For those of you that have read this blog up until this point, you will be relieved to find out that this time around we are FINALLY covering a group NOT FEATURED ON NUGGETS (although they were originally slated for a follow up volume)!!! This is ? (yes you are reading that correctly, its pronounced "Question Mark") and The Mysterians, a pop-ish latino garage group from Michigan who scored a number one hit in the U.S with the title track of this -their debut LP - '96 Tears' in 1966. The players were as follows; lead singer 'Question Mark' (AKA Rudy Martinez), guitarist Bobby Balderrama, bassist Frank Lugo, drummer Eddie Serrato and last but not least organist Frank Rodriguez. These guys possibly sound the most like a band just out of rehearsing in a garage out of all the units I've covered so far on this here site, slightly ramshackle (occasionally slipping out of time) with super tinny organ and guitar lines, playing mostly self-composed angsty pop tunes and to top it all off a vocalist who is trying his darndest to out Jagger Jagger (occasionally succeeding, usually sounding like a poor mans version). The grooviest thing about the group is despite (and possibly in part due to) their flaws, they knock out a unique brand of garage-pop that has not been truly replicated since. Lets check them out shall we?
Side One starts with 'I Need Somebody', a lovely bit of R&B with the Rodriguez's trademark Vox Organ sound riffing all over the place (more on that to come...). He even breaks into a line of 'Mary Had AA Little Lamb' in place of a middle eigth.... Why you my ask? Why not I say, it only adds to the quirkiness of the group's sound. A pretty straight 'Stormy Monday' follows, ?'s heavily reverbed vocals fitting the tunes longing tone. Not much to write home about, but soulful enough (its also the only cover on the album, impressive amounts of original song writing here for the time, even if most of its kinda derivative). A 'She's A Woman' styled bouncy rocker is next with 'You're Telling Me Lies'. Simple lyrics, simple arrangement, and yet it seems a bit eerie, is it the distant muted organ? Not sure, but I dig it all the same. 'Ten O'Clock' lurches forwards as the most garagey tune we've heard so far, sort of a Kinks styled riff that builds and builds through repetition and a surfey groove (again, plenty of reverb and treble on EVERYTHING, my kind of sound). 'Set Aside' features some tasty blues playing from Rodriguez, and.... not much else in terms of variety, rolls along nicely enough though and is a group original so has to be given some cred. The side closes with 'Up Side', another groovy little number with plenty o' organ and a tight rhythm section, cool vocal from ? too, probably one of my favourites from the LP (must've been a great dance number live, especially with that double time bit at the end).
Side Two starts with '8 Teen', nice stomping number in the mid 60's animals vein (maybe the hardest rocking on here), a garage rock classic and a great representation of the group's talents. 'Don't Tease Me' slinks in, more more more reverb; its piling up now in a most pleasing way, making the group blend together into a machine like crunch of sound. 'Don't Break This Heart of Mine' is a nice punky tune, more teen protesting against an unfair lover, fast too (you can see where Los Ramones got their shtick from...) 'Why Me?' is wimpo pop, but a bit motown-ish so I'll forgive it (stuff like this gave the group a bubble-gum reputation, they're better than crap like that believe me...) And a great example of why they're NOT bubble-gum comes next with 'Midnight Hour' (no, not that one, its an original!), NASTY sounding, the whole group surging along in true set closer form (seems like the drums are pushed up in the mix on this one, adds to the bar band chaos they're puttin' down). Dig the reedy organ (fuzzed out slightly), the biting guitar, pulsing bass, kick ass drums, all with ? floating around in his best seedy Jagger-ish manner. And finally, we have the group's worldwide hit, '96 Tears', possibly the most famous garage rock tune for the average 60's fan. Rodriguez lays down a piercing staccato riff, the group grooving and grooving at mid tempo. ? comes in and spouts his lyrics of love and loss ("too many teardrops, for one heart to be crying") before going into full on REVENGE MODE! ("I'm gonna put you/way down there/let me hear you cry now/96 tears") Epic stuff, and what a way to close off a debut album, bold move too for a group to put their big tune at the end of Side Two, builds a nice anticipation for it throughout like waiting at a gig for the band to play the song you know everyone is gonna flip over. If you're lookin' to pick this LP up (and you should be by now...), I'd recommend getting 'The Best of ? and the Mysterians 1966-67' comp; it contains this fab album along with its possibly even fabber follow up 'Action' along with some super rare single only releases (its also easily available on iTunes so no excuses!) Although they're not as heavy as some of the other groups on this blog, they're well worth the listen if you're a fan of poppy rock and roll with a unique edge, check em' out!
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