A question for Hec and any other fans of the '60s. Is there a short name for teen-oriented, up-tempo pop-rock of the mid to late '60s? I'm thinking of groups like the Happenings, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, the Buckinghams. If you're from Chicago, add the Cryan' Shames. Maybe the Mamas and the Papas and the Association, though they might be a little too psychedelic for this sort of thing.

They're not psychedelic. Not surf. Not Motown. Definitely not British Invasion (though that's more a geographic label than a description of a sound, and the Dave Clark 5 might pass for what I have in mind). Too early for bubblegum.

Any thoughts?

A question for Hec and any other fans of the '60s. Is there a short name for teen-oriented, up-tempo pop-rock of the mid to late '60s? I'm thinking of groups like the Happenings, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, the Buckinghams. If you're from Chicago, add the Cryan' Shames. Maybe the Mamas and the Papas and the Association, though they might be a little too psychedelic for this sort of thing.

This covers a number of sub-genres. Chicago, as you note, was famed in the mid-sixties for the poppiness of its garage bands. The closest catchall for most of these groups (Happenings, Association in particular) is Sunshine Pop. Heavy emphasis on vocal harmonies. There are a number of recent (within the last few years) compilations covering this genre, as hardcore Beach Boy fans branched out into music which (heretofore) had been considered way too wimpy.

Varese Sarabande did one of the first series on this titled Sunshine Days. There are three volumes.

My favorite group in this genre is The Yellow Balloon - which sounds like Vivaldi as done by late Beach Boys. (In a good way!.)

Another huge cult group from this genre is The Free Design - a family group with extremely intricate harmonies.

I'd also recommend The Millenium - by Curt Boettcher, a major figure in this scene. (Curt produced the early Association hits.)

The Chicago label Dunwich was probably most famous for the garage-pop sound associated with that city.

That sounds like it, Hec. During summers in college, I listened quite a bit to a Chicago AM station (WCFL) that relied heavily on the '60s local garage bands (and also played songs like "Double Dutch Bus" -- how's that for format-bending?). And just before WLS went all-talk, they had a Sunday morning oldies program that had some of the same slant.

Sunshine Days looks like a delight -- I'm familiar with about half of the tracks. And Cub Koda wrote the review (yes, I bought the 45 of Brownsville Station's "Smokin' in the Boys' Room" way back when)....

And Cub Koda wrote the review

He wrote a lot for AMG and Goldmine and record collectors mags like that.

"Double Dutch Bus"

How can a bus jump rope? (Or maybe it's like the 800 lb. gorilla. "How does a bus jump rope?" "Any way it wants to.")

It was a semi-novelty rap from the early '80s, Joe. And the story gets better. Missy Elliott sampled it not long ago for -- was it "Hot Boys"?

They're a part of the Elephant 6 collective that included bands like Apples In Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel and the Olivia Tremor Control.

Also, Of Montreal. Of Montreal is awesome.

So...home with Emmett and his sore neck.

I'm going to try and catch up on some of the mixes I've promised.

Rudy's Rockin' Caravan for Dr. Tepper and Hayden.

Some jazz vocals and swing for erinaceous and also Anne W.

tina? What's your pleasure treasure? I think I'll definitely throw in a few of the Raydio Schmaydio tapes for you along with some burns. Those are very eclectic.

If you have QuickTime 6, and DSL or faster connection, Wilco has their new album up on their site for any and all who would like to hear it. Except me, who with her dial up, can't.

[link]

tina? What's your pleasure treasure?

Hec! My computer is moving like molasses due to the above link (I'm giving up - it *really* doesn't work with dial up) so I didn't see your post.

I'm sure I'll love anything you send - the Raydio Schmaydio tapes would be well loved by me, I'm sure - and here is a secret confession for you: I've never really heard the New York Dolls.