Michael and the Messengers: Lifs (Don't Mean Nothin')
Park Avenue Playground: The Trip
Park Avenue Playground: I Know
The Cherry Slush: Gotta Take It Easy
The Flock: What Would You Do If the Sun Died
The Lost Agency: Time to Dream (alternate vocal)
The Daughters of Eve: Radio Spot
Though the '60s garage band explosion was felt in every corner of the country, the local uprising of talent in Chicago thrived unlike anywhere else. The Windy City had the perfect infrastructure in place; from a booming po... more »pulation of teenagers, to hip music stores in every suburb, a proliferation of teen clubs willing to take their money, and a powerhouse radio station (WLS) equally up to promoting local bands. When it came to giving local groups a shot at 45 rpm fame, no Chicago label--not even the hallowed Dunwich Records--was more prolific than USA Records. USA's Jim Golden was such a strong supporter of Midwest talent that he started up a second label focused solely in this area, Destination Records. A quarter century into the CD age, it's hard to believe these pivotal labels have never been properly anthologized. Until now, that is! Sundazed once again arrives to the rescue with an exhaustive dive into the pure, undiluted garage side of USA and Destination Records; tapping into everything from priceless artifacts from the Lost Agency, the Foggy Notions, and Park Avenue Playground to label hitmakers the Buckinghams, the Cryan' Shames, and the Flock at their most rockin'. There's so much impossibly great music on these labels, we had to expand this collection to 40 tracks available as both a 2-CD set and a 3-LP high-definition vinyl set. The album artwork is stuffed with rare photos, band bios, and an interview with the legendary Jim Golden. For a full course of Chicago '66 garage at its finest, look no further than 2131 South Michigan Avenue: 60's Garage & Psychedelia from USA and Destination Records!« less
Though the '60s garage band explosion was felt in every corner of the country, the local uprising of talent in Chicago thrived unlike anywhere else. The Windy City had the perfect infrastructure in place; from a booming population of teenagers, to hip music stores in every suburb, a proliferation of teen clubs willing to take their money, and a powerhouse radio station (WLS) equally up to promoting local bands. When it came to giving local groups a shot at 45 rpm fame, no Chicago label--not even the hallowed Dunwich Records--was more prolific than USA Records. USA's Jim Golden was such a strong supporter of Midwest talent that he started up a second label focused solely in this area, Destination Records. A quarter century into the CD age, it's hard to believe these pivotal labels have never been properly anthologized. Until now, that is! Sundazed once again arrives to the rescue with an exhaustive dive into the pure, undiluted garage side of USA and Destination Records; tapping into everything from priceless artifacts from the Lost Agency, the Foggy Notions, and Park Avenue Playground to label hitmakers the Buckinghams, the Cryan' Shames, and the Flock at their most rockin'. There's so much impossibly great music on these labels, we had to expand this collection to 40 tracks available as both a 2-CD set and a 3-LP high-definition vinyl set. The album artwork is stuffed with rare photos, band bios, and an interview with the legendary Jim Golden. For a full course of Chicago '66 garage at its finest, look no further than 2131 South Michigan Avenue: 60's Garage & Psychedelia from USA and Destination Records!
CD Reviews
Essential obscurity
attentive listener | Joysey | 05/07/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bob Irwin and Sundazed (Coxsackie, NY) does their usual high quality restoration, they turn out some great sounding discs (Bob's 2006 remastering of The Worst of Jefferson Airplane is just stellar).
2 discs, 95 minutes, of prime mid-West garage scronk ! If you have enjoyed any of the Garage Beat '66 releases this one would easily rise to the top of that heap. For a real good time: have yourself a major kegger and turn this one up !"
Great compilation of a underrated label
Somewhere in Texas | Planet Texas | 06/11/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being a garage fan for years, I was dismayed to see the USA and Destination records labels still overlooked by compilers. Finally this label gets it due with a very classy compilation by Sundazed.
Despite being a tiny indie label, USA's president Jim Golden had a gift for discovering local Chicago and regional garage bands with a gift for writing catchy pop-garage and pop-pysch songs and then crafting them for AM radio. Had USA-Destination had stronger promotion, many of these could have been national monsters like the Buckinghams "Kind Of A Drag" was.
Everything is first rate here from the packaging, mastering from original tapes, liner notes and a excellent track selection. My only gripe is both CD's run around 45 minutes - fine for vinyl, but a little disapointing for CD fans knowing there's other gems that could have been included as bonus cuts. And USA did cut some fine Soul-R&B and Girl Group tracks that could be included in future comps.
Otherwise this is a outstanding comp, and a very necessary buy for Chicago and Garage rock fans.
"
Chi-town boy admittedly a tad biased ...
George Michael USA | Seattle, Wa. USA | 09/11/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My band, The Park Ave Playground, is on this compilation. I saw quite a few of these acts live back in the day either because we were on the bill with them or they were at a venue in my area so my biases are evident but I've listened to many of these garage band collections and I think that this is among the best.
Lot's of excellent Chicago bred musicians in their early stages represented. The info on the pull out sleeve is well written and full of interesting facts about the acts included on these two CDs. The sound of the old recordings is amazingly crisp due no doubt to the amazing technical abilities we have available these days.
If you like these kind of retro sets, I think you'll really like this one.
(disclaimer: I receive no money from sale of this product)"
DELICIOUS COLLECTION
Owen J. Mahon | Lewisburg, PA | 09/12/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WHEN I GET A CD AND REPLAY IT TWO OR THREE DAYS IN A ROW, I KNOW I HAVE RECEIVED A GEM. THIS COMPLILATION STILL SITS ON THE PLAYER IN OUR GALLERY READY TO BE PLAYED AGAIN. WE HAVE A COUPLE THOUSAND CD'S ON CALL AND I SIMPLY HAVEN'T WANTED TO PUT IT AWAY YET. A GENUINE TREAT. OWEN MAHON / OPEN DOOR GALLERY"