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Crying is for Writers

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THIS MONTH:
Freakbeat is a rock music genre that peaked approximately between 1966 and 1967.
The term was invented in the 1980s by the music journalist Phil Smee, to retroactively describe a music style that has been described as a missing link between the early to mid-1960s mod R&B scene and the psychedelic rock and progressive rock genres that emerged in the late-1960s with bands such as Pink Floyd. Freakbeat music was typically created by four-piece bands experimenting with studio production techniques. Elements of the freakbeat sound include strong direct drum beats, loud and frenzied guitar riffs, and extreme effects such as: fuzztone, flanging, distortion and compression or phasing on the vocal or drum tracks. Often used almost synonymously with garage rock, the term is usually applied to music originating in the UK (unlike garage, which is most commonly used to describe American groups). Early albums by The Who and The Kinks supplied the blueprints for the freakbeat boom that followed, most notably The Creation, The Sorrows and famously The Move.
JOE MEEK'S FREAKBEAT
Equally obsessed with exotica, outer space, spooky sounds, and just plain strange studio experimentation, 1960s British producer Joe Meek could range pretty far afield (just check out his compilation VAMPIRES, COWBOYS, SPACEMEN & SPOOKS: THE VERY BEST OF JOE MEEK'S INSTRUMENTALS). But Meek, considered Britain's answer to Phil Spector, also produced some fine R&B-derived rock music, much of which prefigured the British Invasion sound by several years.
JOE MEEK'S FREAKBEAT: Meek's big-sounding, hard-driving pop projects. With huge, booming sonics and a fair amount of echo, effects, and proto-psychedelic atmosphere, Meek keeps the beat in the foreground, making this comp an electrifying trip through early-'60s British rock.
JOE MEEK
Joe Meek (born Robert George Meek; 5 April 1929 in Newent, Gloucestershire — 3 February 1967 in London) was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter acknowledged as one of the world's first and most imaginative independent producers.
His most famous work was The Tornados' hit "Telstar" (1962), which became the first record by a British group to hit 1 in the US Hot 100. It also spent five weeks atop the UK singles chart, with Meek receiving an Ivor Novello Award for this production as the "Best-Selling A-Side" of 1962. Meek's other notable hit productions include "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O" and "Cumberland Gap" by Lonnie Donegan (as engineer), "Johnny Remember Me" by John Leyton, "Just Like Eddie" by Heinz, "Angela Jones" by Michael Cox and "Have I the Right?" by The Honeycombs, "Tribute to Buddy Holly" by Mike Berry. Meek's concept album I Hear a New World is regarded as a watershed in modern music for its innovative use of electronic sounds.
Joe Meek was also producing music for films, most notably Live It Up! (US title Sing and Swing), a 1963 pop music film starring Heinz Burt, David Hemmings and Steve Marriott, also featuring Gene Vincent, Jenny Moss, The Outlaws, Kim Roberts, Kenny Ball, Patsy Ann Noble and others. Meek wrote most of the songs and incidental music, much of which was recorded by The Saints and produced by Meek.
His commercial success as a producer was short-lived and Meek gradually sank into debt and depression. On 3 February 1967, using a shotgun owned by musician Heinz Burt, Meek murdered his landlady before turning the gun on himself. Aged only 37, he died eight years to the day after his hero, Buddy Holly.
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Member Since: 3/24/2008
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This month: Joe Meek's Freakbeat!

PAUL RITCHIE & THE CRYIN' SHAMES - COME ON BACK (UK)
The Cryin' Shames were a mid 1960s pop/beat group, produced by Joe Meek. They had one hit single in 1966 with a cover of The Drifters' 1961 "Please Stay", written by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard.

The sextet was initially renamed from 'The Bumblies' (founded 1963 in Liverpool, managed by Norman Eastwood). The name Bumblies came from a TV show starring Michael Bentine. The Bumblies were comprised of Charlie Crane (vocals), Joey Kneen (vocals), John Bennett (guitar), Phil Roberts (keyboards), George Robinson (bass guitar), Charlie Gallagher (drums)Phil Roberts and Joey Kneen came from 'The Calderstones' that also featured Tom Evans (Badfinger) and Pete Maxwell, the latter of whom died in the mid 1960s. After recording their first single, The Cryin' Shames' John Bennett was replaced by Ritchie Routledge from 'The Aztects' (also from Liverpool). After "Please Stay" was a minor hit (24, UK Singles Chart), the band was approached by Brian Epstein, who wanted to manage them, but they refused. Routledge later led Blackwater Park, an English-German band (early 1970s), and was part of Grimms. Crane went on to be lead singer of 'Gary Walker and The Rain'.

Singles:
"Please Stay" (Bacharach, Hilliard) / "What's New Pussycat" (Decca F 12340, 1966, UK 26)
"Nobody Waved Goodbye" (Eldon Rathburn) / "You" (Decca F 12425)
As 'Paul & Ritchie & The Crying Shames' :
"September in the Rain" (Warren, Dubin) / "Come On Back" (Decca F 12483)

THE SYNDICATS - LEAVE MY KITTEN ALONE
Well-known for their smashing hitsingle 'Crawdaddy Simone'.

The Syndicats were Steve Howe's first band. Their three singles on Columbia (EMI) were produced by Joe Meek. When lead guitarist Howe left for Tomorrow in 1965, he was replaced by Ray Fenwick. Fenwick plays lead-guitar on "Crawdaddy Simone". He co-wrote it with Jeff Williams, the bands' keyboardist. That song has recently been covered by The Horrors, a London-based band. Further members were John Truelove (drums), Kevin Driscoll (guitar), Johnny Lamb (vocals), Paul Holm (drums, last single).

Singles:
"Maybellene" (Berry) / "True To Me" (Ladd/Howe) (8 April 64, Columbia DB 7238)
"Howling For My Baby" (Dixon) / "What To Do" (Howe/Truelove/K. Driscoll/T. Driscoll) (Jan 65, Columbia DB 7441)
"On the Horizon" (Leiber/Stoller) / "Crawdaddy Simone" (Fenwick/Williams) (Sep 65, Columbia DB 7686)
Songs released only on Mothballs (CD RPM Records 1994):
"Don't Know What To Do" (Howe)
"Leave My Kitten Alone" (John/Titus Turner/James McDougal)

THE PUPPETS - SHAKE WITH ME (UK)
The Puppets' were a pop/beat group from Preston, Lancashire UK, that were managed and recorded by Joe Meek and backed solo artists like Americans ‘Little Miss Dynamite’ Brenda Lee, The Fabulous Ronettes, the ‘Mash Potato’ Lady, Miss Dee Dee Sharp and that wonderful rocker, the 'Be Bop A Lula man Gene Vincent. They also backed lots of UK idols including Michael Cox, Vince Eager, Crispian St. Peters, Billy Fury and Millie.

In 1965 Don Parfitt joined ..boards and they became Gene Vincent's backing band and in 1966 they began backing Crispian St Peters and had UK chart hits with ''You Were On My Mind' 2 & 'The Pied Piper' 5. Several tours abroad and Summer Seasons were followed by a spell backing Billy Fury. Des O'Reilly emigrated to South Australia in 1979.

Singles:
‘Everybody’s Talking’ / ‘Poison Ivy’ (1963)
'Baby Don't Cry' / 'Shake With Me' (1963)

THE BUZZ - YOU'RE HOLDING ME DOWN (UK)
I'm having a hard time finding information on this band and/or song, so your help is more than welcome!

Record Label: Unsigned
Type of Label: None