For the last fifteen years or so, Freddy Fortune has been one of THE men, responsible for the preservation of the mid’60s sounds in’n’round the Detroit area. After The Convingtons and then The Phabulous Pallbearers, fronted with his pal Mike Maltese, he’s back with what might easily be his best effort in obtaining the same goal.
The album opens with a proper spoken-word introduction, leading into the guitar riff that sounds something like a 78 rpm of The Kinks’ I’m So Tired …, belonging to the super jangly folk-rocker Today.
Another one in a similar vein, also adding a bit of a Beatley flavour to it, is Little Blue Bird, Stranded borrows some early Stones’ licks, I Can’t See You is classic, early-Who pop artistry, filtered through young Arthur Lee aesthetics and Cry In Shame is the one that would’ve fitted nicely in The (US) Outsiders’ set.
Of course, no real Motor City album can do without a dose of snotty garage punkers, so herewith, you get I’ve Been Waiting, about a “little girl of my generation”, which is not unlike the works of The Chesterfield Kings dealing with the same matter, or Waste Of My Time, reminding of Edgar Summertyme, while he was still climbing the “stairs”.
Besides a coupla unsurprising garagey covers, there’s also a very special moment, in the shape of an unreleased Del Shannon tune, called Stand Up, also featuring Max Crook, providing the characteristic Musitron sounds featured on Del’s hits.
If you happen to miss the mid ’60s days of pirate radio stations, or if you’re among those eager to experience what they’ve only been hearing about from some older guys, this is the right place to tune in, cuz you’re about to hear it all!
[Released by Get Hip 2003]
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