CHRIS , YOU GOT IT FOR YOUR birthday ? That's so cool. I had read about The Count Five in Jr. High (Middle School) and seen them , posed , in front of The Winchester Haunted House , with the insane exaggerated Brian Jones DO'S and Dracula capes . I loved Horror theatrics (Yes , I read about Lord Sutch around this time , too.) , and assumed maybe they were like a toned - down Alice Cooper or something.....But , being a wee small
BAIRN , i COULD'NT AFFORD RECORDS , UNLESS THEY WERE USED LPS FOR 50 CENTS AT THE PAWN SHOP... I saw a compilation , I think it was on Liberty (Of which Double - Shot WAS A SUBSIDARY ) , with "Psychotic Reaction" on it. I thought that was the trippiest name. I did'nt even know what it meant. But , I was'nt going to shell out half a dollar , out of curiosity ......But , I remember telling my Brother "Hey , I saw this old article about the original Punk Rock bands" ( 70's Punk was still happening at the time. The article was from your Story Of Pop.) He said , "Y'mean , like SLADE ?". I said , no , before them....I told him about the Count Five and their attire and everything , and he said , "That sounds IGNORANT AS HELL.".
It'd be a few years before I'd even hear "Psychotic Reaction" on the radio . Then , I realized , wow. This is a great song. I tried to imagine how it sounded to people , back then.
yEARS LATER , STILL , THERE WAS A GUY WITH A STALL AT THE FLEA MARKET i FREQUENTED . hE HAD ORIGINAL 50'S AND 60'S lpS , PLUS ALREADY - RARE REISSUES FROM EUROPE. I got "Psychotic Reaction" , the album ( On Line Records , in Germany).....for Christmas ! I know a lot of people don't like it , but , the album was remarkably consistent , considering they were'nt even old enough to buy beer , yet. A lot of their peers had two great songs , and FILLER. Their later singles were even better, I thought.
This flea market was so cool. One guy bought out the entire stock of a British record store , and opened a stall. Some of it was'nt so old. It was the first time I saw a Meteors record , which was only about 3 years old , then. Coolest thing was , they'd play the 'Girl Happy " soundtrack in the parking lot all the time. That's where I first heard "Do The Clam" !