The Humans | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Albion, New York, United States |
Genres | |
Years active | 1964–1966 |
Labels | Audition |
Past members |
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The Humans were an American garage rock band from Albion, New York who were active in the 1960s. They were popular in the region, touring throughout the Northeast, and enjoyed a regional hit, with the single "Take a Taxi" b/w "Warning", that received airplay in other markets around the country. "Warning" has become especially valued amongst garage rock enthusiasts and was included on the Back from the Grave compilation series.
The Humans formed in the summer of 1964 in Albion, New York, twenty miles north of Batavia and not far from Rochester. [1] [2] [3] All six of their members had been in the high school marching band when they decided to start a rock band. [1] Their membership consisted of Dick Doolan on vocals, Danny Long on vocals and harmonica, Bill Kuhns on lead guitar, Gar Trusselle on keyboards, Marty Busch on bass, and Jack Dumrese on drums. [1] They picked the name "Humans" as a humorous comment on the trend of bands being named after insects and animals in the fashion of British Invasion groups such as the Beatles and the Animals. [1] The group's manager was Al Cecere out Rochester, who had them signed with Premier Talent Associates (PTA) in New York City. [1] The group's agent with Premier was Rich Nader who later went on to promote rock festivals across the country. [1] The Humans gained regional popularity, touring throughout the northeast and opening for several big-name acts, such as the Hollies and opened on several occasions for Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. [1] They played a two-week engagement in Miami with the Standells and in 1966 performed at the Rheingold Festival in Central Park in Manhattan. [1] The group became close friends with another New York band, the Heard (not to be confused with other groups of the same name), who were also managed by Al Cecere. [1] They alternated with Caesar and His Romans from Buffalo at Oak Orchard Lanes, a popular bowling alley and nightspot in Albion. [1] Well-known acts such as The Rivieras and the Shadows of Knight played at Oak Orchard Lanes. [1]
Their manager Cecere owned a label, Audition Records. [1] In 1966 they went to Riposo Studios in Syracuse to record a single for Audition, "Take a Taxi" b/w "Warning", which was released in June 1966. [1] [2] [4] [5] Though "Warning" was on the B-side, it would later become their best-known song amongst garage rock enthusiasts. [1] [2] [4] The A-side "Take a Taxi" was a folk rock-influenced number. [1] Lead guitarist Bill Kuhns (listed as William R. Kuhns, Jr. on the label) composed both songs. [1] Both songs became regional hits, enjoying airplay in the Northeast, and well as in other markets around the country. [1] According to keyboardist Gar Trusselle, Billboard reported that the Humans' record reached the top twenty in Michigan and Texas. [1] Both "Take a Taxi" and "Warning" became staples of their live sets. [1] The group, whose hair was considered long for 1966, ran into frequent harassment. [1] They band rented an abandoned movie theater in Albion and created their own venue there, naming it "Happiness Is..." [1] In September 1966 vocalist and harmonica player Danny Long died in an automobile accident, which was the first in a series of events that eventually led to the group's demise. [1] [2] The draft board began to target several members of the group for conscription into the Vietnam War. [1] The Humans played their last show at Happiness Is... in November 1966 and by the year's end had disbanded. [1]
The Humans' work has come to the attention of garage rock enthusiasts with the release of "Warning" on the 1985 compilation Back from the Grave, Volume 5 (Crypt Records). [6] [7] According to the list of the 1000 greatest garage rock records of all time voted on by a panel of garage rock writers and experts in Mike Markesich's Teebeat Mayhem, "Warning" is ranked at #128 (out of the more than 16,000 records included in the book). [8]
Ed Wool and The Nomads were an American rock band from Watertown, New York led by Ed Wool, who were active in the 1960s and early 1970s. At the time, they were one of the most popular bands in northern upstate New York and also recorded under other names such as the Sure Cure and the Pineapple Heard, eventually becoming Wool, and recording a self-titled album under that name in 1969. They briefly reunited for two shows in 2007 and 2008.
The Savages were a garage rock band from Bermuda that were active in the mid-1960s. They are best remembered for their album, Live 'n Wild, which was composed largely of self-penned tunes and recorded in front of a live audience, has been mentioned as a seminal work in the genre, and features the song, "The World Ain't Round It's Square". This song has become regarded as a classic 1960s anthem of youthful defiance.
The Lemon Fog were an American garage rock/psychedelic rock band from Houston, Texas who were active from 1965–1970. They were one of the earliest bands to emerge from the Houston psychedelic scene, and recorded several singles for Orbit Records. The group also recorded a handful of outtakes and demos which, along with their issued singles, have been released on the anthology The Psychedelic Sound Of Summer With The Lemon Fog.
The Mad Hatters were an American garage rock band from Annapolis, Maryland who were active in the 1960s and had a following in the Washington DC and Baltimore area. They enjoyed brief local and regional success with their first single, "I Need Love," released in 1965, later recorded by the Time Stoppers. Though they failed to reach a wider audience, in the intervening years since their breakup they have become known amongst garage rock collectors and enthusiasts. Their 1966 song "I'll Come Running" has also become a song highly regarded amongst enthusiasts.
The Liberty Bell was an American garage rock/psychedelic rock band from Corpus Christi, Texas who were active in the 1960s. They specialized in a blues-based brand of proto-punk influenced by British groups such as the Yardbirds. The band failed to reach wider audience in the time, but have come to the attention of garage rock collectors and enthusiasts in the intervening years since their breakup, with their work appearing on several compilations.
The Stillroven were an American garage rock and psychedelic band from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, outside of Minneapolis, who were active in 1965–1969. They became a local success, enjoying a hit in the Twin Cites area with their version of "Hey Joe". In hopes of reaching a wider audience they relocated, playing for a short time in Tucson, Arizona, but eventually moved their base of operations to Denver, Colorado, where they briefly signed to A&M Records, recording an unreleased album for the label. The group made recordings at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico, before moving to Washington, DC in 1969 and auditioning in New York City to secure another recording arrangement that never materialized. In the intervening years since their breakup in 1969, the group's work has attracted the attention of garage rock and psychedelic enthusiasts and has been included on various re-issues and compilations.
The Penthouse 5 were an American garage rock band from Oak Cliff, Texas, a suburb of Dallas and were active from 1964-1967. The band's style was highly influenced by popular British acts like the Beatles and the Kinks, as well as the folk rock of the Byrds. In 1967 they shortened their name to the Penthouse and also began to play occasional gigs with a horn section as a soul outfit under the name of Dr. William’s Soul Emporium.
T.C. Atlantic was an American garage rock/psychedelic rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota who were active in the 1960s. They were one of the most popular groups in the Twin Cities, but failed to break nationally. In the intervening years since their breakup, their recordings have attracted the interest of '60s music collectors and enthusiasts, and they are particularly remembered for their 1966 fuzz-tinged song, "Faces", which has been mentioned as one of the earliest garage rock songs to display psychedelic characteristics.
The Outsiders were an American garage rock band from Tampa, Florida who were active in the 1960s. They are not to be confused with the better-known group, the Outsiders, from Cleveland, Ohio, nor with The Outsiders from the Netherlands, both of whom were active at the same time.
Sir Winston and the Commons were an American garage rock band formed in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1963. The group released two highly regarded singles, which, upon release, earned the band a regional following, and resulted in reinterest in their music over the years. At the height of their popularity, Sir Winston and the Commons were regulars at the teen dance club the Cellar, in Chicago.
Hang It Out to Dry! is a compilation of garage rock recordings from the 1960s first issued by Satan Records in 1994 which is available in two versions, both on LP and in extended form on CD. It features some of the more upbeat and rocking examples of the genre.
The Aardvarks were an American garage rock band from Muskegon, Michigan who were active between 1964-1968. They recorded three singles, two of which were issued on labels of Dave Kalmback's Fenton Records based in Sparta, Michigan. The group scored a local hit with "I'm Higher than I'm Down", which is now considered a garage rock classic, and several of their songs have been included in garage rock compilations.
The Escapades were an American garage rock band from Memphis, Tennessee who were active in the 1960s. They became one of the most popular groups in the Memphis area during the mid-1960s and recorded two singles. "I Tell No Lies", the A-side of their debut single, became a big hit in Memphis and around the South. They were signed to Verve Records, who released their follow-up, "Mad, Mad, Mad", which featured a fuzz-toned guitar line. Their work is highly regarded by garage rock enthusiasts and collectors and has appeared on various compilations.
The Breakers were an American garage rock band from Memphis, Tennessee who were active in the 1960s. They became one of the most popular bands in the Memphis area and enjoyed considerable success with their regional hit "Don't Bring Me No Flowers ". There has been a resurgence of interest in the Breakers amongst garage rock collectors and enthusiasts in recent years.
Public Nuisance was an American rock band from Sacramento, California who were active from 1964-1970, first as Moss & the Rocks, then later as Public Nuisance. In 1965 they recorded the song "There She Goes" as Moss & the Rocks for a single released on the local Icon label. After changing their name to Public Nuisance in 1967, they began to incorporate psychedelic elements into their sound and a series of mostly unreleased songs recorded at various sessions from 1968-1969 that went for years unissued, but finally saw the light of day in 2002 with the release of the Gotta Survive anthology. Since then, their work, both as Moss & the Rocks and Public Nuisance, has attracted the attention of garage rock and psychedelic enthusiasts worldwide.
Lawson and Four More were an American garage rock/psychedelic rock band from Memphis, Tennessee, who were active in the 1960s. The group was led by Bobby Lawson and was known for their hard, blues-based sound which, as they evolved, increasingly incorporated esoteric psychedelic elements. The group regularly worked with musician, songwriter, and producer Jim Dickinson and cut the first rock release for Memphis label, Ardent Records. As a side-project, they briefly recorded under the name The Avengers, as a Batman-themed takeoff group in 1966.
Randy and the Radiants were an American garage rock band from Memphis, Tennessee who were active from 1962 to 1966 and then again 1976–1984. They were one of the most popular groups in the Memphis area during the 1960s. Through their association with Knox Phillips, son of Sam Phillips, they signed with Sun Records and recorded two singles on the label which became hits in the region. Their second release, "My Way of Thinking", became one of the top hits in the area, reaching #1 on WGMN's charts. The group's work has today become highly regarded amongst garage rock enthusiasts and collectors.
The Dagenites were an American garage rock a band from Oxon Hill, Maryland near Washington, DC, who were active in the 1960s. They shared management and frequent billing with noted guitarist and performer Link Wray. In recent years their work has become highly regarded amongst garage rock enthusiasts and collectors and has been included on several compilations. The Dagenites are especially known for their proto-punk anthems, "I Don't Want to Try it Again" and "I'm Gone Slide", both of which have been mentioned as garage rock classics.
The Kings Ransom were an American garage rock band from Allentown, Pennsylvania who were active from 1965 to 1968 and were a popular act in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as around Philadelphia. Their record "Shame" became a hit in Milton, Pennsylvania and received airplay in Michigan. In the intervening years the Kings Ransom's music has come to the attention of garage rock enthusiasts with the release of several of their songs on compilations such as Allentown Anglophile and Teenage Shutdown! Teen Jangler Blowout!
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