The New Colony Six "At The River's Edge" 1965-1967 (rec) 1993 (comp)****

The re-discovery of 60's garage rock through the Lenny Kay-curated compilation Nuggets in the late 70's gave birth to a big garage punk revival movement. Most of the revival bands focused on the wilder side of the 60's as personified by The Sonics, Standells, Count V etc. New Colony Six (NC6) though, turned out to be less influential than those groups, even though the title track of this compilation was included in the expanded Nuggets box set. The reason is something that's not normally considered a flaw: they were too meticulous in their writing and too proficient in their playing. While the average American garage band tried to make up for their lack of sophistication by playing louder and faster, NC6 relied on well-crafted original tunes, beautiful harmonies and melodic keyboards. Their name and revolutionary-era outfits were a product of their desire to be seen as "the answer to the British Invasion" - they were influenced by The Hollies, Beatles, Zombies etc. but aspired to compete with them on equal terms. This compilation on the Sundazed label focuses on NC6's early years, when they spiked their amiable pop with some real garage rock grit. Later they would score nationwide hits with some forgettable pop, but the early singles and first two LP's that provide the basis for this compilation is where they got the balance right. The band's first single "I Confess/Dawn Is Breaking" (1965) was a local hit in Chicago, side A being an infectious folk rocker and B a melodic garage pop tune with groovy organ. It was included in their 1st (and best) LP, which was optimistically titled Breakthrough (1966). Most of it is present here starting with their most memorable tune and their one fiery garage rocker "At The River's Edge", a Yardbirds-style rave-up in double tempo, with lots of harp and fuzz guitar. "A Heart Is Made Of Many Things" is a R&B tune with harmonica and their trademark harmonies that sounds like a cross between Them and The Beach Boys. There are a number of melodic mid-tempo garage rockers, which seem to be the band's specialty: "Last Nite", "I Lie Awake" and "Dawn Is Breaking" as well as a few nice ballads making the most of their sunshine pop harmonies ("Don't You Think It's Time You Stopped Your Cryin'", "I And You", "Some People Think I'm A Playboy", and the proto-psychedelic "The Time Of The Year Is Sunset"). A rockier song from the album appears here in its stereo mix from the 7' single (the Breakthrough LP was mono), and that's the Bo Diddley cover "Cadillac". The band's sophomore album Colonization (1967) shows a gradual turn to soft rock with a bigger percentage of saccharine ballads ("Sunshine", "Accept My Ring", "I'm Here Now", "The Power Of Love", "My Dreams Depend On You") and upbeat folk rock ("Love You So Much", "You're Gonna Be Mine"). The Farfisa organ which was so prominent on the first album often takes a back seat here. Still there's also some rootsy R&B ("Woman" and Lovin' Spoonful cover "Warm Baby") and bona fide garage rock ("Let Me Love You"). The CD closes with an extended version of The Yardbirds' "Mister You're A Better Man Than I". With some powerful drumming, busy bass, and nice fuzz guitar, it sounds as if the band wanted to immortalize their "tour de force" live set closer. It ends in an inadvertently funny way, with the singer reciting the lyrics in an overtly theatrical voice to make sure we all get the message of the song. When I bought this CD, I was into punkier stuff and found it too lightweight for my taste. I now appreciate it better, but it's still very much of its time: if you're feeling nostalgic for the pre-hippie mid-60's this is one for you! 

***** for At The River's Edge

**** for I Confess, A Heart Is Made Of Many Things, I Lie Awake, Dawn Is Breaking, The Time Of The Year Is Sunset, Let Me Love You, Warm Baby, Woman, Mister You're A Better Man Than I

*** for Don't You Think It's Time You Stopped Your Cryin', Last Nite, I And You, Cadillac, Sunshine, Love You So Much, You're Gonna Be Mine, The Power Of Love

** for Some People Think I'm A Playboy, Accept My Ring, My Dreams Depend On You, I'm Here Now