The Squires
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The Squires were an American garage band in the 1960s, who have a claim to being the quintessential example of the genre.
They released just one single, which failed to be even a regional hit, but which is now regarded as a classic of its era. One critic [1] has written :- The yearning lyrics and melody, vibrant jangling guitars and brisk propulsive beat all combine to make The Squires' "Going All the Way" a transcendent rock n roll record. That the song wasn't a huge hit and isn't heard daily on today’s "oldies" or "classic rock" radio stations is shameful - but when it comes right down to it, it doesn't matter. The fact that "Going All the Way" is little more than a secret, known only to a few thousand fanatics, only adds to its greatness. Success can be measured in terms other than units sold, and with "Going All The Way" The Squires succeeded in ways that much wealthier musicians failed.
The band formed in Bristol, Connecticut in 1965 and comprised high school friends Michael Bouyea (Drums, guitar, vocals), Thomas Flanigan (lead guitar, vocals), Kurt Robinson (organ), John Folcik (bass). They were originally known as The Rogues, who released one single, "It’s The Same All Over" on the local Peyton label, and started to build a strong local following.
In April 1966 they drove to New York City and booked time at Capitol's studios, their main aim being to re-record their first single, but also recording several more songs at the same time, including Bouyea's "Going All The Way". Atco Records liked their material, but insisted on a name change to The Squires, and "Going All The Way" was released in September 1966. Although it gave the band a higher profile in their home state, it met with no success elsewhere, the record company did not issue any follow-up, and Folcik and Robinson left the band. Lead singer Mike Bouyea was drafted the following year and sent to Vietnam. The Squires slipped into obscurity. Bouyea later released several singles, "The Fury", "Lover Of The Night." He later became a radio personality at CHUM-FM, Toronto, and recorded a novelty record for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Going All The Way was reissued on the first of the Pebbles compilations of garage tracks in 1979, and its Byrds-like B-side Go Ahead on Vol. 2. They have subsequently been included on compilations by Rhino Records and others. All the recorded Squires and Rogues tracks were issued together on a compilation in 1986.
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- NOTE - There have been many rock bands called The Squires since 1955, they should not be confused with Bristol, Conn.'s classic garage masters. Other Squires include:
- the band which later became the Count Five
- the band led by Curtis Knight and featuring Jimi Hendrix
- the band led by Neil Young at the start of his career.
- the Canadian surf band, The S'quires (later they evolved into the Esquires).
- the band called Canadian Squires, which was an early incarnation of The Band.
- the south wales based indie/garage band Squires
- NOTE - There have been many rock bands called The Squires since 1955, they should not be confused with Bristol, Conn.'s classic garage masters. Other Squires include:
