The Bad Seeds — J-Beck Story 1 [1984] (USA, Garage/Psychedelic Rock)

The Bad Seeds were an American garage rock band formed in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1964. Musically influenced by traditional blues and the raw recordings by the Rolling Stones, the group’s sound was marked by primal proto-punk instrumental arrangements and vocals. The band released three singles, mostly originals penned by guitarist Mike Taylor, that have since become classics of garage rock, and have the Bad Seeds considered forerunners in popularizing the subgenre in Texas. The Bad Seeds formed when Mike Taylor (lead guitar, vocals) and Henry Edgington (bass guitar), both formerly members of the teen rock group the Four Winds, teamed up with Rod Prince (rhythm guitar, vocals) and Bobby Donaho (drums), who, beforehand, were playing in the rival act, the Titans, until its disbandment. The group, spearheaded by original material penned by Taylor and Prince, quickly established a loyal following regionally, becoming a frequent top competitor in battle of the bands contests, and appearing on the popular television program Teen Time. As music historian Bruce Eder asserts on the Allmusic website, the Bad Seeds were the «first rock group of note to come out of Corpus Christi, Texas, itself a hotbed of garage-rock activity during the middle/late 1960s». In 1965, record producer Carl Becker discovered the group performing at a venue called the Surf Club, and signed them to a recording contract for J-Beck Records. With Becker producing, the Bad Seeds recorded their debut single, the Taylor-penned proto-punk classic, «A Taste of the Same», which was marked by Taylor’s sardonic vocals and Prince’s innovative guitar arrangements. The group followed-up their regional hit with the novelty surf rock tune «Zilch» (part one and two) in early 1966. Although the single was not received as well as «A Taste of the Same», the band still was able to perform it on Dick Clark’s American
Tracks:
The Bad Seeds:
(00:00) 01. A Taste Of The Same (Single A-Side, 1965) — 2:45
(02:45) 02. I’m A King Bee (Single B-Side, 1965) — 2:40
(05:25) 03. Zilch (Part 1) (Single A-Side, 1966) — 1:42
(07:07) 04. Zilch (Part 2) (Single B-Side, 1966) — 2:15
(09:22) 05. All Night Long (Tried To Hide) (Single A-Side, 1966) — 2:18
(11:40) 06. Sick And Tired (Single B-Side, 1966) — 2:31
Fabulous Mike Taylor:
(14:11) 07. I’m Nobody’s Man (Single A-Side, 1967) — 2:28
(16:39) 08. My Last Day (Single B-Side, 1967) — 1:57
(18:36) 09. Gotta Make My Heart Turn Away (Single A-Side, 1967) — 2:39
(21:15) 10. People Sec. IV (Single B-Side, 1967) — 2:56
Michael:
(24:11) 11. Checkerboard (Single B-Side, 1967) — 3:25
(27:36) 12. Arkansas (Single A-Side, 1967) — 2:21

Personnel:
The Bad Seeds (01-06):
Mike Taylor — vocals, rhythm guitar
Rod Prince — lead guitar, vocals
Henry Edgington — bass, vocals
Bobby Donaho — drums, vocals
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Fabulous Mike Taylor — performers (07-10)
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Michael (Bob Brogen Jr., Mike White, George Holsemback, Scott Chambers) — performers (11, 12)