DON AND THE GOODTIMES - The Original Northwest Sound Of (2024 Reissue) - CD [MAY 24]

CD 

Rave-up & turn on! Fueled by a classy high-stepping image and hot instrumental licks born of old R&B and Northwest stalwarts the Kingsmen, Wailers and Sonics, this collection shows their always excellent material ranging from ‘60s punk to sunshine pop. Includes their debut single!

In many ways they were one of the quintessential Northwest bands. Their credentials were impeccable – leader Don Gallucci was a classically trained pianist who, as a younger teenager, played keyboards for the Kingsmen on “Louie, Louie.” Early guitarist Pete Oulette had been in the Raiders and his replacement, Jim Valley, had founded the white hot Seattle band the Viceroys. When Valley got the call to become “Harpo,” his slot was filled by Charlie Coe, who had played with the Raiders and Jack Ely and the Courtmen. And the last Goodtime guitarist was Joey Newman, who had made his mark with the Enchanters and Merrilee Rush and the Turnabouts.

Their only hit single, “I Could Be So Good to You,” a Jack Nitzsche song, was their only national hit (#56) in spring 1967. Their Nitzsche-produced Epic album So Good was a curious amalgam of Overman originals and British Invasion covers.

Their earlier sound is much more raw – “You Were Just a Child” could have been a national hit. The dynamics and bridge in this are killer, as is the pulverizing fuzz bass. “I’m Real” may be the punkiest Don and the Goodtimes got; Note the cool reference to LA disc jockey “The Real” Don Steele. Other cuts like like “Make It” are as Northwest as they come. Rough and raunchy, this hot instrumental was the B side of their first single. 

Tracklist:

1.    The Witch
2.    Make It
3.    Long Green
4.    Bent Scepter
5.    There's Something On Your Mind
6.    Tall Cool One
7.    Straight Scepter
8.    Big Big Knight (On A Big White Horse)
9.    Little Sally Tease
10.    I'm Real
11.    Hey There Mary Mae
12.    Stagger Lee
13.    Blue Turns To Grey
14.    Louie Louie
15.    Turn On
16.    Money
17.    Jolly Green Giant
18.    Little Latin Lupe Lu
19.    You Were Just A Child
20.    Running Not Walking
21.    Lip Service
22.    You Did It Before
23.    High Heel Sneakers
24.    And It's So Good
25.    I Could Be So Good To You