Episode 018: Eighteen Reasons to Forget

The Groop - Woman You're Breaking Me (Australia 1967) A fine beat combo from down under that produced three albums and a handful of singles during their brief three year career. With it's stomping beat and frenetic pace , this title track from their final album together may be the group's finest moment.

The Rugbys - You, I (US 1969) A tough and scorching number from a Louisville, KY obscurity that scraped the bottom of the charts with this single, they also produced one album of proto-hard rock that is worth investigating before splitting up.

Bubble Puppy - Hot Smoke & Sasafrass (US 1969) This San Antonio, Texas band is most famous for this single, which is arguably one of the finest examples of American hard psych. From it's feedback intro to the blistering riff that kicks it off, this single packs more in two and a half minutes than most albums of the time even attempted. After one LP for the International Artists label, they'd undergo a name change to Demian and further mine the hard rock path on their sole album for ABC Records.

The Balloon Farm - A Question of Temperature (US 1967) Walking the fine line between garage and hard rock comes this classic American single from an NYC outfit that produced only two singles. The psychedelic hints also further cements the genre bending the band exudes with this single

The Attack - Magic in the Air (UK 1967) An unreleased single from one of the UK's finest freakbeat bands. Their entire catalog is solid and perfectly illustrates the progression from R&B beat combo to acid drenched psychedelia that most bands went through.

Wimple Winch - Atmposhpere (UK 1967) Another contender for freakbeat kings of the UK is this motley bunch, whose riffs were years ahead of their time. Juxtaposing a brutal hard rock section against a bridge reminiscent of the Beach Boys is just one of the many things this band executed flawlessly. After a handful of singles they'd eventually morph into the more prog minded Pacific Drift.

Eire Apparent - The Clown (UK 1968) One of the few bands that can boast of having their debut album produced by Jimi Hendrix, Eire Apparent released one of the finest UK psych albums that often goes overlooked for more rarer yet not as musically adept work. This twisted ode to a clown features incredible backwards guitar work and a smokin' heavy rhythm section.

Majority One - Get Back Home (UK 1969) This UK band made their name across the continent as The Majority before a relocation to France and a name change to Majority One. Their lone album features many fine pop-psych tunes, but nothing quite as searing as this single only b-side that shows them testing out the hard rock waters.

The Nazz - Open My Eyes (US 1968) Todd Rundgren's first vehicle for his songwriting was this band that eventually scored a minor hit with this proto-power pop single. The single stands as one of the finest psychedelic songs by an American band and also shows an obvious UK psych influence. The phasing on the bridge alone warrants this one a place in the history books.

Eric Burdon and The Animals - The Madman (UK 1968) This song was also released as a single by Dantalian's Chariot - which featured a young Andy Summers who would go on to much success with The Police - and then mysteriously appeared in longer form with Eric Burdon on lead on his 1968 album Love Is. This extended version stretches the original's demented groove into an eight minute acid drenched work out.