V.A. (GARAGE) / IKON RECORDS STORY / CD

カリフォルニア北部、サクラメントの独立系レーベル"IKON RECORDS"のレーベル・コンピレーション。2枚組全60曲というヴォリュームは一瞬「玉石混合」という言葉が浮かびますが、一切「石」無し!! 「玉」なガレージ・パンクのみを収録。ベキベキなリズム・ギターと太いベース、ペラいオルガンと全てが揃ったMADD INC"I'LL BETHE ONE"、恐ろしいほどエコーがかかった"FEVER"カヴァーのKNIGHTSMEN、フーの前身HIGH NUMBERSも取り上げた"HIGH HEEL SNEEKERS"をドカドカとカヴァーしたTOWNSMEN、絶対に何かの間違いだというほどリヴァーヴが効いている"GLORIA"カヴァーは・・ん?UNKNOWN GROUPだって。誰だよ!!1曲ごとに言及する間を与えないレビュワー泣かせの内容は実際聴いてもらったほうが良いです。

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The Ikon Records Story is another lavish double disc set, this time focused on one of the most obscure yet enigmatic independent labels of the mid-1960s: Sacramento's Ikon Records. Ikon Enterprises was a studio and production set-up based in California's capital that existed for just a brief few years between 1963 and 1966, yet was ground zero for every teenaged aggregation that could convince their parents to fork over the cash needed with which to enshrine their progeny's adolescent warblings on a shiny vinyl 45s. These cool, cryptic items, issued on the studio's custom label, are impossibly rare discs that feature pure, unadulterated teenaged mid-1960s rock'n'roll in its varying forms, whether they be surf, R&B, instrumental, folk-rock, raw garage, Brit-Inv, or spy-themed novelty. Several Ikon singles are coveted items within the rarified echelons of garage-collectordom: those by Madd, Inc, the Knightsmen, Prophets, Shondells and others are singles that regularly fetch big bucks on the very few occasions they are ever offered for sale. The Ikon Records Story has been in the works for many years, but the recent serendipitous discovery of all the labels cutting masters for Ikon releases now enables the Frantic team to deliver up an unprecedented 60 tracks of primo material, virtually all reissued for the first time, and thus unlike most archival collections, the sound quality is second to none. Additionally, various band members have opened their files to provide unreleased material, as well as fill in the story behind this mysterious imprint. The 28-page full color booklet is jammed to the gills with photos and memorabilia, in addition to a lengthy note from top garage expert Alec Palao examining the Ikon saga in tremendous detail.