Fuzztones - 1989 - In Heat

In Heat was a chance for Rudi Protrudi's newly refitted and relocated Fuzztones to spread the underground garage-rock scene to the mainstream. So what did he do with a major-label contract? He surrounded himself with nameless studio hacks and recorded an overproduced, dull collection of songs that don't even hint at the power the band had on Lysergic Emanations. Instead, the Fuzztones resemble '60s biker rock, with a wasted Vox organ over the top of the thin mix. The title track and "Me Tarzan, You Jane" offer some appeal, but overall, the band sounds like a B-grade version of the real thing.

		1		In Heat	Protrudi	2:24
		2		Nine Months Later	Protrudi	3:50
		3		Cheyenne Rider	Czekaj, Tarlow	3:03
		4		Everything You Got	Czekaj	2:31
		5		Black Box	Koizumi, Tarlow	3:24
		6		Shame on You	Czekaj, Protrudi, Tarlow	3:06
		7		It Came in the Mail	Chandler, Protrudi	2:44
		8		Me Tarzan, You Jane	Chandler, Protrudi	2:32
		9		Heathen Set	Chandler, Protrudi	2:33
		10		Hurt on Hold	Portnoy, Protrudi	2:30
		11		What You Don't Know	Chandler, Protrudi	2:36
		12		Charlotte's Remains	Kennedy, Protrudi	4:10

¡Aquí!

Sonics

A rock & roll band from Tacoma, WA, the Sonics' original members were Gerry Roslie (lead singer, piano, organ), Andy Parypa (guitar), Larry Parypa (bass), Bob Bennett (drums), and Rob Lind (saxophone). Forming in the wake of the early-'60s success of local favorites the Kingsmen and the Wailers (whose Etiquette label they recorded for), the Sonics combined classic Northwest-area teen band raunch with early English band grit (particularly influenced by the Kinks), relentless rhythmic drive, and unabashed '50s-style blues shouting for a combination that still makes their brand of rock & roll perhaps the raunchiest ever captured on wax.

Lead singer Gerry Roslie was no less than a white Little Richard, whose harrowing soul-screams were startling even to the Northwest teen audience, who liked their music powerful and driving with little regard to commercial subtleties. With hit after hit on the local charts (and influencing every local band that ever took the stage), the band inexplicably was never able to break out nationally, leaving its sound largely undiluted for mass consumption. Breaking up in the late '60s (after one ill-fated album attempt to water down their style for national attention), the Sonics continue today to be revered by '60s collectors the world over for their unique brand of rock & roll raunch.

1965 - Here Are The Sonics!

Sonics - 1965 - Here Are The Sonics!

The Sonics that Wailers bassist Buck Ormsby took into a small studio and unleashed on the world show a live band at the peak of its power, ready to mow down the competition without even blinking twice. Their debut long-player (originally issued on the Etiquette imprint) is reprised here with new liner notes by Norton prexy Miriam Linna in the original mono. The flame-throwing hits of "The Witch," "Psycho," "Boss Hoss," and "Strychnine" are aboard, along with versions of "Do You Love Me," "Dirty Robber," "Have Love Will Travel," and "Walkin' the Dog" that are no less potent. This long-play vinyl reissue also boasts the addition of four bonus tracks: "Keep a Knockin'" (the original B-side of "The Witch") and three selections from an Etiquette Christmas album, "Don't Believe in Christmas," "The Village Idiot," and "Santa Claus." Another important chunk of Seattle rock & roll history.

		1		The Witch	Roslie	2:40
		2		Do You Love Me	Gordy	2:18
		3		Roll Over Beethoven	Berry	2:49
		4		Boss Hoss	Roslie	2:24
		5		Dirty Robber	Dangel, Greek, Morrill	2:02
		6		Have Love, Will Travel	Berry	2:40
		7		Psycho	Roslie	2:17
		8		Money	Bradford, Gordy	2:00
		9		Walkin' the Dog	Thomas	2:45
		10		Night Time Is the Right Time	Herman	2:58
		11		Strychnine	Roslie	2:13
		12		Good Golly Miss Molly	Blackwell, Marascalo	2:08
		13		Keep a Knockin'	Collins, Little Richard	1:55
		14		Don't Believe in Christmas	Roslie	1:46
		15		Santa Claus	Roslie, Sonics	2:52
		16		The Village Idiot	Traditional	2:38

¡Aquí!