Back with more from the vaunted Tower Records label. Today we look into a song that is one of the first 60s garage songs that really caught my attention. I first heard it when it was released on the kick-ass Pebbles Voume 10. It's You'll Come Back by Denver, Colorado's, The Moonrakers. Or, as they appear on the records, The Moon Rakers. (Tower has a history of misprints on their records). The Moonrakers, by all historical accounts, were THEE band in Colorado in the latter half of the 60s and were big enough to play Lakeside Amusement Park, Red Rocks, Tulagi's in Boulder and other such storied venues.
The band was comprised of Bob MacVittie, Veeder Van Dorn on the Ric 12-string, Joel Brandes, Bob Webber on lead guitar and Denny Flannigan on keyboards. The Moonrakers had four releases on the Tower Records label of which You'll Come Back is the Flip-Side to their first single, released August 1965. I'll also go on record as saying it is their best. Very Zombie-esque (I know, it's not a word, but...)
The Moonrakers had three legitimate singers in Webber, Van Dorn and Flannigan, each of whom carried lead singer responsibilities on their releases. Denny Flannigan composed this number and provides us with the excellent mousy vocals lead.
Ultimately Bob MacVittie and Bob Webber would splinter off from the band and form Sugarloaf and strike gold with Green Eyed Lady.
Funny - it's one of the first '60s garage songs that caught my attention too.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great composition and I love the bass work throughout the song. Listen to that little improvisation on the trailout - perfect!
Maybe it is that bass work that was at the heart of my love for the song.
Deleteawesomesque
ReplyDeleteBTW, Mr. E. - - I saw your post on Skaterdater and Davie. Cool stuff. thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe band caught EVERYBODY by surprise...Five 17 year olds who seemed "fated" to work together. They opened every big Show that KIMN brought to town...Righteous Brothers, Paul Revere, Sonny and Cher, The Byrds, Dave Clark, The Beach Boys, and when they did Beatles songs they sounded just like them
ReplyDeleteSounds like you were there, yes? I just picked up their fifth single in a record shop in Denver (wax trax): Baby Please Don't Go/I Don't Believe. Pretty damn good stuff. Lots of vocal talent spread throughout the group. Sadly the record isn't in great condition.
DeleteI was there and even know some of these guys (Moonrakers) ... we just celebrated their 50th "anniversary" with a concert at the Soiled Dove in Denver on Sunday, August 23, 2015. All but one of the original members (Bob MacVittie-drummer) were there.
DeleteIn addition, Kenny Passarelli (Joe Walsh/Barnstorm, Elton John, Hall&Oates, etc) sat in on bass for Joel Brandes on a few tunes.
I was there when they first got together, and for the 50th anniversary show. They were outstanding, as usual.
These guys were Denver's Beatles at one time. Their Tower singles were all "hits" on local Denver radio KIMN. It's cool for me to read you guys' comments on one of my alltime favorite bands of the mid-'60s. Bob Webber the lead guitar player later went on to play with Sugarloaf ("Green-eyed Lady" / "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You."