Woo-hoo, Frat Rock. It's one of those music categories that is, one the one hand, just soooo accurate, while, on the other, it can be frustratingly broad. You can find the same bands and even the same songs listed in several different rock and pop genres; I guess it all depends on who's making the list. But generally, most people agree that Frat Rock is fast and furious, raw and raunchy, the forerunner of garage and punk, and the original you ain't makin' it to class in the morning rock and roll. As you might expect, Frat Rock takes its name from the party bands that played at '60s fraternity parties. At this point I have to tell you that I went to my share of frat parties back in my day, and while you wouldn't have called them conservative or sedate, there never was any live music. But there was always a good selection of records, so everyone managed very nicely. The following is my list (in no particular order) of standout Frat Rock numbers that I partied to.
"Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" Crazy Elephant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaK600yrvPE
"Let It All Hang Out" The Hombres
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgVMMdOplHw
"Dirty Water" The Standells
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5apEctKwiD8
"96 Tears" ? and The Mysterians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrTnaPa9BaA
"Keep On Dancing" The Gentrys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ylOFfdRRw
"Hey Little Girl" The Syndicate of Sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgLy3ArIVRE
"Open Up Your Door" Richard and the Young Lions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrIH1NDlmzc
"Farmer John" The Premiers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyJ7lRwRSbI
"Nobody But Me" The Human Beinz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mEMfxFEaXw
"Time Won't Let Me" The Outsiders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxghKjbgA_Y
"Louie Louie" The Kingsmen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FhwTZPSe0c
"Hang On Sloopy" The McCoys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICO-hrZllHw
"Little Bit o' Soul" Music Explosion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WEPSaaXwHM
And of course, just about anything by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhaOWvs4bkA
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3 comments:
I am learning so much! I even know two of these tunes from my brother's collections way back. Now back to reading more...
Then there's that other staple of the frat party - garbage can punch. I don't remember it from any parties I went to (honest!) maybe it was just an urban legend. Nah, I bet it was true. The ingredients were simple - everyone who came to the party brought a big bottle of mix (any kind) and a mickey of booze (any kind) and upon arrival, emptied them both into a galvanized garbage can. Then for the rest of the night, that was what everyone drank, regardless of how bad (undoubtedly) it tasted. Ask your bro about that!
I never heard of him mentioning that; he graduated in 1970. I think he was already doing the hippie thing....
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