Saturday, June 11, 2011

The Summer Sounds - Up Bown (us 1969)

The Summer Sounds - Up Down (us 1969)

Formed:  North Dartmouth, MA, United States

Tracks:
01. Small World - 2.49
02. Hard To Please - 3.55
03. Lonely Beach - 3.23
04. Gimme Some Lovin΄ - 2.58
05. One Last Kiss - 2.22
06. The Leaves Are Turning Brown - 4.20
07. Summer Girl - 4.22
08. I Love You - 3.42
09. First Date - 2.21
10. You Told Me - 2.42

Reviews:
"Mega rare album from the Dartmouth, Massachusetts fivepiece outfit which was released originally on the Laurel label (Laurel 331098) in 1969. Up-Down is an album of largely self-penned material (only 2 covers, one of which is a strong version of The Spencer Davis Group's hit, 'Gimme Some Lovin') with The Leaves Are Turning Brown, complete with cheesy psych organ and wonderful earnest vocals, is the stand out track. Up-Down is a beat-garage concept album detailing the highs and lows of a summer vacation romance, with, as you would expect, loads of moody teenage angst and lashings of self pity. The songs are all catchy, and there's a couple of good ballads. Mega rare album from the Dartmouth, Massachusetts five-piece outfit which was released originally on the Laurel label in 1969. Largely self-penned material (only 2 covers, one of which is a strong version of The Spencer Davis Group's hit, Gimme Some Lovin') with The Leaves Are Turning Brown, complete with cheesy psych organ and wonderfully-earnest vocals, is the stand out track. Up-Down is a beat-garage concept album detailing the highs and lows of a summer vocation romance, with, as you would expect, loads of moody teenage angst and lashings of self pity.First time that this album, with it's ultra-cool cover, has been reissued on CD.
~ by CGR.
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First off, let me underscore this is a copy of the mid-1990s 400 copy reissue.  It's expensive, but then an original copy will set you back $600 - $800.
These guys stands as another mid-1960s outfit that's been largely forgotten over the years. 
There certainly isn't a great deal of bibliographical data available on them.  A five piece (no surnames on the liner notes), they were apparently from Dartmouth, Massachusetts and got a recording contract as a result of having won a local talent contest.
Released in 1969 by the Laurel label, "Up-Down" must have already sounded hopelessly dated on its release.  Surrounded by a sea of acts pushing blues jams, psych meltdowns, and hard rock, these guys proudly stuck with a very retro sound.  Showcased lots of original, Farfisa-propelled ballads, to my untrained ears these hopelessly earnest performances sounded like something from the 1965-1966 timeframe rather than 1969.  Who knows, maybe they were going for a retro sound. 
Exemplified by tracks like 'Small World', 'Lonely Beach' and their cover of The Zombies 'I Love You' this was broken-hearted mid-1960s garage rock at its best.  Even the isolated up-tempo numbers such as their cover of The Spencer Davis Group's 'Gimme Some Lovin'', 'First Date', and the closer 'You Told Me' sounded like they'd been recorded with a broken heart, or at least under the effects of a codeine blanket.  Adding to the mystique, the album was apparently intended as a concept piece, most of the nine songs dealing with the subject of found-then-lost summer love - want to hear a heartbroken guy then check out the near suicidal 'Summer Girl'.  All told you wouldn't think this would be something to get all that excited about here.  The funny thing is this is a wonderful album.  The low tech, overly earnest feel was simply KILLER - I dare anyone to hear 'Hard To Please' or the organ-propelled 'The Leaves Are Turning Brown' (with a keyboard riff that will drill its way into your head and not let go) and not be won over.  Worth the asking price of an original?  I'll leave that decision up to each of you.
~ by RDTEN1 (RYM).

Download Links:
The Summer Sounds - Up Bown (us 1969).rar

...and also...

http://www.embedupload.com/?d=7EQ2G0MMLX

...and also...

http://www.multiupload.com/IKT6HM6CD0
The Summer Sounds - Up Bown (us 1969).rar (61.17 MB)
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7 comments:

juan manuel muñoz said...

thank you very much my friend

Anonymous said...

I'm from dartmouth and I've never heard of this band this is nuts!!

Anonymous said...

Poplular in the 60s. They were Dartmouth High Kids. Any and all alumni would remember

Anonymous said...

Links dead...

Anonymous said...

All were dartmouth high grads

Anonymous said...

All were fine young men.

Anonymous said...

Truly decent young men. They leave pleasant memories for those of us who knew and remember!!