The Sonics
Introducing the Sonics

(Jerden 1966/Sundazed 2004)

http://surf.to/sonics

With two huge regional hits under their belts, The Sonics were on top of their game in 1966-in the Pacific Northwest, anyway. The success of "The Witch" and "Psycho", combined with the commotion the group raised in its live performances, made The Sonics regional stars in just a matter of months. But national success was just out of reach, and as history played out, always would elude the band. Those two hits that had made them famous in the Northwest did get some airplay in different markets across the US, however, even if they didn't become big hits. Places like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Orlando all witnessed a small degree of success for The Sonics. And the group did have allies in different parts of the States, evidenced by groups like Pittsburgh's Swamp Rats covering "Psycho" on a 1966 single, and San Jose's Syndicate of Sound recording "The Witch" for their Bell album Little Girl.

Although The Sonics were never really able to break nationally, their opportunity to do so was never greater than when the group signed to the Jerden label in 1966. Jerden was a larger company with better distribution than Etiquette Records, the label that had released The Sonics' records up to then, including their first two albums Here are the Sonics and The Sonics Boom. Although it was their third LP, The Sonics' Jerden album was titled Introducing the Sonics since it was their first album on a large label. Actually, the full title of the album was Introducing the Sonics Featuring The Witch and Psycho, because Jerden wanted to emphasize the two songs which had made the group famous initially. Even though "The Witch" and "Psycho" had already been released on Etiquette Records, Jerden featured both songs on the Introducing album, and also re-released them on singles in the hopes that the songs would repeat their regional success on a national scale. Unfortunately, none of the Jerden records made much impact, and the group disbanded not long after Jerden had exhausted its efforts. Lack of national success notwithstanding, however, Introducing the Sonics, newly reissued by Sundazed, may represent The Sonics at their best.

While the intensity of their two Etiquette albums is definitely to be admired, both seem cluttered by old-school rock 'n' roll covers like "Roll over Beethoven", "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "Let the Good Times Roll". On Introducing the Sonics, however, nine of the eleven songs included are original Gerry Roslie compositions, and the only two covers-Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man" and The Lovin' Spoonful's "On the Road Again"-are both excellent choices. Still, it is the original material that really reinforces Introducing as an album. Gerry Roslie may not have been Dylan when it came to songwriting, but his songs fit The Sonics' sound and image perfectly. Songs like "You Got Your Head on Backwards", "I'm a Rolling Stone", and "Maintaining My Cool" are awe-inspiring articulations of teenage punk attitude. Roslie even tries his hand at a ballad, "Love Lights", and succeeds.

Incidentally, It's worth noting that Introducing the Sonics also introduced the fuzztone to The Sonics' music; previous guitar distortion heard in the group's records had been achieved simply through volume and equipment tampering. The ragged fuzz guitar sound adds yet another weapon to The Sonics' aural assault, and, along with Gerry Roslie's vocals, effectively expresses The Sonics' uncompromising attitude. On this new CD reissue of Introducing the Sonics, Sundazed adds four bonus tracks to the original lineup, the best of which are probably the perverted little Roslie original "Dirty Old Man" and the group's interpretation of the oft-covered "Diddy Wah Diddy". Introducing the Sonics is probably The Sonics' strongest album, since it not only highlights Gerry Roslie's original songs but also is more solidly "punk" than their previous efforts. The new Sundazed CD will make a great addition to any 60s garage punk collection.

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