Gregory Dee and The Avanties A Side: Olds-Mo-William B Side: Ain't Got No Home Garrett Records, GA-4007 1964
We've already listened to perhaps the biggest single from The Avanties (featuring "The Grind"), but let's now rewind and listen to their very first single, also released on Garrett Records. Garrett was the label run by George Garrett, who engineered many of the fine recordings put out by the Soma label.
Both tracks here are fine foot-stompin' recordings. "Olds-Mo-William" was original put out by Paul Peek in 1959, so it was already five years old by the time The Avanties took their shot at it. Arguably, the Avanties version is a little less of a novelty tune, and more of a straight-forward rocker...which actually suits the song a little better. Also, his wasn't long after The Trashmen scored their biggest hit (also on Garrett) with "Surfin' Bird," so The Avanties don't miss the opportunity to put in a reference to "the bird" in their version. (The original version said "I'm gonna rock and roll, if I can, if I can.") While Beatlemania was in full swing around the country, Trashmania was still evident in the Twin Cities.
The B-Side "Ain't Got No Home" is a cover of a Clarence Henry song from 1956, so that was ancient history by the time 1964 rolled around...but it still rocked, so that's all that mattered.
Gregory Dee and The Avanties
ReplyDeleteA Side: Olds-Mo-William
B Side: Ain't Got No Home
Garrett Records, GA-4007
1964
We've already listened to perhaps the biggest single from The Avanties (featuring "The Grind"), but let's now rewind and listen to their very first single, also released on Garrett Records. Garrett was the label run by George Garrett, who engineered many of the fine recordings put out by the Soma label.
Both tracks here are fine foot-stompin' recordings. "Olds-Mo-William" was original put out by Paul Peek in 1959, so it was already five years old by the time The Avanties took their shot at it. Arguably, the Avanties version is a little less of a novelty tune, and more of a straight-forward rocker...which actually suits the song a little better. Also, his wasn't long after The Trashmen scored their biggest hit (also on Garrett) with "Surfin' Bird," so The Avanties don't miss the opportunity to put in a reference to "the bird" in their version. (The original version said "I'm gonna rock and roll, if I can, if I can.") While Beatlemania was in full swing around the country, Trashmania was still evident in the Twin Cities.
The B-Side "Ain't Got No Home" is a cover of a Clarence Henry song from 1956, so that was ancient history by the time 1964 rolled around...but it still rocked, so that's all that mattered.