Day three of our Mid-Atlantic Battle of the Garage Bands. Today we move to Wilmington, Delaware.
Like everyone else I know who has heard this song, I first came to it by way of the outstanding 1980s compilation, What A Way To Die. Many years later I was lucky enough to come across the single and scoop it up. Because of misinformation from that compilation, I had it in my head that these cats were out of Pennsylvania, but a little internetting showed that -- as usual -- I was wrong. It appears The Enfields hailed from the Wilmington, Delaware area. They put out a number of singles between '65 and '67 and then the band splintered.
The frontman and songwriter, Ted Munda, was apparently still in high school when he penned She Already Has Somebody (with V. Rago) as well as it's top notch Flip-Side, I'm For Things You Do. It's the band's second single and was given to us in 1966, of course. It features gentle, warbly guitar work by John Bernard who sounds like he has been digging on some surf music. The song also comes with some stellar whispered harmonies courtesy of Munda and Charlie Berl, each of whom appear to have worshipped devoutly at the church of The Holy Zombie with pastors Blunstone and Argent leading the minor key sermons.
She Already Has Somebody is top notch all the way through. But this Flipper thinks it reaches it's zenith at the surprising and convincing music break starting at 1:20. The break starts with a little bit of a Pete Townshend influenced dead pickup switching and then rolls into a peppy drum beat. The lead then changes keys and goes into beautiful stutter rhythm. The Flip-Side, I'm For Things You Do, is another wonderful rocker that shows great restraint and mousy vocals.
Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!
She Already Has Somebody is top notch all the way through. But this Flipper thinks it reaches it's zenith at the surprising and convincing music break starting at 1:20. The break starts with a little bit of a Pete Townshend influenced dead pickup switching and then rolls into a peppy drum beat. The lead then changes keys and goes into beautiful stutter rhythm. The Flip-Side, I'm For Things You Do, is another wonderful rocker that shows great restraint and mousy vocals.
Great song, as is the flip-side. i have both on a comp cd called Journey to Thyme. They always remind me of the Dovers, who also worked in the same moody Zombiehood. Good call on the Townshend pickup switching-such a cool effect. Congrats on finding the 45.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard the Dovers for years. I might have to dig out Pebbles Vol. 1. I think they were also on V2 or V3.
ReplyDeleteIt's the snotty ravers and screamers like No Good Woman by Tree that always get the attention on comps, but some of these more moody songs are just amazing. Thanks for turning me on to it.
ReplyDeleteTrue. There are a few songs from that era such as the above mentioned Dovers, the Left Banke, and the most excellent Phil & The Frantics that stand out as just such an example. In fact, the same weekend I pulled out this Enfields single, I also pulled out the Frantics' "'Till You Get What You Want/Say That You Will". Talk about a double sided, minor chord gem! Keep your eyes peeled here for that song to get posted.
DeleteMorgan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the e-mail. Glad the music is still moving people!
Just a little hidden inside info for you; Vince Rago had NOTHING to do with this song. He was our crooked Manager.
I wrote the entire song and called it" SHE ALREADY HAS". When the record came out his name was on it and he said it was because he changed the Title to "SHE ALREADY HAS SOMEBODY"( which was already IN the original Lyric)
This was the beginning of us not trusting Vince.
Another bit: we were offered a Record Deal by LAURIE RECORDS but our parents nixed it at the time because of Vince Rago.
The record label's second choice: "THE ASSOCIATION" who became fairly famous. That was the point where The Enfields could have had wide exposure but...fate was not on our side!
Peace,
Ted Munda
As little as I have heard of your band, I will say with 100% certainty that you five were more interesting to me than were The Association.
DeleteI've said it more discreetly, but to reiterate here publicly, it is great to have you join us here. Let me know if you want us to seek out Vince Rago and print his tax returns and those awkward pictures he took in FLA from the early 70s. :)
Ted, when I first hesrd this song I fell in love with it. I later one tried to tab it but I have not played the guitar enough lately to pull it together. Please contact me if you would like to share some thoights.
DeleteTed, thanks for your comment. I think that is hilarious that Rago felt he had songwriting input because he changed the name. One, you don't just change the name; two, that is not songwriting. I'm sure this stuff happened, and happens, a lot. I should add that I like the ambiguity of your original title.
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to this and other songs the other day I was thinking how talent deserving of a wider audience sometimes just gets passed by due to the vagaries of circumstance. In short, I was wondering how the Enfields didn't break through, and you gave me the answer.
Can you tell me a little more about the song? Is that you singing? What do you play? The arrangement is awesome, but it must have been tricky to work out - did it require tons of rehearsing? What were your influences, if any, in writing the song? I hear a little Jefferson Airplane?
Thank, Jack
I'm with you, Jack. I'd like to know the answers to your questions, too. Personally I am not hearing the Jefferson Airplane connection. Maybe, just maybe, that first album before Grace Slick joined.
DeleteToday she is a big girl
DeleteTomorrow she is small
If she says she loves him
He won't be there at all
Up is where you're going
Down is where you fall
But if you want somebody
You won't need him at all
I hear a kind of down-the-rabbit-hole wordplay akin to White Rabbit. It also has a bit of Somebody to Love lyrically and musically.
I've added an audio clip of the the flip-side, I'm For Things You Do.
ReplyDeleteI love the flip-side. All the right melodies in all the right places. Love the heavy bass too. Just great songwriting.
ReplyDeleteI agree. This is a real nice double-sided gem.
DeleteI was reading a book of mythological creatures with my son last night when I came across one such creature called and enfield. It's a chimera of probable Irish origin with the head of a fox, forelegs of an eagle, chest of a greyhound, body of a lion and hindlegs and tail of a wolf.
ReplyDelete