In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast

Pastronauts have been asking "Please Please Please" for a new episode, so here's James Brown & The Famous Flames' 1956 debut ... what a way to begin a career! He basically sings two words the entire song and it's an unequalled vocal performance. After that, we have renditions by The Five Royales and a bizarre one by Ike & Tina Turner which is more speech than song. Sprinkled in are some garage versions by The Viceroys (Pacific NW band in the vein of The Wailers), The Who, and a bleatin' one by Ed Wool and the Nomads! 

Back to our roots this week for a two-pack! "Too Many Lovers" - an original 1966 song by Manchester/Netherlands beat combo The Scorpions and the only cover we could find anywhere - The Tell Tale Hearts from 1987. We dive deep into the tune and also ruminate on the commerciality (or lack thereof) of garage rock. A real throwback! We said!!!

Another theme episode! This time we explore 60s garage & psych tunes that aim to rewire your mind ... you're going to have a Herculaneum cranium after hearing all the mind-blowing riffs and sounds that permeate these 6 (!) tunes!!

This week, it's the great Goffin/King chestnut "I'm into Something Good" - but did you know the original version was recorded by Earl-Jean of girl group greats, The Cookies? Something tells us you'll like it every bit as much as the more famous version by Herman's Hermits, which of course we also cover. Ever wanted to hear the song in Mandarin? Then lend your ears to Singaporean Rita Chao's version from 1967! It's 棒 ! Ever wanted to hear a dirtbag version of the tune? Then listen to The Majic Stray's version from the dreaded year of 1969. We think they may be singing about drugs ... we also add versions by ampersand bands Junior James & The Late Guitar and The Bird & The Bee. Get into it!

To discuss, "You Can't Sit Down" by The Dovells, you need to go back to "Sit Down Servant" by The Staple Singers, a joyous hymn to entering heaven with syncopated handclaps. You also need to return to the raucous instrumental version by The Philip Upchurch Combo and then you'll hear where the South Street singers got all those elements for their 1963 hit. Did you ever wanna hear Wolfman Jack & The Wolfpack do the song? We have you covered with the cover - surprisingly it sounds a lil bit like The Cramps! Australia's Purple Hearts make you stamp your hands and clap your feet, but give the singer a lozenge! Our final version is by Les Calamités and they speed that backbeat up and get their motor movin' ... Gleep gloop!!