Psycho-Sonic

by The Sonics

Overview

Everyone would agree that the Sonics reached their peak on their 1964-65 recordings for Etiquette. This 29-track compilation has everything they recorded for the label, extended not just to everything from their singles and two albums, but also with an alternate take of "The Witch" and live recordings of "Psycho" and "The Witch." Consequently, it's the best Sonics release on the market, though you should be warned: it's not wall-to-wall greatness. After the first half-dozen or so songs, you might well be ready to buy into their legend as one of the great (and certainly rawest) '60s garage bands, as those tracks include their toughest elementary riff-fueled pounders: "The Witch," "Psycho," "Boss Hoss," "He's Waitin'," and "Strychnine." But too much of the rest is filled out with covers of '50s and '60s rock and R&B standards, and the relentlessly frantic bang-it-out frat punk and throat-tearing vocals get blurry after a while, though at least they threw in a little-covered tune with their version of Adam Faith's "It's Alright." [The 2003 CD edition of this anthology, incidentally, is substantially different from Big Beat's first release of the material, though it has identical tracks and the same title. It's taken from first-generation tapes, and also has a 20-page booklet of liner notes with extensive quotes from several band members (including lead singer Gerry Roslie) and others involved in the group's career.] ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	05/02/2000
Label:	Ace / Big Beat Records
UPC:	0029667411523

Tracks

1. Witch
2. Do You Love Me
3. Roll Over Beethoven
4. Boss Hoss
5. Dirty Robber
6. Have Love, Will Travel
7. Psycho
8. Money (That's What I Want)
9. Walking the Dog
10. Night Time Is the Right Time
11. Strychnine
12. Good Golly Miss Molly
13. The Hustler
14. Psycho
15. Cinderella
16. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
17. Skinny Minnie
18. Let the Good Times Roll
19. Don't You Just Know It
20. Jenny, Jenny
21. He's Waitin'
22. Louie, Louie
23. Since I Fell for You
24. Hitch Hike
25. It's Alright
26. Shot Down
27. Keep a Knockin'
28. Witch
29. Witch

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Sonics   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer
Kent Morrill   Composer,Producer
Clarence Paul   Composer
Chuck Berry   Composer
Janie Bradford   Composer
Enotris Johnson   Composer
John Marascalco   Composer
Leonard Lee   Composer
Leroy Carr   Composer
Roosevelt Sykes   Composer
Rufus Thomas   Composer
Marvin Gaye   Composer
Richard Berry   Composer
Milt Gabler   Composer
Chris Andrews   Composer
Duncan Cowell   Post Production
Buck Ormsby   Producer
H. Smith   Composer
William "Mickey" Stevenson   Composer
J. Vincent   Composer
Catherine Cafra   Composer
Rusty Keefer   Composer
Little Richard   Composer
Richard Penniman   Composer
Peter Blecha   Liner Notes
Bill Wiley   Engineer
Shirley Goodman   Composer
Robert "Bumps" Blackwell   Composer
John Greek   Composer
Jini Dellaccio   Photography
B.W. Haley   Composer
Kearney Barton   Engineer
Buddy Johnson   Composer