Friday, November 25, 2011

Them -- Backtrackin'

  Backtrackin' is a compilation LP, due to label disputes, who ownes what, and who could release it, only certain numbers could make it on this album, for example you've got Baby, Please Don't Go, but no Gloria, they were on the same 45, ya dig.  In a nut shell, Them are a Garage Rock outfit, who got lumped in the British Invasion even though they're Irish.  They sound similar to The Animals, but with a raw-er hard Blues sound, poignantly louder charismatic vocals and grittier lyrics.  Although this comp does feature a lot of covers, a personal favorite of mine is Them's version of Simon & Garfunkel's Richard Cory, they took the tune and gave the lyrics the sound that was a far better match for it than a Folk Rock duo could.  Them and Morrison have quite the acclaim, but I feel they deserve more, Morrison is a brilliant song writer and poet, somehow the other Morrison got all the attention ... but he wasn't a short weird lookin' Irishman!