Bern Elliott - Good Times - Decca & London (1964)

According to Wikipedia, we have Phil Smee, a music journo, to thank for coining the term Freakbeat in the 1980s to describe the harder edged, post-British Invasion pop sound. To my ears, Bern Elliott's Good Times definitely fits snuggly into the Freakbeat category, with the song's in-the-red soul vocals and spooky reverbed organ. Although Good Times never appeared on Greg Shaw's Bomp/AIP Freakbeat compilations, possibly because it had been reissued on larger labels by this time, it would have been a worthy addition.

Bern Elliott - Good Times - Decca & London (1964) 

Bern Elliott - Good Times - London (1964) 

Jonathan King - Mary My Love - Decca (1973)

Mary My Love may be the great lost hit of the 1970s. I realize that this is largely a 60s blog, but this one is too good not to post. I'd rather not get into Mr. King's complex personal history in RBM. I first heard this song on King's boxed set called King Of Hits, which may be the craziest, silliest, gutsiest, catchiest, most entertaining group of songs ever assembled. The word guile might sum up Mr. King in his entirety. For his recordings, that is a very good thing indeed. The picture sleeve below comes from Italy.

Jonathan King - Mary My Love - Decca (1973) 

Jonathan King - Mary My Love - Decca (1973) - Italian picture sleeve

Kingston Trio - Three Song from Stay Awhile - Decca (1965)

Song: Three Song

Writer: Mason Williams

Producer: Frank Werber

Recorded: 1965

Welcome to the Resurrection Beat Machine! This blog is dedicated to lost 60s pop songs from the US, UK and abroad. Whenever possible, please purchase music and support the artists / labels. Kingston Trio - Stay Awhile available here.

Three Song was recorded for a group of Decca albums during latter part of the career of the Kingston Trio, sometimes called the (John) Stewart Years, after the departure of Dave Guard in 1961. Three Song was not a hit for the group. Interestingly, though, it was written by Mason Williams, who, in 1968, scored a huge hit with Classical Gas. Three Song is a lovely little harmony number that has more in common with 60s folk than the manly, Irish pub style ballads that the Kingston Trio became famous for during their early career. The Kingston Trio decided to fold two years later in 1967 due to the changing tastes of the public. That year, John Stewart scored a huge hit with Daydream Believer for the Monkees.

No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.

Kingston Trio - Three Song from Stay Awhile - Decca (1965)

Kingston Trio - Three Song from Stay Awhile - Decca (1965) 

The Castells - Just Walk Away - Decca (1965)

Song: Just Walk Away

Writers: Gary Usher & Raul Abeyta

Producer: Gary Usher

Recorded: 1965

Purchase The Castells and Beyond 1964 - 1966 here.

Credit should go to Rich from SunshineTunes67, who first shared this song in 2009, along with a bonus demo version. I highly recommend a auditory stroll through his epic sunshine pop YouTube posts. 

I had the soaring, cinematic Just Walk Away on continuous repeat for about 2 weeks after I first heard it. Just Walk Away, with a monumental Chuck Girard vocal, double bass, and Wrecking Crew backing (unconfirmed), is my favorite Gary Usher composition and production. Not only was the song not a hit, but it probably sold about 5 copies in 1965, judging by the scant availability of this 45 on the used vinyl market. This would definitely be in my top 10 " this should have been a hit" list.

No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.

The Castells - Just Walk Away - Decca (1965)

The Castells - Just Walk Away - Decca (1965)

The Majority - Let The Joybells Ring - Decca (1967)

Song: Let The Joybells Ring

Writers: Newman, Schere (credited Lewis in Rev-Ola liner notes)

Producer / Arranger: Ivor Raymonde

Recorded: 1967

Welcome to the Resurrection Beat Machine! This blog is dedicated to lost 60s pop songs from the US, UK and abroad. Whenever possible, please purchase music and support the artists / labels. Purchase The Majority - The Decca Years 1965-1979

Let The Joybells Ring is tucked away on a 1967 b-side and towards the end of The Majority Decca Years 1965-68 2009 Rev-Ola cd reissue. This is a soaring pop song with tubular bells and an epic, surprising middle break. Ivor Raymonde is credited with producing and arranging the song, applying his Dusty Springfield and Walker Brothers treatments to the Majority sound with brilliant results. Unfortunately, the song was not a hit for the band and remains on the fringes of 60s pop awareness.

No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.

The Majority - Let The Joybells Ring - Decca (1967)

The Majority - Let The Joybells Ring - Decca (1967)