| Essential Pebbles, Volume 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation album | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Recorded | Mid-1960s | |||
| Genre | Garage rock, Psychedelic rock | |||
| Label | AIP Records | |||
| chronology | ||||
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Essential Pebbles, Volume 1 is the first compilation album in the Essential Pebbles series. Although subtitled Ultimate '66 garage classics!, not all of the recordings on the album were originally released in 1966.
Contents |
This album was released on AIP Records in 1997 as #AIP-CD-1058. The first CD collects tracks from the first 10 CDs in the Pebbles series plus Ear-Piercing Punk, while the second CD are "insanely rare bonus tracks" that are previously un-reissued in any form (except for 2 that were previously included on a rare 1982 compilation album).
As noted in the introductory liner notes, the recordings on the first CD serve as "a sort of 'greatest hits' for seasoned listeners" as well as an introduction to the Pebbles series. With the inclusion of garage rock and psychedelic rock classics like "Green Fuz", "I Never Loved Her", "She's Not Just Anybody", and "Doin' Me In", it is difficult to argue with this assessment. Although "many more" volumes are promised in the Pebbles series, in fact AIP Records has closed out the series with the release of the final 2 CDs in 1999 and 2007.
There are a number of real treats and no throwaway tracks included in the bonus CD. "Travel Agent Man" is a takeoff on "Secret Agent Man" with veiled drug references, while "You Gotta Run" is an unusually melodic song that belies the song title. The final cut – where even the band name is unknown – has the singer complaining about having to "stand in line" to see his girlfriend now that she is a "hip-swingin', fringe-slingin' Watusi go go girl".
Small photos of the 11 CDs mentioned above are given in the booklet, along with one of Surfbeat behind the Iron Curtain, although no surf rock recordings are included from either this album or from Pebbles, Volume 4 "for stylistic reasons". However, none of the tracks on the Pebbles, Volume 9 CD are included either.
Unlike most of the AIP albums, the liner notes are very spare and cover barely a page in the short booklet that comes with the album. Their final comment – "The Miles Ends from Phoenix are a personal favorite" – is evidently an opinion held by Greg Shaw himself.