Various Artists – Pushin’ Too Hard: American Garage Punk 1964-1967

After six decades and with the numerous Nuggets and Rubble compilations and box sets you would think there is nothing left to unearth from 60’s garage punk scene, well you’d be wrong as Pushin’ Too Hard: American Garage Punk 1964-1967 isn’t just your regular run though of obscure classics, it features tracks pressed on CD for the first time and some that have never been released in the UK before now. Although the garage punk genre was named retrospectively, there was a good reason for the banner that was slapped onto the band’s from the era, as this compilation features some of the band’s that inspired the punk explosion a decade later. Whilst the obvious names such as The Stooges and MC5 aren’t on here, because let’s be honest who hasn’t heard I Wanna Be Your Dog by now, there are many tracks you will be familiar with through cover versions by the likes of Bow Wow Wow, The Cramps, The Loveless, The Clash, The Fuzztones, Stiv Bators and The Fall to name but a few. There is also a crossover in the choice of names, with a version of The Outcasts that pre-dates the Belfast punk band, some Bad Seeds that have (probably) never met Nick Cave and an Other Half that pre-dates the Norwich indie punks. It’s clear there are some similarities between the 60’s garage bands and the punk bands that would follow a decade later, not just in name but in attitude and their DIY approach to music.

Pushin’ Too Hard: American Garage Punk 1964-1967 covers some familiar ground but there are also tracks I’ve never heard before as well as unearthed and rare versions, all taken from the dark side of an era that is generally popularised as either swingin’ or wedged under the summer of love banner, neither of which apply to finest moments on this compilation. If I was pressed for my personal highlights then the tracks by The Brogues, The Spades (Roky Erickson‘s pre 13th Floor Elevators outfit), The Sparkles, The Other Half and The Third Bardo are probably my stand out moments, but that is not the end of the story as there is much to love and discover across the three discs. Another bonus is that you always seem to get a thumping good read with Cherry Red compilations and reissues, and this is no exception as the accompanying booklet gives you the lowdown on every single track and band featured.

This 94 track compilation that is spread over three CD’s features everything from mind melting psychedelia, through bubble gum pop and of course the reason I’m writing this, the bands that were punk before punk was a thing. Many of these bands were regional royalty that never broke out of their home state or town, with many only releasing a few singles, but there were those broke out and became national, and even international artists. This sprawling collection is a snapshot of the 60’s garage punk scene with the familiar, the obscure and the downright strange all jostling for position as your new favourite old song. There are omissions that I would have included, such as Nobody’s Children‘s unhinged Good Times which outpunks many of the class of ’77, but there are time and space limitations and this is a snapshot of a scene that paved the way for punk. For completists and those unfamiliar with the original punks, Pushin’ Too Hard: American Garage Punk 1964-1967 is a recommended listen.