The Seeds – “Can’t Seem to Make You Mine” (1965)
This melodic number by The Seeds was their first single in July of 1965 and made it to #41 on the charts. It was later covered by Alex Chilton, Johnny Thunders and The Ramones.
Brenton Wood – “Psychotic Reaction” (1968)
Here’s a very strange one. R&B singer Brenton Wood, known for two 1967 hit singles, “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign,” did a “remake” of this 1966 garage rock classic by The Count Five. What it basically consists of is Brenton singing over The Count Five’s original backing track with an organ overdubbed on top. The backing track is kind of buried low in the mix which gives it a strange sound.
The Seeds – “Pushin’ Too Hard” (1966)
A tribute to the late, great Sky Saxon, who passed away last week, comes this garage rock classic from 1966. “Pushin’ Too Hard” was The Seeds’ biggest hit, making it all the way to #36 on the charts.
Sky Saxon…R.I.P.
The Burgundy Runn – “Stop!” (1966)
The song that I have known all these years in the version done by 1980s garage rock ’60s revivalists The Chesterfield Kings. I had never heard this original version but I can see The Kings certainly did this song justice. It makes me wonder how this catchy song never made it big. It’s almost a tragedy in fact.
This strangely-named band was very obscure. “Stop!” was released in 1966 on Lindy Blaskey’s Lavette label. I don’t know much else about them.
The Lyres – “Not Like the Other One” (1984)
Jeff “Mono Man” Connolly & co. from The Lyres’ debut long-player On Fyre. This is not their best song but just about everything these guys came out with was great. My favorite album of theirs is still their 2nd one, Lyres Lyres, probably because that was the album that I first bought from them.
The Lyres were one of the leading purveyors of the 1980s garage rock revival.
The Fuzztones – “1-2-5” (1984)
Cover of this great song by Canadian garage rockers The Haunted. NYC’s The Fuzztones put out a few great albums of 60s-inspired lunacy themselves before breaking up.
The Chocolate Watchband – “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” (1968)
Ray Davies-penned track, covered by The Watchband on their second album The Inner Mystique – which was a hodgepodge of songs recorded by the actual band and some that were ringers – which resulted in a very confused album, but with some quality psychedelic and garage rock tracks.
The Eyes – “I’m Rowed Out” (1966)
Another great song by The Eyes. They were clearly influenced by early Kinks and Who. They never made it big though for some strange reason.
The Beat Patrol 