"The Night Is So Dark" Moody, fresh and fuzzy US '60s punk - VA

A new collection of American 60s punk 45s is always welcome. This one's got a lot of moody sides, but is not limited to that style, actually opening with a great punk pop number, the Diamond Rings' "Which End is Up." The Young Alley Cats' "Since She's Been Gone" follows a similar path, with the same result. The Continentals' "Almost a Man" and the TR-4's "Let it be Known" are slow but not moody. "Almost" sounds like it's about to explode at any time and kind of reminds me of the Electric Prunes, while "Let" is a totally cool folk punk with awesome snotty vocals by the band also known as the Ringers who now have a 10"/CD available out there.
More goodies with the Shades' "I Need You," dramatic folk punk, while the Bentleys are a lot more upbeat on their "Now it's Gone," a great Association style poppy folk rocker with a touch of fuzz for good measure (now someone's just got to reissue their "Devil's Dance" recorded when they were known as the Devils). Inept but still not moody is Jim Carter & the Senators' "Society," cool and punk as I like them.
But like I said, Lance Records was favorably disposed towards the fans of the "moody sound" when they put together this one. They'll enjoy the Innsmen's "I Don't Know" (a folk punker with an ear-piercing guitar break, the flip of the wild "Things are Different Now"), the Dolphins' poppy "I Should Have Stayed," Sites N'Sounds' "The Night is So Dark" (a great ballad; though they do a moody song, this bunch of punks can't help but being noisy), the Run-A-Rounds' "I Can't Take You Back" (with a super cool bass), plus two up-tempo though still moody primitive punkers, the Shillings' "Forgive Me My Love" and the Wild Cherries' "I Cried Once" (the recording on this one is so light weight, the band sounds shy). The only really weak number is the Misfits' "Can't You See", a Gants style beat pop song, only saved by the primitive performance. Altogether, a very good record. - Laurent Bigottraxfromwax:
1. which end is up (Eastwood) - The Diamond Rings 2. i don't know (Wheel's 4) - The Innsmen 3. almost a man (DC) - The Continentals 4. i need you (Encore) - The Shades 5. i should have stayed (Yorkshire) - The Dolphins 6. the night is so dark (CEI) - The Sites N' Sounds 7. can't you see (JCP) - The Misfits 8. since she's been gone (Robin) - The Young Alley Cats 9. let it be known (Velvet Tone) - The TR-4 10. forgive me my love (Dayton Band Co.) - The Shillings 11. i can't take you back (Manel) - The Run-A-Rounds 12. i cried once (Shoestring) - The Wild Cherries 13. now it's gone (Devlet) - The Bentleys 14. society (Camaro) - Jimmy Carter & The Senators
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