The best use of the phrase, 'You had to be there,' because the power of these bands was on stage at Teen Dances, VFW Halls, Armories, etc. Alcohol helped. The early 60’s in the Pacific Northwest was still a fairly rural location with the possible exception of Seattle. The music made there is as primitive as the facilities to record it. The anthem was Louie Louie, a 3 chord tune lifted from obscurity, written and first recorded by the barely known Californian, Richard Berry. Other songs often heard were songs built on riffs like Money (That's What I Want) by The Kingsmen and nearly everybody else , or The Witch by The Sonics. Little white guy unison dance steps were almost mandatory for bands to do. When The Beatles hit The Pacific Northwest was no match for this new kind of sophistication. More chords! Vocal Harmonies! Actual lyrics! Yikes. Listening back most of it is pretty embarrassing. Hence this playlist of Remix and ReEdited things I still kinda like.
