The Original Northwest Sound of Don & the Goodtimes

by Don & the Goodtimes, Don & Goodtimes

Overview

Although Don & the Goodtimes continued to record until 1968 or so, this 25-song anthology focuses exclusively on what most fans would agree was their prime era, 1964-1966. The group might be remembered fondly, particularly in their native Northwest, but on the basis of what's here they were really an average, unmemorable band. For much of these early recordings, they played the generic grinding, heavily R&B-influenced frat rock that was very typical of Northwest bands in the early to mid-'60s, such as the Kingsmen, the Wailers, the Sonics, and Paul Revere & the Raiders. It's played with commendable energy but little originality, and it doesn't help that a good number of the songs are much-covered tunes that showed up in the repertoire of many groups from the time, especially in the Northwest: "Louie, Louie" (a five-minute version), "High Heel Sneakers," "Money," and "Little Latin Lupe Lu." "Little Sally Tease," a regional Northwest hit penned by future Raider Jim "Harpo" Valley, is about the best of those tracks in that style, adding a little more contemporary garage raunch to the elementary riff-based approach. About half-a-dozen of the later tracks (most of them originals from Ron "Buzz" Overman) show them moving into a more California pop/rock-aligned sound. These display a greater range and certainly a Paul Revere & the Raiders influence in two of the better tracks ("You Were Just a Child" and "You Did It Before"), yet remain rather anonymously competent. The good-time "I Could Be So Good to You," their sole (and moderate) national hit, closes out the collection, which is well-annotated but could have used some notes in the track listings detailing the original release dates of each song. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	05/24/2024
Label:	Beatrocket
UPC:	0090771635426

Tracks

1. The Witch
2. Make It
3. Long Green
4. Bent Scepter
5. There's Something on Your Mind
6. Tall Cool One
7. Straight Scepter
8. Big Big Knight (On a Big White Horse)
9. Little Sally Tease
10. I'm Real
11. Hey There Mary Mae
12. Stagger Lee
13. Blue Turns to Grey
14. Louie Louie
15. Turn On
16. Money
17. Jolly Green Giant
18. Little Latin Lupe Lu
19. You Were Just a Child
20. Running Not Walking
21. Lip Service
22. You Did It Before
23. High Heel Sneakers
24. And It's So Good
25. I Could Be So Good to You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Don & the Goodtimes   Primary Artist
Don & Goodtimes   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

T. Penry Hughes   Composer
Jim Valley   Composer
Rick Dangel   Composer
John Greek   Composer
Ron Overman   Composer
Tim Livingston   Project Manager
Don Covay   Composer
Steve Barri   Composer,Producer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer
Steven Tyler   Composer
Big Jay McNeely   Composer
Bob Irwin   Mastering
Bill Medley   Composer
Kent Morrill   Composer
Jack Nitzsche   Composer
Larry Levine   Engineer,Producer
Janie Bradford   Composer
Lynn Easton   Composer
Jerry Dennon   Producer
Jerry Garcia   Composer
Phil Sloan   Producer
Richard Berry   Composer
Kearney Barton   Engineer
P.F. Sloan   Composer
Gerry Roslie   Composer
Dan Olason   Composer
Harold Logan   Composer
Dangel   Composer
Billy Duffy   Composer
Keith Richards   Composer
Don Gallucci   Composer
Lloyd Price   Composer
Rich Dangel   Composer
Mick Jagger   Composer
Greg Dempsey   Composer
Rich Russell   Design
Pierre Ouellette   Composer
D. Richard Lewis   Composer
Dave Lewis   Composer
Efram Turchick   Project Manager