Dec 23, 2008

COUNT FIVE - PSYCHOTIC REACTION#### (DOUBLE SHOT 1966) Japan mastering cardboard sleeve + bonus



Count Five was a 1960s garage rock band from San Jose, California, best known for their Top 10 single "Psychotic Reaction".
The band was founded in 1964 by John "Mouse" Michalski (born 1948, Cleveland, Ohio) (lead guitar) and Ken Ellner (born 1948, Brooklyn, New York) (harmonica, vocals), two high school friends who had previously played in several short-lived outfits. After going shortly under the name The Squires, and several line-up changes later, the Count Five were born. Roy Chaney (born 1948, Indianapolis, Indiana) took over bass duties, John "Sean" Byrne (born 1947, Dublin, Ireland, died 2008) played rhythm guitar and lead vocals, and Craig "Butch" Atkinson (born 1947, San Jose, California, died 1999) played drums. The Count Five gained distinction for their habit of wearing Count Dracula-style capes when playing live.
"Psychotic Reaction", an acknowledged cornerstone of garage rock, was initially devised by Byrne, with the group refining it and turning it into the highlight of their live sets. The song was influenced by the style of contemporary musicians such as The Standells and The Yardbirds. The band members were rejected by several record labels before they got signed to the Los Angeles-based Double Shot Records. "Psychotic Reaction" was released as a single, and found immediate popularity in the protopunk scene, peaking at #5 in the U.S. charts in late 1966. The band got along for about another year, but dropped out of view altogether when their only hit had fallen from public memory. Another setback to a potential career in the music business was the decision of the five members (who were between the ages of 17 and 19) to pursue college degrees...
Here

5 comments:

The Bomber said...

aaaaaggggg
one of my first "cds" !!
love this band and the boys
for me thats the sound
only more fuzz to the garage but this is nearly perfection to me.

GREAT!

Georgie Hirezola said...

You Know when I first got the LP..listening the A side first 2 ..3 songs I said...
uffff!!!Its nothing special (flat covers e.t.c.)....
but when I turned to the B...!!!!!
OMG!!!!!really amazing....
& the bonus too!!!!
great group

Anonymous said...

I LOVE U !!! thanks so much for this man. your way too cool. henri

Anonymous said...

Get a copy of Psychotic Revelations, it has even more unreleased tracks and the unedited Psychotic Reaction, worth the money for the nice booklet that goes with it too!

Best!
George

Georgie Hirezola said...

thanks you guys....
mmm...thnx George for the info...