The Spike Drivers - 60's Folkrocking Psychedelia From The Motor City (1965-68 us, exceptional psych garage rock)

The Spikedrivers had two line ups between 1965 and 1968 when these (largely) demo recordings were made. With dual male and female vocals some of these tunes are resonant of early Jefferson Airplane (Often I Wonder, Strange, Mysterious Sounds, Baby Let Me Tell You) whilst here and there, there is a definite Fairports influence (e.g. Portland Town). 

Many of the first nine cuts along with tracks 14 & 15; Can't Stand The Rain and I'm So Glad (no, not the Cream song) are infectious and you will soon find yourself humming them all day. There is a small patch of five numbers from their second incarnation though which have been over-recorded (in a rehearsal room seemingly) and which are supposedly ragga based, but which actually descend into over-amped acid-fried mayhem (Grocery Store, Everybody's Got That feeling, I Know, Time Will Never Die, Sometimes) which you will either love or skip past. 

So, an uneven set, but not surprising given that most are demo and rehearsal recordings from two different line-ups covering the transition from folk-rock to (heavy) psychedelia. As an all-round package and artefact however, it has history, a story to tell, colour and great hooks - I would grab it with both hands!

by Paul Martin 

Tracks
1. Often I Wonder (Ted Lucas) - 5:49
2. Strange, Mysterious Sounds (Ted Lucas) - 5:31
3. Baby, Let Me Tell You (Richard Keelan) - 4:32
4. Blue Law Sunday (Tony Wright) - 4:01
5. Baby, Can I Wear Your Clothes? (Joel Myerson) - 3:51
6. Got The Goods On You (Joel Myerson) - 3:45
7. High Time (Joel Myerson) - 2:29
8. Portland Town (Daryl Adams, Sid Brown) - 5:29
9. Grocery Store (Marshall Rubinoff) - 3:30
10.Everybody's Got That Feeling (Marshall Rubinoff) - 4:26
11.I Know (Marshall Rubinoff) - 5:18
12.Time Will Never Die (Marshall Rubinoff) - 3:08
13.Sometimes (Marshall Rubinoff) - 5:56
14.Can't Stand The Pain (Joel Myerson) - 2:30
15.I'm So Glad (Ted Lucas) - 2:28

The Spike Drivers
*Marycarol Brown - Vocals
*Ted Lucas - Guitar, Vocals (1-7, 14,15)
*Richard Keelan - Bass, Vocals (1-7, 14,15)
*Larry Cruise - Drums (1-13)
*Sid Brown - Guitar, Banjo
*Ron Cobb - Bass, Keyboards (8-13)
*Marshall Rubinoff - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar (8-13)
*Steve Booker - Drums (14-15)

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