The Top Three Greatest North American Garage Singles Ever Are...

You know the story by now. If not, it goes something like this. Back in October of 2014, On The Flip-Side innocently undertook a region by region Battle of the Garage Band singles. At that moment we failed to understand the scope of our endeavor.

Twelve regions in all. Generally 10 singles per region (more in So Cal, less in Canada). That means that roughly 120 singles got a digital spin on the turntable. Then each region winner went head to head with another region winner. A panel of 7 judges - from the Rockies to the PNW, to So Cal to NorCal to the South - each weighed in on the final 12 singles as they went into a bracket system against each other. The final votes have been tallied by On The Flip-Side's San Francisco accounting office and we can now announce the Top Three Podium winners of the North American Battle of the Garage Bands.

Coming in at No. 1 is The Chocolate Watchband's swan song of a single, Are You Gonna Be There on the A-side and No Way Out on the Flip-Side. The single was released in October of 1967 on the Tower Records label. The Chocolate Watchband represented the Northern California Region in the battle on their way to the Gold Medal.

Coming in at the number 2 spot is the winner of the hard fought Texas region, The 13th Floor Elevators. Their debut single, recorded in '65 and released in '66 for IA Records, of You're Gonna Miss Me on the A-side and Tried To Hide on the Flip-side was a very close 2nd. A slightly stronger flip probably would have put them at the number one spot overall. But the Silver Medal is not so shabby folks. 

And taking the bronze medal is the most controversial of them all. Some thought they shouldn't be considered in America since they recorded in the UK. Others thought they shouldn't be considered garage because they sounded so different. Others still thought that the record shouldn't be considered at all since it wasn't released until three years after the band broke up. But we hold the keys to the car, so we get to drive it as we see fit. The Misunderstood, from Riverside, California beat out Love and the Music Machine and The Grains of Sand to lay claim to the crown of what we consider the most competitive region, Southern California. Their 1966 recording (released in '69) for the UK version of Fontana Records is a mind blower. Children Of The Sun on one side and I Unseen on the Flip-Side. 

It's been fun. 

Battle of the Garage Bands: The 13th Floor Elevators v. The Bad Roads

Day two of the bracket system witnessed The Misunderstood of the Southern California region getting past the midwest region winner, The Litter. Our congratulations go out to The Misunderstood who, we have on good authority, are huddled at a restaurant in Las Vegas watching the returns with baited breath. Stand by boys, we are about to move on. 

Today we move to a bracket with two very strong region representatives: The 13th Floor Elevators representing Texas and The Bad Roads from nearby Louisiana representing The South region. Our celebrity judges will now weigh-in with eloquent words located in the comment section below and let you know who comes out ahead today. So, without further ado, let's get ready to rumble!

See the original post on the Elevators here. 

See the original post on The Bad Roads here. 

 And here is a look at how The 13th Floor Elevators and The Bad Roads came to win their respective regions.

Texas Spotlight: The 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me/Tried To Hide

The region by region Battle of the Garage Bands moves on to Texas. It is a documented fact (from the1966 Census of Garage Bands) that every kid in Texas between the age of 13 and 23 was in no less than three garage bands at each time. Even that weird kid, Marvin, from Waco. He was in three bands just like everybody else. It's a fact. Look it up.

We launch our Texas spotlight with an infamous record from a legendary band. The 13th Floor Elevators. They need no introduction. The song needs no introduction. But I guess we have to say something about it.

You're Gonna Miss Me was composed by 17-year old frontman, Roky Erickson. Roky had already recorded the number in 1965 with his high school band, The Spades. When he met up with The Elevators, they gave the song a fresh coat of paint, changed the tires and added a big fuzzy jug to the song. They recorded the number in '65 and released it in the first week of '66 on Contact Records. Four months later it was released again on International Artists Records in May.

I think we all agree, this is one of the all time greats. Particularly the ominous bridge with the brilliant chord progression that lifts the song to new heights (just like a bridge should).

I gave you the warning
But you never heeded it
How can you say you missed my loving
When you never needed it
You're gonna wake up wondering
Find yourself all alone
But what's going to stop you baby?
I'm not coming home (x3)

Let's be honest, every casual 13th Floor Elevators fan knows both these songs as they are both on the debut album. But what you may not have known is that this Flip-Side, Tried To Hide, is a very different, earlier take than what appeared on the album. We present to you today, that single version. Faster, bassier, boppier. Even a little bit like Love's My Little Red Book there at the opening.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!