VA - Pebbles Volume 7: Chicago 2
Originally released on BFD Records BFD-5024 in March 1980
This CD issued on Archive International AIP CD-5024 in December 1994
The second of the Chicago area-related Pebbles compilations again draws from various Pebbles, High Times, & other compilations. 23 tracks of original '60s punk & psych classics.
The second volume of Pebbles that is devoted to Chicago is similar to its predecessor, 'Pebbles, Vol. 6.' It includes an early recording by the Ides of March, who later changed their sound and scored a big hit with "Vehicle"; a track by Gary & the Knight Lites, who later became the American Breed; and numerous selections from obscure '60s garage bands with some connections to the Windy City. While some of these bands may have been influenced by Chicago blues, they seem to have been more influenced by the British Invasion, Bob Dylan, other '60s garage bands, and '50s rock & roll; indeed, the album features remakes of songs by the Who ("I Can't Explain"), the Rolling Stones ("The Spider & the Fly"), the Animals ("I'm Gonna Change" and "I'm Cryin'"), the New Colony Six ("At the River's Edge"), the Vectors ("It's Been a Day or Two"), the Hombres ("Let It All Hang Out"), and Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns ("High Blood Pressure"). As you may have guessed from the high number of cover versions, the bands on this compilation aren't strikingly original; this compilation, like Pebbles, Vol. 6, will appeal primarily to garage rock completists who are willing to forgive a few borrowed ideas in the pursuit of a good time. Note that "Ben Franklin's Almanac" by the Cryan Shames is not included on the CD even though it is included on the song list that's printed on the CD cover; the third song is actually "Come With Me" by the Boyz, which was incorrectly listed on the CD cover for 'Pebbles, Vol. 6.'
The second entry in the Pebbles series to focus exclusively on garage rock from the Chicago area doesn't fare much better than its lackluster predecessor, but there are a few good songs: The Lost Agency's "One Girl Man" is an excellent punk pounder that boasts sneering vocals, and the Trolls' "Every Day & Every Night" is a roaringly catchy tune with some truly hilarious lyrics. The Children of Darkness' "Sugar Shack A Go Go" is a drunken, stomping frat-rocker. Gary & The Knight Lites' "Take Me Back" is pure bouncing garage-pop, and The Malibus' cover of the Animals' classic "I'm Cryin'" is almost as rollicking as the original. The Berries' "What in the World" is a catchy three chord pounder with a cool harmonica solo, while Lord & The Flies' "Echoes" is almost as good as the group's name. And... that's about it.
Practically everything else on this disc is somewhere between mediocre and awful. Oscar & the Majestics provide an incredibly lame version of the Who's "I Can't Explain," while The Factory's rendition of the R&B standard "High Blood Pressure" foreshadows the worst of 70s blues rock. Von Ruden's take on the Rolling Stones' "The Spider And The Fly" is a dull, formless mess. Robby Brelyn's "Hana" features an annoying (and somewhat creepy) vocal backed by a completely uninteresting fuzz guitar/ drum thing. Jimmy Null & the Inversions' "I Still Care For You" is a pointless bit of wanna-be Buddy Holly-ing. Worst of all is Barney Pip's unspeakably bad cover of the Hombres' "Let It All Hang Out-" everything about the version, from its unoriginal music to its annoyingly weird vocals, exemplifies the absolute worst aspects of 60s garage rock.
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