Claim OwnershipIn The Past: Garage Rock Podcast
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© 2025 In The Past: Garage Rock Podcast
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The usual format is this: we pick a song from the 1950s or 1960s (genres range from garage, R&B, Girl Groups, Motown and Doo-Wop), and discuss three versions of that song, or sometimes we just play a song we haven’t heard before and react to it. We’ve covered classics like “Little Bit o’ Soul” and “Psychotic Reaction” to rarities like “Jump and Dance” by the Carnaby, and “Ringo I Love You” by Bonnie Jo Mason (aka Cher). Our aim is to discuss what makes these songs interesting, ineffable, or even intolerable. We place special emphasis on the “moments” in these songs where, perhaps, a new interpretation will emerge from. A close look at song structure is also present in our discussions. If that sounds academic, maybe it is a little bit, but we like to keep the analysis in the spirit of the songs we speak of – which means we drink some spirits (for Erik, it’s bourbon, for Weldon, it’s Stambecco) – and that means by the third song, things can get a little wild. Basically, we talk about rock!
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This week, it's the great Goffin/King chestnut "I'm into Something Good" - but did you know the original version was recorded by Earl-Jean of girl group greats, The Cookies? Something tells us you'll like it every bit as much as the more famous version by Herman's Hermits, which of course we also cover. Ever wanted to hear the song in Mandarin? Then lend your ears to Singaporean Rita Chao's version from 1967! It's 棒 ! Ever wanted to hear a dirtbag version of the tune? Then listen to The Majic...
To discuss, "You Can't Sit Down" by The Dovells, you need to go back to "Sit Down Servant" by The Staple Singers, a joyous hymn to entering heaven with syncopated handclaps. You also need to return to the raucous instrumental version by The Philip Upchurch Combo and then you'll hear where the South Street singers got all those elements for their 1963 hit. Did you ever wanna hear Wolfman Jack & The Wolfpack do the song? We have you covered with the cover - surprisingly ...
We've made it to another milestone, and to celebrate, we've picked some garage and garage-adjacent tunes to toot our own horn! Prepare to hear a lot of fuzz and friendship - we couldn't have done it without us!!!!
We're bagging on The Beatles for a second week in a row! This time it's The Rutles who snatch the laurels off of the Fab Four's shaggy heads. Just like before, we pick SIX songs wherein to make our case, so just tune in and find out how amazing the song craft of Neil Innes (Ron Nasty) was, as well as the playing of Ricky Fataar (Stig O'Hara), Ollie Halsall (the voice of Dirk McQuickly) and John Halsey (Barry Wom). They're all better than a squadron of tanks!
This week we play and discuss six (6!) songs by The Mascots, also known as the Swedish Beatles! Before there was ABBA, there were The Mascots, whose songs had that early Lennon/McCartney fairy dust. Tune in and you'll find your new favourite song!!
Too much freedom can be a bad thing, but not when it's us giving you several versions of The Rolling Stones' "I'm Free" from 1965! The original is a carefree song that strolls along, with a moment where the tune gets tripped up but quickly recovers. Then we have All-American boys The Lovin' Kind, whose version is organ-soaked, with a chorus really explodes! Next up is an amazing soul interpretation by Wilmer & The Dukes. Just listen to it, it'll knock your socks off! We feel obliged to do...
Everyone's a winner in this episode, well, almost - only one will get the coveted Bo Diddley Award. At pole position is the original version by The Turtles, who could be tough when they wanted to be. And it's also the original cowbell clanger- take that, Blue Oyster Cult! The second horse in the race came out the same year as the original and it's by The Sounds Like Us. We waltz around this one a bit with a crucial digression about Motley Crue's original singer. The Bangles 1981 demo of the t...
Each version of Jackie DeShannon's "Each Time" is a treasure! We start with Jackie's original 1964 demo, which swerves from the Spectorian template and adds Mexican mariachi horns ... with backing vocals by The Blossoms, it's a winner! The same year, The Bon Bon's made the song a proper Girl Group Great with some nice doo-wop touches and cash register percussion!(?)! The Searchers brought their 12-strings and harmonizing to the song and it's especially heartbreaking in the...
This week we're listening to Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns 1958 hit "Don't You Just Know It" - an ebullient call-and-response rocker that's also a Goofy Great! The Fendermen's 1960 cover gives the song some Midwestern hillbilly hyuks and Cramp-y guitar. The song then crossed some ponds when Casey Jones & The Governors added the tune to their repertoire and changed the title to "Don't Ha Ha!" But they did! Oh, and Screaming Lord Sutch adds to the pandemonium and it's even produc...
What the heck is Keith Richards doing on the Rolling Stones' "Empty Heart"? If you know him, ask him. The tune is a down n dirty bluesy number from the band's early days and even Ian Stewart gets in on the action. Thee Midniters did a groovy rendition in '65 - but are the happy horns too much? Later that same year The First Four covered the tune and hoo-boy! is it garagey!! Totally rockin' - and we rename the whole band to fit their sound ... Prepare for FUZZ! &n...
By request from Chris & Val of the Cavern Club, we're playing "Searchin'" by The Coasters! It's a Table-Topper and a Goofy Great with an oompah beat and an amazing vocal performance by Billy Guy - what else do you want? On New Year's Day 1962, The Beatles recorded a version that wasn't released for years and that's because it stinks! Isn't the story that they honed their sound in the dirty clubs of Germany? They musta had too much NYE grog because you can't hear it here ... Nex...
On this episode, we honour the 60s music of our home province, Alberta. We start on Jasper Avenue in Edmonton with two songs by The King-Beezz: a cover of The Kinks' "I Gotta Move" and their original "Found & Lost." Then we drive down Highway 2 to Calgary to hear The 49th Parallel's "Laborer." Maybe we'll stop at Peter's for a burger and shake before we go back to Edmonton and the rooftops of the local A&W drive-in's for "There Ain't No Doubt About It" by The Lords - Weldon's Mom &...
John & Bobby from The Gruesomes are not only back on the podcast, they are back with a NEW LP!! -- "The Dimension of Fear," which comes out on September 5 on Soundflat Records. To celebrate the joyous occasion, we listen to and discuss the insane garage classic, "Fluctuation," originally by Texas horndogs The Shades of Night- along with a 1982 cover by The Chesterfield Kings and a spankin' new rendition by The Gruesomes from the new platter. Plus, you get a preview of another, original tu...
Hark! What song through yonder window breaks? It is "(Just Like) Romeo & Juliet" by The Reflections, from 1964. It may be the last gasp of doo-wop, but what a way to go out! You wouldn't believe how many other houses have covered this song - let's start with The Fadin' Colours from the land of Shakespeare. They add fuzz!, horns, and a turbulent arrangement that matches the dramatic subject matter. Little Caesar & The Consuls are some Canucks who sped the song up and affixed some ...
Is "Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl?" by The Barbarians the greatest 60s haircut song? Is it a goofy great? a protest song? You better listen and find out ... The Ravens from Columbus, Ohio grew the song out in '66 and add fuzz ... but it's not exactly garage ... or effective. The punk era saw short haircuts but a paradoxically longer version of the song by The Dogs, from Michigan. It rocks and has some cool backing vocals. The 80s garage revival brought back garage cuts, and The Nuthins -fro...
In June, the great and underrated Lou Christie died, so it was time to save him from Masterlist limbo. In this episode, we've picked our favourite bangers by him - most off of the great 1988 anthology Enlightninment - and prepare for his falsetto to appear in every one! There's doo-wop, girl group sounds, and teenage symphonies galore - let's celebrate the great farmboy from Pennsylvania, Lugee Sacco!!
You didn't have to wait long this week for the new episode - but listen to how weary The Kinks are in 1965's dreamy "Tired of Waiting For You." A languid version of the slashing riffs Dave Davies had heretofore been known for! Later that year, New Zealand's Rayders raided the platter-racks with their version of the tune. Detroit's Apostles came out with a fairly funky version with cool drummin' and some totally psych church organ. Things just got weirder when Nancy & Lee release...
You've had to wait, but we know you won't complain ... because this week we're talkin' bout one of the greatest garage tunes ever - "No Reason to Complain" by The Alarm Clocks. A song of no-'count teenage alienation, and man, it swings! Not many noticed, though - until Tim Warren brought it to the people on Back From the Grave, and then The Lyres covered the tune in '86 and it's cool and Cramps-y. 3 out of 5 is The Woggles from 1990, which sounds great but the vocals might register a complain...
This week's tune is a pop-psych confection called "Mr. Personality Man" - and there's only three recorded versions, so you'll hear 'em all if you tune in. The original is from The West Coast Delegation, a band confusingly from England. It's got a pretty heavy backbeat reminiscent of Motown or "Pretty Woman" and it doesn't let up. The lyrics deal with a charming but dangerous rogue, so we think the song might be inspired by "David Watts" by The Kinks (not played). The Found...
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