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This week we're celebrating the music of Minneapolis - and we're sending it out to Pastronaut "Dr. Fate," who requested the last song on our list. The first group of Minneapolitans are The Accents with a boss cover of Lonnie Mack's "Why." Who doesn't love the Minnesota accent they give this wailer?! The next busload of teens actually come to the city from Edina - outside of Minny - but everyone calls The Novas a Minneapolis combo and it's time for us to do one of the WILDEST tunes of the 60s - "The Crusher"! Listen to us talk about it or we'll get you in the square circle!! To the psychedelic side of the 60s to hear The Litter sing about an "Action Woman" ... this Nugget is pure horny proto-c**k-rock but it's still super cool (like Minny in March). Finally, the song Dr. Fate requested: "Triangles" by Danny's Reasons, one of those few genuine headscratchers in terms of lyrical content, but it's bonkers, sort of like Ted Knight!! We're gonna make it after all! (ps. someone remind Weldon that women can be Doctors, too!)

Some minor audio issues this week - Weldon's mic is too hot! - but it's tempered by a gentle song by The Monkees - "I Wanna Be Free" from 1966. Infact, they did two versions - the first is sweet, simple and stringy with a vocal by Davy Jones, the second is Dylan-bait with Mickey Dolenz singing.  Mod and The Rockers from Virginia did a garage version in '67, and then there's a soulful gender-flipped version by Vivian Reed from '68. Finally, another in our growing list of unlikely artists, we include an elegaic version by Richard Marx! Turn the volume down and enjoy!!

Let's go crazy! This week's pick is "Psychotic Reaction" originally by The Count Five - a song which has to be in the Top 10 of all-time garage toonz ... a Yardbirds-style rave-up with great drums & atmospheric harmonica wails. Two versions, also from 1966, follow hot on the caped ones' heels - Texans Positively Thirteen O'Clock (who are actually Mouse & The Traps under a different name) and budget-rockers The Fire Escape. Labelmate Brenton Wood jumped on the song in '67 and reveals the secret original ending that the Counts ditched for their single. Television played the song live in Cleveland in '75 and they make quite a racket, but then Shockabilly's 1982 version add a ruckus to their racket! Take a ride!

The Syndicate of Sound's 1966 hit "Little Girl" is a well-known garage nugget and we hopscotch through a bunch of other versions by The Five Kinetics, The Dead Boys, The Banned, The Divinyls, and Dwight Yoakam. 

It's time to dance again!  and this week our dance card starts with The Capitols' 1966 hit "Cool Jerk." Erik has a hard time getting over the song's origins and we both blow a gasket over D. Storball's high octane vocal performance. The Creation mod-ified the song the next year and then it's fast forward to the 80s to hear The Go-Go's sprightly rendition. We found a pretty wild, high school drama club version by the excellently named Seekers of Justice (shout out to Miss Brown!) ... then more 80s cheeze with The California Raisins (add some celery and you've got ants on a log!) ... the latest version comes from this year by some DJ who we aren't convinced is a real person. Smokin'!!

Here's Johnny!!!! Our latest theme episode features songs about one of the most rock'n'roll names ever. But you wouldn't call "Johnny Angel" by Shelly Fabares rock, though it'll grow on you, unless you're a total yutz ... Song 2 is "Johnny B. Goode," a version of Chuck Berry's immortal rockin' classic performed by Cumberland, Rhode Island combo The Mards ("mods" with a Northeastern US accent)!. Michigan folk-punkers channel The Byrds on their rendition of the American Civil War chanty "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." Topical. San Francisco weirdos The Mystery Trend introduce us to a very unsettling All-American boy in "Johnny Was A Good Boy." And finally, Johnny-Come-Latelys Fine Young Cannibals tell another sad tale in the percolatin, leg-shakin' "Johnny Come Home." John, I'm only (pod)casting!!!

Look, there's no time for a long descripto, there's a tiger in them thar hills! This week's tune is "Hey Tiger," originally done by the rather capable jazzbos-turned-garagers The Topsy Turbys. Hear their wild story and sounds here! Then stay tuned for a boffo 80s revival version by podcast saints The Tell- Tale Hearts. Finally, we set the tiger trap for a third version by contempos The Wyld Gooms! Put a tiger in your tank!

The night is young, the mood is mellow, and there's music in our ears ... namely, the 1980 postpunk gem "Is Vic There" by Department S. We discuss the enigmatic lyrics and the surrounding lore of this everdark tune. There's also a version by Trolleybox, a surprising appearance of Clan of Xymox on this (or any!) garage rock podcast, and a totally groovy R&B rendition by Curtis Baker and the Bravehearts. Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-awoo!

Back to the garage this week for a five-pack of versions of "I Ain't No Miracle Worker." The Annette Tucker/Nancy Mantz penned tune (they wrote "I Had Too Much Too Dream Last Night) was originally waxed by The Brogues in 1965. The Everyman, gruff vocals will put hair on your chest and the precise playing will make you think these guys can move mountains. An even more macho take comes from Canada's Great Scots, and we can attest to Canadian masculinity, can't we?The singer of this one might have turned into The Hulk (TM) later ... Podcast faves The Chocolate Watchband slow the tempo down and had some exotic touches - is that a balalaika? Dave Aguilar's vocal performance is more pained and we like the nuances. In the early 80s, British retronauts The Barracudas did the tune & it's jangly, power-poppy, and even a little post-punk in the vocals. Nice one, that. Finally, fast forward to 2023 for a postmilennial version by The KVB that draws out the no-hope message of the song and our times! Just take them for what they are!!!

We must have had too much too dream lately because we're leaving the 60s behind and starting in 1979 with Suicide's beautiful trance-drone, "Dream Baby Dream." It's a fingersnappin' rock n roll lullaby with electronics! Next up, Angel Corpus Christi's version wows us with the accordion! Bruce Springsteen swerves instrumentally and has the hypno-drone come from an old-timey pump organ.  His version provoked some visceral reaction and we get into that ... More recently, Black Tambourine's rendition features a down and dirty bass tone, and Neneh Cherry & The Thing give the tune some 'tude plus some jazz skronk. Which one's the dreamiest?

Here's a song that's been on the fabled Masterlist for years ... "Rumors, Gossip, Words Untrue", originally by The Knickerbockers. It's got a good riff, harmonies, chord changes, and a faux-sitar sound that will win you over, and it's from 1965!! The version that sparked the episode is by The Swinging Blue Jeans. Why are they wearing suits, if they're forever in blue jeans? Erik thinks there's more air in this one. It's a great example of Djling music. The third number is a teenybopper bubblegum version by Lella, an Italian ingenue who we know little about. The final tune is "Geoffrey Ingram" by The Television Personalities - we think they knicked the riff, and thank the lord they did! Ba-dum!!

He might not have made it into your history textbook, but Brad Berwick has recently emerged as one of the most controversial figures of the 1960s. While he may seem less impactful than LBJ or George Wallace, the fact that he sang a little ditty called "I'm Better Than The Beatles" has resulted in Youtube comment sections lambasting the former child actor. Listen to us listen to the song and talk about it - is it so bad to be Brad?

What a riff! What great rock 'n' roll asides! What joy in the chorus!! It's "Sweet Jane" by The Velvet Underground! A cavalcade of covers by Brownsville Station, Lou Reed (solo from '74), Eater, Friends Again, and of course, Cowboy Junkies. This is one of the episodes where we crack the code and tell you what the lyrics mean so listen and find out! Smoother than a Stutz Bearcat ride!!

It's time for a beautiful song this week... namely,  "I Only Have Eyes For You" by Harry Warren (composer) and Al Dubin (lyrics). We start with the original by Dick Powell in 1934 and listen to us tell you about the 1930s style of crooning! But we're back on familiar ground with the most famous version by Doo-Woppers The Flamingos, from 1959! The most beautiful nocturnal song of all time (take that My Bloody Valentine!) We also feature versions by Art Garfunkel (70s), Zapp & Roger (80s), and Mercury Rev (90s) - does this ditty ever get updated every decade! Doo-bop sh-bop!

Our word on the Bird this week - "Surfin' Bird," that is! We have to start with two songs by The Rivingtons: "Papa Oom-Mow-Mow" & "The Bird's The Word," which laid the foundation for future ornithological madness. After seeing The Sorenson Brothers (formerly The Revels) perform a mash-up of the two songs, The Trashmen added the tune to their repertoire and the rest is history! We also have a sighting of The Cramps and their version in this episode. This episode is not a lame duck!