Psychotic Reaction

by The Count Five

Overview

If it were not for Lester Bangs' hilarious and fanciful essay "Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung," which sent generations of impressionable young hipsters-in-training to their local used-record stores in search of Double Shot DBL-1002, the world would not much recall Count Five's Psychotic Reaction; the average casual garage rock fan would be no more likely to search for this album than an album by Nuggets staples like the Remains. And frankly, despite Bangs' wild-eyed prose in praise of Psychotic Reaction, there would be some justice to that disappearance: this album really isn't all that great! There's the title track, of course, a total Yardbirds' ripoff that turns out to be better than any of that overrated band's patented rave-ups, thanks in huge part to Kenn Ellner's brilliantly bratty strangulated whine of a voice. Then there's the mysterious "Pretty Big Mouth," a swamp rock groove with the most bizarre lyrics on the entire album. And they certainly get major cool points for being hip to the Who in 1966, recording "My Generation" and "Out in the Street" before almost anybody in the U.S. knew who Pete Townshend was; unfortunately, that goodwill is negated by the sheer incompetence of both covers. And really, that's the problem with most of Psychotic Reaction; Count Five were not in any way a particularly talented band outside of Ellner's vocals and, occasionally, John "Mouse" Michalski's gnarly lead guitar. Songs like 'Double Decker Bus" and "They're Gonna Get You" may be garage rock legends, thanks to Lester Bangs, but frankly, you'll find a half-dozen better songs on any of the Pebbles compilations. ~ Stewart Mason

Product Details

Release Date:	03/30/2018
Label:	Craft Records
UPC:	0888072045774
Rank:	2245

Tracks

1. Double Decker Bus
2. Pretty Big Mouth
3. The World
4. My Generation
5. She's Fine
6. Psychotic Reaction
7. Peace of Mind
8. They're Gonna Get You
9. The Morning After
10. Can't Get Your Lovin'
11. Out in the Street

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Count Five   Primary Artist
Kenn Ellner   Vocals,Harmonica,Tambourine
Roy Chaney   Bass (Electric)
John "Sean" Byrne   Guitar (Rhythm)

Technical Credits

Sy Mitchell   Engineer
Ken Ellner   Composer
The Count Five   Composer
John Byrne   Composer
Pete Townshend   Composer
Irwin Zucker   Promotions Director
Kenn Ellner   Leader,Composer
Roy Chaney   Composer
John Michalski   Composer
Craig "Butch" Atkinson   Composer
John "Sean" Byrne   Composer
Craig Atkinson   Composer