THE WAILERS, "FRENZY" C/W "TALL COOL ONE," ETIQUETTE ET-9 (REL. 2/1964)

Anytime I espy the Etiquette Records label, my heart skips a beat. Although it's most often a destroyed copy of "Louie Louie" by Rockin' Robin Roberts, the hope that it's one by The Sonics, Wailers or lesser-known groups is a real grabber.

This 1964 release has the band reprising their first hit instrumental "Tall Cool One," coupled with a new piece, "Frenzy," that's the real star of the show here.  These are an excellent example of the group's tight, powerful sound of the mid-1960s. Local success of this single inspired Imperial Records in Hollywood to pick them up. They issued this album--a superb compilation of the group's non-vocal sides--and scheduled, if not released, this single. Though assigned a catalog number, no copies are known to exist.

"Frenzy" opens with a blast of horns, as if a rhythm and blues recording has burst apart. An irresistible guitar plays the blues with organ, rackety drums and moaning sax in support. Handclaps, too--always a plus!

These fellas had studied their favorite r&b records and learned the ropes. I imagine such sides burned up teen dance parties all over the metro Seattle/Tacoma area back in the day.

"Tall Cool One" benefits from the band's constant gigging. The original Golden Crest version of five years prior is a classic side, but the added oomph makes this my favorite of them all. It's a classic rock instrumental: a repetitive theme with an attitude, delivered with just the right amount of crust and featuring sprightly piano throughout. 

The group breathes new life into this piece, and it reached a new audience for the duration of the Imperial album's sales life.

Not much else to say; may I be fortunate enough to have more Etiquette 45s cross my path for affordable prices. I had a run on them last year but none have showed their faces so far in '25.

Tomorrow: New York vocal group The Tokens masquerade as The Four Winds and deliver a version of their haunting "Strange Strange Feeling" plus a Beach Boys-esque opus on their own Swing label.