The Seeds [Bonus Tracks]

by The Seeds

Overview

Of the great garage punk bands of the 1960s, some were louder (the Sonics), some were angrier (the Music Machine), and some were trippier (the 13th Floor Elevators), but few seemed like a bad influence on so many levels as the Seeds. The Seeds had long hair, a gloriously lamentable fashion sense, an attitude that was at once petulant and lackadaisical, and music that sounded aimless, horny, agitated, and stoned all at once. Is it any wonder America's delinquent youth loved them? The Seeds' aural signature was as distinctive as any band of their era, and they got a bit fancier with their formula as they went along, but they never captured their essential seediness with more impressive concision than they did on their self-titled debut album from 1966. Dominated by the fierce, drawling yelp of Sky Saxon's vocals and Daryl Hooper's hypnotically repetitive keyboard patterns, and supported by the snarling report of Jan Savage's guitar and Rick Andridge's implacable drumming, the Seeds had a limited bag of melodic tricks, but they hardly seemed to care that roughly half their songs sounded identical, as Saxon bellowed about people who had done him wrong in some way or another (usually women) and the band locked into cyclical grooves that picked up impressive momentum when they gained enough traction (especially "Evil Hoodoo," "You Can't Be Trusted," and the Seeds' signature tune "Pushin' Too Hard"). On their second album, A Web of Sound, the Seeds would become more blatant in their celebrations of sex and drugs, but the glorious primitivism and narrower focus of their debut ultimately works to their advantage; there are few albums of the era that mirror the delicious arrogance of a beer-sodden teenage misfit with the effortless simplicity of the Seeds, and it's justly celebrated as a classic of first-wave garage punk. [Big Beat's 2012 reissue of The Seeds nearly doubles the original LP's running time, including the B-side "She's Wrong" and a fistful of outtakes, unreleased tunes, and alternate versions, including the proto-rockabilly "Daisy Mae," a 16-minute jam on "Evil Hoodoo," and a hilariously lopsided version of "Pushin' Too Hard." The set also includes a 36-page booklet with lots of rare pictures and clippings, and extensive, wildly entertaining liner notes from Alec Palao. The audio quality is excellent and this package has been put together with tender loving care, making this the definitive edition of the Seeds' debut.] ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	10/02/2012
Label:	Ace Uk / Big Beat Records
UPC:	0029667430821
Rank:	47452

Tracks

1. Can't Seem to Make You Mine
2. No Escape
3. Lose Your Mind
4. Evil Hoodoo
5. Girl I Want You
6. Pushin' Too Hard
7. Try to Understand
8. Nobody Spoil My Fun
9. It's a Hard Life
10. You Can't Be Trusted
11. Excuse, Excuse
12. Fallin' in Love
13. She's Wrong
14. Daisy Mae [Take 1]
15. Dreaming of Your Love [2012]
16. Out of the Question [Version 1, Take 1]
17. Out of the Question [Version 1, Master]
18. Pushin' Too Hard [Take 1]
19. Girl I Want You [Alternate Overdub, Take 6A]
20. Evil Hoodoo [Unedited Take and Intercut Section]
21. It's a Hard Life [Take 3]
22. Nobody Spoil My Fun [Alternate Overdub, Take 3A]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Seeds   Primary Artist
Sky Saxon   Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Rick Andridge   Drums

Technical Credits

Vinnie Fanelli   Arranger
Sky Saxon   Composer,Producer
Marcus Tybalt   Composer,Producer
Daryl Hooper   Composer
Jan Savage   Composer
Jimmy Lawrence   Composer
Russ Serpent   Composer
The Seeds   Arranger,Performer