The Music of 1966 (part two)

The Music of 1966 (part two)

Okay, let’s get in my time machine. It’s the summer of 1966 and I’m fourteen years old again. It’s the summer holidays, school’s out and I’m listening to CKRC to my transistor radio. Whatever the disc jockeys are going to play I know it’s going to be good. The first song that I hear is 96 Tears by ? and the Mysterians. The organ riff is simple but drives this number. It is the short but wonderful era of garage bands. This was a time where four or five teenagers could buy themselves an electric guitar, portable organ, bass or drums, get together and form a band. If they caught fire in their home town and were very lucky they might cut a single and get it played on their local radio station. This is how bands like The Guess Who from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada got their start. The Guess Who ended up with an international hit when they recorded Shakin All Over. Hey, this is the next song I hear playing on my transistor! This is unbelievable. I just saw these guys playing at Champlain Community Center on the weekend.

What’s coming up next? It’s Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones. These guys played in Winnipeg on July 14 of 1966. There they were in person at The Winnipeg Arena. I couldn’t believe that these guys were real. Now I could see The Stones live on stage. There they are. Brian Jones comes out first with his dulcimer in hand. Next comes Keith Richard looking cocky and ready to have a good time. Mick Jagger starts singing but no one can hear them as the girls are screaming so loudly. I do recognize the first song as Not Fade Away, however, and this is only because Brian Jones is playing his harmonica. The Rolling Stones played their hit singles for twenty-five minutes and then left the stage. In those days this was par for the course so none of us felt ripped off.