TCCDM Pulls One Out..."The Blue Things" (1966)

"The Blue Things" - The Blue Things  (1966)

The album cover reminds me of an early "Twilight Zone" episode where four young strangers dressed in black boots and leather jackets rent a house in a small town and have the whole neighborhood peaking through their curtains.  In 1966, and hailing from the midwestern town of Hays, Kansas, The Blue Things probably got that a lot.  These boys from the plains with their cool and exotic swag and swagger played garage-tinged folk-rock that was out in front.  The band's lone self-titled album has a bit of Beau Brummels going on and little hints of that folkier jangle-jangle the Beatles were working.  But they had their own walk.  The album is a really enjoyable spin that still holds up today.

Favorites are the catchy "High Life" that nudges The Beatles.  The garage "La Do Da Da" is killer stuff and one I imagine they tore up live.  "Doll House" is another hidden gem.  The band also has an excellent take on Dylan's "Girl Of The North Country" as well.  On the back cover is a nice epistle from John D. Loudermilk espousing his joy for The Blue Things.  Original copies are getting harder to find and are starting to take some real cabbage.  But deals are out there.  My copy was an online purchase.  18 "green things" shipped.

"The Blue Things" (back)

RCA Victor label

"High Life" - The Blue Things / "The Blue Things" (1966) 

TRACKS:
A1  "High Life" 2:21
A2  "Girl of the North Country" 2:33
A3  "Doll House" 2:31
A4  "La Do Da Da" 2:48
A5  "Look Homeward Angel" 2:24
A6  "It Ain't No Big Thing, Babe" 2:26
B1  "Ain't That Lovin' (You Baby)" 2:35
B2  "I Can't Have Yesterday" 2:36
B3  "Now's the Time" 2:21
B4  "The Man on the Street" 2:21
B5  "I Must Be Doing Something Wrong" 2:21
B6  "Honor the Hearse" 2:17

PERSONNEL:
Val Stöecklein - guitar, vocals
Mike Chapman - guitar, vocals
Richard Scott - bass, vocals
Richard Larzalere - drums
Bobby Day - drums

Good stuff.

 Casey Chambers
Follow Me On FACEBOOK 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview:-- Joan Staley (Actress - Classic Movies & Television)

Image
  "Elvis,  do you really want me to slap you?"  ~ Joan Staley ~     So my friends and I were talking about first crushes. First tv and movie crushes.  For me, it was easy.  It was Alma. (Joan Staley)   I broke into the double-digit age of 10 in 1993.  That was the summer I discovered my favorite Don Knotts movie while flipping thru cable one Saturday morning... "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Everyone has seen it.  It was a funny haunted house story similar to an episode on Andy G. with a cast of familiar characters, trippy organ music, and the prettiest girl I had ever seen...Alma. She was beautiful alright.  I was love-stung so bad, I swear I could smell flowers coming out of the TV set.  And best of all, she was nice.  She didn't like the smart alec, the wise guy, or the show-off.  Alma was digging Luther (Don Knotts) and that just made her that much prettier.  And from then on... But unfortunately, time and puberty wouldn't let her wait
Read more

Interview:--> Terry Kirkman (The Association)

Image
"...Not only learned to think, but to care.  Not only learned to think, but to dare." ~ The Association ~  With one of the most bad-ass songs about the herb that no one was quite sure about, yet everyone understood...to the anti-war homage that was both beautiful and pointed... The Association . From gentle psych pop spinneries that tease the mind...to the lush vocal and instrumental arrangements that melt the heart... The Association. The Association were all of these and none of these. Lead by co-founder Terry Kirkman, it was never an "either/or" about the music.  No pigeonhole here.  It was simply "all" about the music.  And having at least 3 of the most radio-played songs in history...I'd say The Association were on to something. TERRY KIRKMAN INTERVIEW  01/26/2015 Casey Chambers:  In the summer of '67, The Association had the opportunity to perform at the iconic Monterey Pop Festival.  How cool was that? Terry Kirkma
Read more

Interview -- Henry Lee Summer (Singer/Songwriter)

Image
"I just always have played music.  For better   or worse, I banked my whole life on it." ~ Henry Lee Summer ~     It's strange how music lets you travel through time as if there truly was no time.  I played the shit out of this album growing up.  Nothing deep or complicated.  Nothing outta bounds.  Nothing to get hung about.  It's deceptively simple.  But here's the thing... Henry Lee Summer  is serving aces all over this heartland square. This is the 35th anniversary of Henry Lee Summer's self-titled album and this one falls under that sweet spot between raucous and chill.  It's a large cup of iced coffee with a nice soulful blend.  Not usually my type of go-to and yet this album easily fills a void I didn't know I had.  Let this spin be your own private Idaho.  " Check it out, Leroy!"   Henry Lee Summer... Go get you some. Henry Lee Summer Interview -- August 2023 Henry Lee Summer Casey Chambers:  Well, this is the 35th anniversary of you
Read more