You're trying to look at a band from 1963 through 2010 eyes. "More wild and weird and strange" than the Trashmen in 1963? They didn't come much "more wild and weird and strange" than those cats, especially with a Top 10 hit! And while I agree that the Readymen were also great, once you get passed "Shortin' Bread," they really didn't have that many great songs. The Trashmen, on the other hand, had dozens. That 4-CD box set on Sundazed is worth having, although it's missing their classic "Kuk."
Plus, they influenced everyone from the Cramps to the Untamed Youth. In fact, I got turned onto them after I first heard the Cramps in the early '80s (I figured I'd better hunt 'em down since both them and the Ramones covered "Surfin' Bird"), and they were one of my first real favorite '60s bands and helped open the door for me to find and appreciate a helluva lot more '60s sounds, including the Wailers, the Pyramids, the Astronauts, Link Wray, etc. etc. etc.
I'd hate to think what music would be like without the Trashmen being around in the early '60s.
Cyco Sanchez said:
Yeah, I know, but still there was something missing... Maybe I listened to some compilation? Like with the Ventures: Their earlier stuff is just plain great, but the later recordings, well, they ARE cheesy.
And this Thrashmen record - a few tracks were killers indeed, but some songs also reminded me of, say, Cliff Richard. I expected something more wild and weird and strange. But maybe the Trashmen are just more fun, and I was expecting something wrong?
Any recommendations for beginners?