Various Artists “2131 South Michigan Avenue – 60’s Garage & Psychedelia from U.S.A. and Destination Records”

by Beverly Paterson in Album Reviews

The mere mention of U.S.A. and Destination Records causes obsessive collectors of sixties music, such as myself, to go weak in the knees and turn to mush. Run by Jim Golden, both these Chicago, Illinois based labels (located at 2131 South Michigan Avenue) produced some of the coolest singles of its genre. A generous sampling of these tunes can be heard right here, on this double disc set, which also entails a lengthy history of the operations, an interview with Jim Golden, swarms of photos and profiles on the featured bands.

Casual radio listeners will no doubt recognize The Buckingams and The Cryan’ Shames, who netted nationwide hit singles. But rather than including the band’s best known songs, “2131 South Michigan Avenue – 60’s Garage & Psychedelia from U.S.A. and Destination Records” offers seldom heard tracks. Primarily remembered as a polished horn pop band, The Buckinghams reveal their inner blues wailing Yardbirds on a rave up cover of Bo Diddley’s “I’m A Man,” while The Cryan’ Shames deliver the goods in the form of the hauntingly wild sounds of “Ben Franklin’s Almanac” and a faithful version of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s “You’re Gonna Lose That Girl.” But for the most part, “2130 South Michigan Avenue – 60’s Garage & Psychedelia from U.S.A. and Destination Records” concentrates on bands that mainly played the regional circuit, resulting in a crackerjack collage of obscurities and rarities.

In the psychedelic scented corner of the arena, there’s The Flock’s “What Would You Do if The Sun Died,” Park Avenue Playground’s duly titled “The Trip” and The Lost Agency’s raga rock inflected “Time To Dream.” The Lost Agency further strut their stuff on “One Girl Man,” a sassy shot of powerful garage punk warning perspective dates that by no means is he a one girl man, but the non-committal kind who just can’t be tied down. A great band these guys were, and how sad it is they released so little material. However, they eventually morphed into Holocaust and issued “Savage Affection,” an insane acid rock screamer pressed on the Red Robb label.

Prior to changing their name to The American Breed and topping the charts with corkers like “Step Out Of Your Mind” and “Bend Me Shape Me,” Gary and The Knight Lites specialized in raw, rhythm and blues dance oriented music. And the proof is in the pudding, as evidenced by “I Don’t Need Your Help.” Melancholic and moody, “Hard Hard Year” by The Messengers could easily pass as a commentary on the state of the world today, “Come With Me” from The Boyz stomps and shakes with youthful jubilance, The Foggy Notions resemble a combination of The Zombies and The Beau Brummels on the aching “Need A Little Lovin’,” Trafalgar Square channels The Kinks in fine fettle via an arresting take of “Til The End Of The Day,” The Cherry Slush’s “I Cannot Stop You” explodes to the ceiling with sparkling Hollies styled harmonies, killer guitar licks and whipping breaks, The Shady Daze’s “I’ll Make You Pay” sizzles with scratchy fuzz riffs and Oscar Hamond and The Majestics check into the party with a batch of high quality garage pop rock that certainly deserved a wider audience at the hour of their birth. From back to front and front to back, “2130 South Michigan Avenue – 60’s Garage & Psychedelia from U.S.A. and Destination Records” is a joy to behold.