1966 - February: The Sonics ”Boom”

Before the grunge movement of the 90's, and before the punk movement of the 70's, there was the garage band phenomenon of the 60's.  One of the forerunners of both punk and grunge from this garage band period is Tacoma Washington's The Sonics.  Their classic lineup consisted of Rob Lind on harmonica, vocals, and sax, Gerry Roslie on organ, piano, and lead vocals, Larry Parypa on lead guitar and vocals, Andy Parypa on bass, and Bob Bennett on drums.  The Sonics had a fast, hard-edged sound similar to The Kinks, and performed with a speed that would inspire punk rock.

Boom is their second studio album from the band, released in February 1966.  As with many songs from the mid-60's, all the songs are short.  But with a non to the future punk movement, many songs are even shorter, clocking in at just over 2 minutes.  The Sonics take their name from Boeing, the aviation company also based in Tacoma.  The name of the album is likely a play on words for the "sonic boom," the thunderous sound produced by an aircraft exceeding the speed of sound.  The music on this album is energetic and abrasive, and while some fuzzy guitar distortion is included the overall feel is raw with little extra production.

The classic lineup would fall apart by 1968, with members leaving to join other bands, attend college, or in saxophonist Rob Linds' case - become a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War.  Gerry Roslie would be the sole remaining original member with new members jumping in and out of the band until 1980.  

Wayne brings us this forerunner of punk and grunge for this week's podcast.

 

Cinderella The lead-off song from the album was an original piece written by Gerry Roslie.  The lyrics relay a boy meeting a girl at a bar, having a great time drinking and dancing, and just when things start to get going well, the girl is gone by midnight.  

He's Waitin' This song starts the B-side of the album, and was also a Gerry Roslie original.  This "boy loses girl" song is not a happy one!  The lyrics reflect the boy's thoughts on being burned by a girl.  Now he is telling her that Satan is waiting for her.  "It's too late, you lied, now you will fry." 

Louie, Louie Richard Berry wrote and performed this song in 1957 with The Pharaohs, and covers of this song are common with garage bands.  The Sonics' version is quite fast, and modifies the pronunciation from "Lou-ee Lou-ee" to "Lou-eye Lou-way" in the chorus.  It is hard to separate this song from the thoughts of fraternity parties and the comedy movie "Animal House." 

Shot Down The song that closes out the album laments about striking out when approaching a girl.  "I play a guitar.  I even drive a brand new car.  Big man in town, I've been shot down."  

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Theme from the motion picture "The Rare Breed" This western starred James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara and was one of the first films scored by the now-legendary composer John Williams. 

STAFF PICKS:

Crying Time by Ray Charles Bruce leads off the staff picks with the lead single and starting track to Ray Charles' album of the same name.  The song was originally performed by Buck Owens in 1964, and Charles kept the country feel while taking the cover to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.  He won the Grammy Awards in 1967 for Best R&B Recording and Best R&B Solo Performance for this track.

It's a Man's Man's Man's World by James Brown Lynch brings us a song that takes its name as a play on the name of a 1963 comedy film, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."  The minor key track has lyrics decrying the chauvinism of society where all the work of modern civilization are attributed to men, but it would all "mean nothing without a woman or a girl."  Brown recorded the song in only two takes, and it would become a staple of his live shows for the rest of his career.

Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers Rob features a surf rock song originally developed as the opening intro to the U.S. spy television series "Secret Agent," which aired from 1964 to 1966. The ditty became popular, and Rivers developed it into a full single.  The song would go to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming both a signature song for Rivers and a rock standard for future bands and shows.

Lies by The Knickerbockers Wayne's closes out the staff picks with a song from an American band deliberately trying to mimic the sound of a British Invasion song.  The trio harmonies definitely give it a Beatles quality.  As you might expect from the band name, the Knickerbockers got their start in New Jersey as a garage band.  The track came together in about a half hour.

 

COMEDY TRACK:

The One on the Right is On the Left by Johnny Cash This comedy song about a band with incompatible political leanings amongst its members takes us out for this week's podcast.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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