Sonics

The Sonics that Wailers bassist Buck Ormsby took into a small studio and unleashed on the world show a live band at the peak of its power, ready to mow down the competition without even blinking twice. Their debut long-player (originally issued on the Etiquette imprint) is reprised here with new liner notes by Norton prexy Miriam Linna in the original mono. The flame-throwing hits of "The Witch," "Psycho," "Boss Hoss," and "Strychnine" are aboard, along with versions of "Do You Love Me," "Dirty Robber," "Have Love Will Travel," and "Walkin' the Dog" that are no less potent. This long-play vinyl reissue also boasts the addition of four bonus tracks: "Keep a Knockin'" (the original B-side of "The Witch") and three selections from an Etiquette Christmas album, "Don't Believe in Christmas," "The Village Idiot," and "Santa Claus." Another important chunk of Seattle rock & roll history.

The Sonics' second album is every bit as explosive and influential as their debut outing, loaded with gritty Northwest rock & roll. Sandwiched in between the abrasive classics of "Cinderella" and "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" (with the Wailers on backing vocals), the funk sass of "The Hustler" and "Shot Down," the demonic "He's Waitin'," and the sledgehammer, inside-out version of "Louie, Louie" (only three chords to play and they don't even play 'em) are the band's straight-ahead takes on old R&B chestnuts like "Skinny Minnie," "Let the Good Times Roll," "Don't You Just Know It," "Since I Fell for You," "Hitch Hike," and a nice barn-burning version of "Jenny Jenny." Where the Wailers cut down the trees and paved the highway, the Sonics were the first group from their neck of the woods to take that music somewhere wilder than their original inspirations. The second chapter of Northwest rock & roll after you absorb the Wailers' Golden Crest sides.

The Sonics - This Is…The Savage Young Sonics (2001) {Norton Records CNW909 rec 1961-1964}
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© 1961-64, 2001 Norton Records | CNW 909
Rock / Garage Rock / Psychedelic / Frat Rock / Rock & Roll

Long before they delivered the full blown crunch of The Witch and Psycho, the Sonics were cutting their teeth in Tacoma teen clubs! These crude 1961-64 sides were taped live at dances and at home, showing the heavy influence of their primo idols the Wailers and includes the ultra primitive A-Rab, the group's very first recording - raw!! These tapes were recently found in a Tacoma attic. This is their first appearance ever!

The Sonics - Here Are The Sonics!!! (1965) {Norton Records CNW903, Remastered and Expanded rel 1999}
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© 1965, 1999 Norton Records | CNW 903
Rock / Garage Rock / Psychedelic / Frat Rock / Rock & Roll

The utterly most fabulous debut album from the loudest crowd of punk rockers ever! Originally released in early ‘65, this hard-hitting screamfest took the local teen scene by the eardrums and never let go! An astonishing battle of the wills of Parypa, Bennett, Roslie, Lind and Parypa, this LP has long provided the measuring stick for all wishful thinkers! Lush packaging, interviews, tons of info, pix! Featuring Nortophonic Loud Sound mastering for massive fidelity. Includes four bonus cuts.

The Sonics - Boom (1966) {Norton Records CNW905, Remastered and Expanded rel 1999}
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© 1966, 1999 Etiquette Records / Norton Records | CNW 905
Rock / Garage Rock / Psychedelic / Frat Rock / Rock & Roll

1999 digitally remastered re-issue of the second album by the legendary kings of garage rock, originally released in 1966. Includes three bonus tracks: 'The Witch' (alternate) and two live tracks. The Sonics' second album is every bit as explosive and influential as their debut outing, loaded with gritty Northwest rock & roll.

The Sonics - Psycho-Sonic (2003) {Big Beat–Ace Records CDWIKD115 rec 1964-1965}
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© 1964-65, 2003 Big Beat Records / Ace Records | CDWIKD 115
Rock / Garage Rock / Psychedelic / Frat Rock / Rock & Roll

Everyone would agree that the Sonics reached their peak on their 1964-65 recordings for Etiquette. This 29-track compilation has everything they recorded for the label, extended not just to everything from their singles and two albums, but also with an alternate take of "The Witch" and live recordings of "Psycho" and "The Witch." Consequently, it's the best Sonics release on the market, though you should be warned: it's not wall-to-wall greatness. After the first half-dozen or so songs, you might well be ready to buy into their legend as one of the great (and certainly rawest) '60s garage bands, as those tracks include their toughest elementary riff-fueled pounders: "The Witch," "Psycho," "Boss Hoss," "He's Waitin'," and "Strychnine."

The Sonics - Busy Body!!! Live In Tacoma 1964 (2007) {Norton Records CNW 913}
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© 1964, 2007 Norton Records | CNW 913
Rock / Garage Rock / Psychedelic / Frat Rock / Rock & Roll

Given the many stories of their crazed on-stage prowess and the frantic drive of their classic studio sides, fans of real-deal garage rock have often wished that someone had the presence of mind to make a decent-sounding live recording of Tacoma, WA, madmen the Sonics in their glory days. And, as it happened, someone did – a radio station in Tacoma, KTNT-AM, used to have a regular Friday night feature called Teen Time, in which they broadcast a live spot from one of the area's teen clubs. A guy in Seattle named Doug Patterson owned an Ampex reel-to-reel tape machine and frequently taped the Teen Time shows to collect songs for his own teenage band to cover, and two surviving tapes featuring the Sonics in action have been collected on Busy Body!!! Live in Tacoma 1964.