previously known only to a handful of collectors. In 2007, the release of the Pebbles, Volume 11: Northern California CD marked the final album in the Pebbles series. The following year, Bomp! marked the 30th anniversary of the original Pebbles album with a spartan, limited-edition, clear-vinyl reissue complete with the original pink cover insert.
Pebbles, Volume 6: Chicago Pt. 1, also known as Chicago 1, is a compilation album featuring American garage and psychedelic rock musical artists from the 1960s that were associated with the Chicago music scene. It is a compact disc installment of the Pebbles series, and was released on AIP Records in 1994.
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.
The Essential Pebbles Collection is a series of compilation albums of obscure garage rock and psychedelic rock recordings that were originally released in the mid-1960s. As the name implies, the series was created by AIP Records as a distillation of the albums in the Pebbles series and the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series that had been released in earlier years. Only two more albums in the Pebbles series have been issued since the Essential Pebbles series was begun.
The Human Expression was an American garage and psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles that released three well-regarded singles, and made additional demo recordings between 1966 and 1967.
The Outcasts are an American garage rock band from San Antonio, Texas that released a total of five singles between 1965 and 1967. Their best-known songs are "I'm in Pittsburgh ", and "1523 Blair". Their recordings have been reissued on a number of compilation albums. According to the Ugly Things compilation album notes, they are the most recognized band of this name that were active in the mid-1960s, including another popular band from Manhasset, New York.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 1 is a compilation album of American garage rock and psychedelic rock recordings from the mid to late 1960s. It was the first in a series that is nearly as long as the earlier Pebbles series of similar music, although the Highs albums concentrate strictly on particular regions of the US – in this case, recordings that were released in Los Angeles, California..
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 2 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Los Angeles, California.. The subtitle is taken from Riot on Sunset Strip ; the film features live performances by two classic garage-rock bands, the Standells and the Chocolate Watchband.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 3 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Los Angeles.. The subtitle is seemingly taken from Mondo Cane, an influential 1962 documentary film.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 6 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Michigan. Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 5 and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 19 are other volumes in the series featuring bands from this state.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 7 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Washington and Oregon. Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 14 and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 16 are later volumes in the series that feature bands from these states.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 8 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in the South excluding Texas. Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 22 is a later volume in the series that features bands from these Southern states.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 10 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Wisconsin. A later volume in the series, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 15 also features bands from this state.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 11 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Texas. This is one of five volumes in the series that collects songs by Texas bands; the others are Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 12, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 13, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 17, and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 23.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 13 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Texas. This is one of five volumes in the series that collects songs by Texas bands; the others are Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 11, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 12, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 17, and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 23.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 17 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Texas. This is one of five volumes in the series that collects songs by Texas bands; the others are Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 11, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 12, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 13, and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 23.
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 20 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series; it is subtitled L.A., Part 4 and features recordings that were released in Los Angeles. Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 1, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 2, and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 3 also showcase music from Los Angeles; while two of the later CDs in the Pebbles series, Pebbles, Volume 8 and Pebbles, Volume 9 feature bands from throughout Southern California.
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.
The Grains of Sand were an American garage rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. For a period, the group exerted a promising presence in Los Angeles's music scene, releasing three singles in their recording career, the second of which was produced by Kim Fowley. Much of the band's material found on their first two releases have since been compiled on several compilation albums, including Pebbles, Volume 1, and is cited by critics as classics of the garage rock genre.