The latest release from one of the UK's finest re-issue labels. Classic UK psych/freakbeat from this highly prized 60s band. This disk presents all their singles, in pristine quality, plus live tracks from both '69 + '99 and the pre-Rupert's People 7" by Sweet Feeling.

So what do you get? all the familiar songs are here including; Reflections Of Charlie Brown, Hold On, Prologue To A Magic World, Dream On My Mind all of which are perfect examples of the UK's Psychedelic Pop sound of the mid-sixties and are presented here in the best sound quality yet. Anyone with even a passing interest in the UK psych needs to buy this disk. It's great to finally have all this stuff on one disk! Also included are some live tracks from '69 which, ok, are very rare, but there not going to bowl you over. You've always got to be a bit wary of re-formations everybody's at it these days, with varying degress of succes, but Rupert's People pull it off pretty well and, thankfully, the '99 tracks don't diminish from their ever growing reputation.

If you're a lover of the black wax you can pick this up in a glorious double gatefold LP, complete with 3 track EP.

4 tracks taped for US radio, capturing the band ‘live’. I just wish I could catch this band live for real! It’s The Waistcoats usual frantic mix of garage & beat, including a cover of The Outsiders That’s Your Problem. Great cover, of course, but this band don’t need to rely on covers when their song-writing is so good. The first track on this EP is a brand new song "Girl Of Mine", it's worth picking up this disk that one track alone, a perfect piece of garage pop, resplendant with swirling organ and snarl. Also included are live versions of LP tracks "What's In It For Me" and "Someday", the latter of which is a lost nederbeat classic. Superb!

This band are causing quite a scene amongst the London’s hipsters at the moment, and quite right too. "Ordinairy Twist" is straight from your favoutite swinging film, a great funky sax and hammond groove. "Whole Hog" is a great jaz/soul Booker T style work out and if you thought the Flies "I’m Not Your Stepping Stone" was something, then you’ve got to check out this flute driven gem!! Let's hope these guys get a long player out, and soon!

Various - "Don't Turn Me Off" (Out Of Limits, LP)

Sub-titled "transworld 60's beat punkers", that's a bit misleading, its not all a wild rave-up. But what it does contain is a great collection of super rare European 45's, most of which are un-comped (i think..).

There are a few real gems here, noticably the great snotty title track from Kenny Shane. The Olympians give us a wild rave up with Go Man Go, as do Belgium's G69 (Growing Up Now). There are few snotty punkers like Spain's Los Arlequines (No Hay Amor Para Mi) and Switzerland's Les Moby Dicks (Pony), which with it hauting wails could happily sit on a volume of BFTG!

A couple of real stand outs here are The Hitch Hikers from Lebanon, who's Buggy is a superb slice of freakbeat/psych, with organs and a dose of wah wah. They probably become and awful prog band, but for this 45 they got the balance just right! What the Green Leaves from Belgium were thinking when they recorded Magic Soul in 1970 is anyone's guess! it's a great piece of crude punk.

There are a few moody beaters on here that i could live without (Les Bonds, Francois Nicot), but on the whole this is a very good comp of super obscure European 45's. There are some nice pictures of most singles and bands, a few basic liners, and it comes on super thick vinyl. It's not essential, but if you see a copy i'd snap it up.

Here we go again with yet another trawl through, and re-packaging of, the Pye archives. Cynicism aside, it’s not a bad comp. In fact there are some great tracks here, but do we need them comped yet again? The usual big names are here, The Status Quo (You’re Just What I Was Looking For Today), The Sorrows (Pink, Purple, Yellow, Red), The Kinks (Lazy Old Sun), along side established compilation favourites like The Orange Machine (Dr. Crippen's Waiting Room), The Onyx (Tamaris Khan), Episode Six (I Can See Through You). So there’s no denying that there is some great lysergic psych on offer here, but it’s been rehashed so many times that many of you won’t give this disk a passing glance. On the other hand, if you don’t own any Rubble’s then this is a fairly cheap and easy way of picking up some good UK psych, but use it as a basic introduction, not a guide!

Latest issue and the best one yet! The UK's answer to Ugly Things. Well researched, well presented and getting better with each new issue!

The latest issue contains features on Jimmy Page/Jake Holmes and the "Dazed & Confused" story, features and interviews with SRC, The Rationals, The Strollers, Billy Nichols, Forever Changes, The Stones, Buffalo Springfield, David John & The Mood and more...

contact Shindig for availability and costs

(Firefly Books Ltd. ISBN: 0946719454)

Finally someone gets to tell the story that's been begging to be told for years, the turbulent history of The Pretty Things. It's been a long time coming and Alan Lakey does a great job in providing a, almost, non-biased (hey, i quite like Emotions...) factual acount of one of rock's great lost bands, through interviews with band members and assorted characters.

There are no massive revelations to the hardened Pretty Things fan, but it does go some way to dispel, and prove, some of the myths and stories that have surrounded the band almost since their inception. If you know the Pretties at all then you how the tale goes; drugs, violence, sex, getting ripped off and the creation of some of the best rock music comitted to vinyl.

Despite the chaos surrounding them, they were always one step ahead of the game (ok, maybe not with Emotions...) yet have, until recently, received hardly any praise for their efforts, through the years having been passed of as sub-Stones copyists.

Hopefully Alan's book will re-address that and set at least some of the record straight and get the band some of the wider recognition they desire. If you're looking for a book full of hard facts, variant picture sleeves, etc. then forget it. It's a book about the perils of Rock 'n Roll as much its about the Pretty Things.

It must have been quite the overwhelming task trying to put together a cohesive narrative from this bands ramshackled career, but Alan does a very good with it and it's a great read.

You can pick up the book through Helter Skelter or Amazon

A great Garage & Beat 'zine. Latest issue features interviews with The Monks, The Creation, Blood Red Vinyl and a great Lemon Drops feature. Also a look at The Tages, a reappraisal of Brute Force and tons of great record reviews. A superb read, well worth picking up!

Get the low down on price and back issues from their web site