Various artists, “Mind Expanders” (Past & Present, 2010; original releases late 1960s, early 1970s)
Mainly European psych, for soundtracks and the like; really tripped-out commercial/countercultural clash, like watching the wallpaper come alive.
Try 3, 5, 6, 14.
2/14/13
Various Artists, “Teen Expo: The Cleopatra Label” (Numero Group, 2018; original recordings 1960—70)
So this guy ran a tiny indie out of northern New Jersey, and he put out examples of pretty much every happening pop style of the ‘60s—girl-group, garage-punk, folk-psych, dance-floor r&b, even post-doo-wop crooning. But it all feels of a piece – he wrote and produced a lot of it himself, and there’s a distinctive ear/feel at work, gauzy, eerie, sweet, enchanted.
Try 1/1, 2/4, 2/7, 3/3, 3/7, 4/1, 4/3
10/2/18
Various Artists, “The Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House” (Disneyland, 1964)
Before Disney/Buena Vista/Hollywood Rec’s brought us hard-rocking platters like Lower East Side junkie-punk icons, the NY Loose’s “Year of the Rat,” or Hilary Duff’s emo-era works, this disc may have outdone them in the hyper-intensity sweepstakes. Side A is a tour-de-force of Disney’s scary-movie sound-effects, curated by a female voice that’s halfway between spooky-vampy late-night-TV-movie hostess Elvira and the Stepford-Wife intonations of an automated operator. B is the same f/x without the female voice (and not as good).
Try A/1, A/2, A/10
10/15/16
Various Artists, “The Girls Want The Boys: Sweden’s Beat Girls, 1966-1970” (Ace, 2016)
Comp of female-fronted Swedish pop and rock sounds, with more emphasis on the rocking force behind the boppin’ beat than in the French yé- yé-girl counterpart/archetype, but with that light-and-shadow dramatic sweep between major and minor keys that has always been such a distinctive and pleasurable aspect of Swedish pop. Indeed, you could almost imagine this as the common point of origin of ABBA, the Rude Kids and MZM (all Scando-classics).
Try 1/ 3, 1/ 4, 1/6
4/7/19
Various Artists, “The Girls Want The Boys” (Ace, 2017; original recordings 1966-70)
Comp of ‘60s Swedish girl-group sounds. The music is actually twistier and harder-rocking than the Spectorish vib associated with the girl-group tag, and the songs are as dynamic (from autumnal-moody to bubble-gum bright) and catchy as you’d expect from the land of ABBA (two future members here!) and Max Martin.
Try 1/ 3, 1/6
10/18/18
Various artists, “The Girls Want the Boys” (Ace, 2017; original recording 1966-1970)
Comp of ‘60s Swedish girl-group sounds. The music is actually twistier and harder-rocking than the Spectorish vibe associated with the girl-group tag, and the songs are as dynamic (from autumnal-moody to bubble-gum bright) and catchy as you’d expect from the land of ABBA (2 future members here!) and Max Martin.
Try 1/3, 1/6
10/18/18
Various Artists, “The Young Disciples: Eccentric Soul” (Numero, 2008)
In a community center in strife-torn, late-‘60s East St. Louis, a singular music scene emerged – rough-edged funk and soul that could turn urban devastation into truly mind-altering, psych-tinged soundscapes.
Try 3, 12, 13
9/14/12
Various Artists, “TV Sound And Image” (Soul Jazz, 2012)
One of this label’s most audacious reissues, this collects soundtrack compositions from the BBC’s archives. Ranging from big-band to surf to funk to minimal synth and all points in between, this stuff shares a rigor and dynamism that can make you see the cinematic action even with your eyes closed. Try 1/5, 1/10, 1/13, 2/2, 2/11, 2/15, 2/17
8/23/12
Various Artists, “World War I Fighter Planes In Action” (Riverside, 1961)
Not vintage cylinder recordings from the field (though how awesome would that be?!) but a clean, modern document of collector-dudes flying these magnificent machines around a private airfield. This is the real original noise; Jesus and Mary Chain are mere bubblegum popsters by comparison. Throbbing Gristle? Wimps. And if that isn’t enough, there are odd, very long passages where the planes are almost inaudible that seem to anticipate ambient Eno.
Try 1/1, 2/ 4
11/10/16
Various Artists, “Four Old 7-inches on 12-inch” (Discord, 1981; original release 1980-81)
Collection of early, “Flex Your Head”-era harDCore. Teen Idles were Ian McKaye’s first band; S. O. A. was Rollins’s. All four are great: Teen Idles raw, scratchy and frenzied; S. O. A. fast and clean with shred guitar and vocals, Gov’t Issue pummeling and chaotic, and (my favorite) Youth Brigade a snarling, shuddering, tank-like roar.
Try A: 2, 6, 7, 15, 16; B: 6, 11, 14, 15, 16.
4/19/13