The Tages

Sweden's Sixties quartet The Tages (or simply "Tages" as they are known) are my favorite European band from. Though their career was brief (1964-1968) they ran a gamut of musical styles and genres that spanned just under thirty singles/E.P.'s and five albums in their home country. They began by embracing Beatle-esque beat music, then merging that with Pretty Things/Downliners Sect style r&b, then quickly onto Who inspired mod/power pop while simultaneously attempting soul music and balancing by embracing sunshine harmony pop and then, finally, slickly produced psychedelic pop. With all that in just four short years I thought it would be interesting to select some of their best sides from their varying and interesting career. All original 60's pressings/releases listed are Swedish.

1. "I Should Be Glad" Single A-Side Plantina PA 103 1965
The band's second single "I Should Be Glad" owes as much to the Everly Brothers as it does to British beat music. With it's acoustic guitar driven "Beatles For Sale" sound and layered harmonies it could be easily mistaken for an obscure mid tempo mid 60's British beat single. Subsequent singles would be more rocking.

Hear it on: "Go! The Complete Singles" RPM double CD 2015

https://youtu.be/bPjLxeETj9U

2. "The One For You" Single A-Side Platina PA 105 1965/ LP track "Tages" Platina PALP 3001 1965
The Who were massive in Scandinavia in the mid 60's and the band's fourth single sees a marriage on convenience of their Beatles/Hollies inspiration and London mod four piece. With its noisy guitar intro and a complete mod/r&b rave up during the guitar solo The Who influence is easily felt, and all without losing the band's trademark harmonies and high backing vocals.

Hear it on:"Go! The Complete Singles" RPM double CD 2015

https://youtu.be/lEUIntbTopQ

3. Crazy Bout My Baby" A-Side single Platina PA 125 1966/LP track "Tages 2" Platina PALP 3002 1966
Released by Liverpool's Swinging Blue Jeans exactly a year before this version, the Tages rendition is slowed down a tad more but somehow harder and more rocking. The Blue Jeans version has a flute solo whereas this version has a kitschy little organ solo that works well with the tunes quasi Flamenco feel.

https://youtu.be/Z59NGC2eXec

Hear it on: "Go! The Complete Singles" RPM double CD 2015

4. "The Man You'll Be Looking For" Flexi disc track Bildjournalen Go Go Skiva 66 1966
Issued on a free three track flexi disc with the "Bildjournalen" music magazine alongside a track each by the Strangers and Ola and The Janglers, "The Man You'll Be Looking For" is a beautiful mix of the band's Pretty Things/r&b phase colliding with mod/freakbeat. It has thundering, melodic bass lines, a double timed r&b beat and distorted as hell guitars with a harmonica solo to wrap it all. It was also issued as a single in Norway (His Masters Voice AL 6137 1966). It was my introduction to the band via the excellent "Searchin' For Shakes" 1984 compilation album of Swedish 60's sounds.

Hear it on: The Platina/Parlophone double LP/CD "Tages 1964-1968!".

https://youtu.be/7t051oTWUM8

5. "Jealous Girl" LP track "Tages 2" Platina PALP 3002 1966
The band rocked up this Johnny Kidd and the Pirate's June 1964 single by adding a heavy guitar riff to it and doubling the timing, chucking in some frantic drumming and choppy chord bashing that turns it from a beat ballad to a a proto freakbeat stormer.

Hear it on: The Platina/Parlophone double LP/CD "Tages 1964-1968!".

https://youtu.be/IeKC-QIDnWc

6. "Secret Room" LP track "Extra Extra" Platina PALP 3003 1966
Kicking off with some backwards bits and lots of poppy "la la la's" "Secret Room" is a creepy pop psych number about a little boy watching his parents have sex through a spy hole in his room! Cringe worthy lyrics aside its one of the highlights of the band's lackluster third LP "Extra Extra" where it sits uncomfortably among half baked soul/r&b covers and mediocre originals.

Hear it on: The CD 1994 EMI compilation "In My Dreams" 

https://youtu.be/eATGGry8YfY

7. "Miss Mac Baren" Single A-Side Platina PA 130 1966
Hastily written in a cafe prior to a recording session after spying an advert on the wall for Mac Baren pipe tobacco, "Miss Mac Barren" would be the band's tenth single for the Platina label. Accented by their tight harmonies and some quirky keyboards and jangly, biting guitars it's one of their strongest singles.

Hear it on: "Go! The Complete Singles" RPM double CD 2015

https://youtu.be/YeyUDbLcvGg

8. "My Home Town" LP track various artists compilation "Popligan-For Och Flkting 67" Sveiriges Radio PRH 5003 1967
One of the band's most interesting tracks was this rare gem that was only available on a various artists compilation LP put out by a radio station with proceeds going to support a refugees charity. "My Home Town" is a beautiful track that reminds me of something the Kinks would have done in '66 or '67 and in grand Ray Davies style tradition the lyrics tell a story. It's about a young man heading home to the town of his birth where a delegation awaits him at the station to give him the key to the city and fete him. When he arrives there is no one there to greet him. Was it was all a delusion/fantasy or, as he sings "must have taken wrong (sic) train home to town"?

Hear it on: "Fantasy Island" 1994 EMI CD compilation and on the Platina/Parlophone double LP/CD "Tages 1964-1968!".

https://youtu.be/Tz5p6pzMoJY

9. "She's Having A Baby Now" Single A-Side Parlophone SD 6009 1967
The band skirted controversy in Sweden when they released this social observation about an unwanted pregnancy. Backed by some cheery harmony backing vocals and cheeky disposition it's delivery belies the seriousness of the song's topic. Check out the band in all their Who-aping greatness miming to the track on Swedish TV in the link below.

Hear it on: "Go! The Complete Singles" RPM double CD 2015

https://youtu.be/kXFSofC-yPk

10. "She Is A Man" LP track "Studio" Parlophone PMCS 316 1967
The Tages tackled the subject of transgender persons long before The Kink's "Lola". Whereas the protagonist in "Lola" knows what she is and the track is a love song (essentially) the "she" in "She Is A Man" is far more sinister and unwilling to disclose her secret (check out the dialogue sequence in the middle where some very campy/effeminate voices joke about the hapless love interest who "didn't know"). Chuck in some "Revolver"-esque drumming, backwards guitar and falsetto voices and you have a masterpiece!

Hear it on: a 2010 RPM CD reissue and 2017 LP reissue on Bear Family

https://youtu.be/GiAgoxzTt0M

11. "Seeing With Love" LP track "Studio" Parlophone PMCS 316 1967
The Tages were subsidized by the Swedish government for the inclusion of traditional folk Swedish instrumentation on their records and its no better illustrated on this track that starts with a burst of distorted "Revolver"/"Sgt. Pepper"style guitar before drifting into a dreamy bit with the curious cacophony of traditional wood wind instruments before bursting forth into an amazing harmony pop number with horns, choral bliss and backwards bits.

Hear it on: a 2010 RPM CD reissue and 2017 LP reissue on Bear Family

https://youtu.be/2BD5s93qRYI

12. "Have You Seen Your Brother Lately" LP track "Studio" Parlophone PMCS 316 1967
Probably one of the strongest tracks on the the band's fourth LP "Studio" is "Have You Seen Your Brother Lately", a beautiful bit of pop psych tune with zooming bass, violins (provided by two eminent Swedish classical musicians) and a wonderful social observation that bounces along with a Beatlesque '66-'67 feel.

Hear it on: a 2010 RPM CD reissue and 2017 LP reissue on Bear Family

https://youtu.be/MiNxqr_z624

13. "Fantasy Island" Single A- Side Parlophone SD 6036 1968
Probably the band's heaviest and freakiest track was this May 1968 single that features ethereal Hammond, vocals through a Leslie speaker, folky fiddle bowing, raga guitar licks and of course some angelic harmonies. The lyrics are incredibly deep too, no mean feat considering they were written in English, the band's second language.

Hear it on: "Go! The Complete Singles" RPM double CD 2015 and a 2010 RPM CD reissue and 2017 LP reissue of "Studio" on Bear Family

https://youtu.be/BTRim-OJjfA

14. "I Read You Like An Open Book"  Single A-Side Parlophone SD 6054 1968 
The band, reduced to a four piece following the departure of lead singer Tommy Blom, issued this final single recorded in the UK and produced by Mike Hurst. Sounding like every bit of Sweden's answer to the "Pet Sounds" era Beach Boys the number its almost bombastic at times but works. It was also the band's only US single. Check out the band's horrendous hairstyles and attire on the picture sleeve above!

Hear it on: "Go! The Complete Singles" RPM double CD 2015

https://youtu.be/kt-hykCS1sU

15. "I See The Rain" Swedish Radio Session 1968
The Tages cut this searing version of Marmalade's "I See The Rain" fattened up with guitarist Danne Larsson playing an eight string Hagstrom bass instead of guitar alongside bassist Goran Lagerberg for a Swedish radio broadcast. It's chunky and ham fisted at times but excellent. The band cut a version of Moby Grape's "Hey Grandma" at the same session.

Hear it on: "Stora Popboxen (Svensk Pop1964-1969 Volume 1)" 4 CD Set

https://youtu.be/sYJdm_Bb4s0

******Special thanks to Mike Stax and his Tages piece in "Ugly Things" issue # 7, Ulf Henningsson's Tages article in "Shindig!" # 18 and Keith Patterson. "Fantasy Island" sleeve scan care of 45cat.com and LP scans care of Discogs.com. ***********

God Bless Bam Caruso Part Three

TURNSTYLE-Riding A Wave/Trot U.K. Pye 7N17653 1968

One of the things I've always loved about British Sixties pop-psychedelic music is it's overwhelming use of strings on many of it's records. It has always been perplexing to me that British major labels (especially, I've found, Pye and Deram/Decca) afforded acts with no hit history (or even a history period!) such lavish studio affectations like string sections. Turnstyle are one of those acts. I've no clue who there were, where they were from, in fact I paid scant little attention to this record when it's "A" -side popped up on Bam Caruso records 1988 LP compilation "Professor Jordan's Magic Sound Show" Rubble 10 (which plumbed the Pye/Piccadilly archives ). Years later I won a pile of Pye psych pop 45's from a seller on E-Bay and lying within was this Turnstyle 45 and I still failed to notice it's genius. In fact I foolishly sold the 45 and it was not till The Embrooks began covering it that I went back and investigated it (still kicking myself these days over it as I last heard it was going for $500-$1,000).

"Riding A Wave" starts with a male vocalist singing "I'm sitting down by the sea, thinking about my problems..." accompanied by some sappy strings. But as soon as the opening verse is done it all gives way to some chunky guitar and bass that recall the ballsy late '66/early '67 Move material and the punchy chorus "and my mind says I'm happy and I'm riding a wave", delivered rather passionately. Pretty soon the strings are sawing away at a frenzied pace meshing themselves perfectly with some blistering guitar licks reaching a monstrous crescendo during the break. Magic!! All this orchestral lush-ness expended on a bunch of nobodies?! What were the A&R men thinking back then? Luckily for us I guess they Kinks and Petula Clark records funding their coffers on such idiosyncratic expenses! The flip "Trot", is another cliched British psych pop example:the flipside that sounds like an almost entirely different band. Luckily in this case it's not an issue because it's still good. There's no strings, just crunchy mod/freakbeat gritty power chords chugging out a primitive sub-Troggs/Loot style riff and a sneering vocalist who sounds like some Dickensian street urchin as he leers "This is the season for hanging 'round here..". It picks up and gets somewhat heavy with a rave up of sorts towards the end with some chunky guitar solo work.

Luckily both cuts are available on an RPM CD "A Glass Menagerie" that compiles late 60's Pye psych tracks.

And you can hear them here :

"Trot"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HW9qz8j02Q

"Riding A Wave"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpK-p19JMxs

Unsung Great U.K. Psych Pop 45's

OCTOPUS-Girlfriend/Laugh At The Poor Man Penny Farthing N51-1-8 Portugal 1970

Don't let the year "1970" fool you, there are plenty of good U.K. psych/pop 45's out there that sound like 1967. "Laugh At The Poor Man"/"Girlfriend" by Octopus is a perfect example. This was their first single and it appeared on Larry Page's newly launched Penny Farthing label (as PF 705 in the U.K.). The label featured a number of obscure acts and names but did introduce the U.K. to the Dutch act Shocking Blue as well as being a home for talented vocalist Samantha Jones. The single even got a release in Portugal where I scored my copy a few weeks ago, which is somewhat interesting as most Portuguese pressings of British records at that time came from hitmakers, making the debut recording of the relatively obscure Octopus a startling find! I recently heard from the band's guitarist Paul Griggs who tells me the band made a special trip to Portugal (with Samantha Jones) to promote the 45!

Octopus were formerly known as The Cortinas, who released one 45 on Polydor 56255 in 1968 called "Phoebes Flower Shop"(which popped up on the Strange Things Are Happening's "Circus Days Vol.5" CD) . At the time of the debut Octopus 45 the group were: Paul Griggs-vocals/guitars, Rick Williams-guitar, Nigel Griggs-bass(later to join Split Enz) and Brian Glasscock-drums.

"Girlfriend" is a perfect pop record. It's well produced and it's got these three tier harmonies that remind me of the first few Marmalade 45's (before they got crappy and began doing all those dreadful Macaulay-McLeod MOR pop pap numbers). The lyrics boast an amusing line (very obviously pre-sexual revolution) "and my wife, stays at home and works around the house all day" whilst being introspective from the point of view of a happily married man ("thinking back again I can remember very well, the girls I knew, the jukebox songs, the stories I can tell..."). The A-side, "Laugh at The Poor Man" is a bit more wiggy thanks to some wobbly phlanging on the guitar intro but equally entertaining. It almost reminds me of early Badfinger with a slight psychedelic tinge. Both tracks were produced by Larry Page and former Plastic Penny(then Troggs) bassist Tony Murray and are available as bonus cuts on the CD reissue of the band's hideously rare debut LP. Octopus went on to cut another single The River/ The Thief (Penny Farthing PEN 716) before issuing the previously mentioned LP.

Get the full story on Octopus at:

http://www.p.griggsy.btinternet.co.uk/Untitled/Oct1.html

And Paul Griggs book at:

http://www.diaryofamusician.com/

Hear "Laugh At The Poor Man":

https://youtu.be/36PRPv74s6o

Hear "Girlfriend":

https://youtu.be/PXecFfYScus