The Exotics (Kent, WA), "Four Banger" c/w "Cat Hairs," Jerden 106 (rel. 10/1960)
From Kent, Washington, The Exotics were an early example of the groups that helped define the Pacific Northwest sound of rock 'n' roll. Their debut single, from 1960, was part of the short-lived first life of Jerden Records. The label, formed by Jerry Dennon and NW country star Bonnie Guitar in mid-1960, put out 10 singles, all which failed to make a national impression. At the start of 1961, Jerden was shuttered.
Dennon moved to Hollywood for two years, then returned to give Jerden another chance. This time, it worked: the label continued into the early 1970s and delivered classics by The Sonics, Don & The Goodtimes, The Springfield Rifle, The Bards and other acts. Dennon adopted British groups as well; many licensed singles from Pye and other UK imprints are on Jerden. including Ian Whitcomb, whose Dennon-produced releases were licensed by Capitol's Tower Records imprint and got a major hit with 1965's "You Turn Me On."
The first 10 Jerden releases are scarce, and it's always a delight to find one. The Exotics were together from 1959 to '64 and this was their debut disc. They were part of the scene alongside The Wailers, Kingsmen, Sonics, et al. They played teen dances, at public events, in roadhouses and at fraternity keggers. This quintet was instrumental-oriented, but had a female vocalist, Nancy Claire, who performed at the group's live appearances.
For Jerden, they delivered a pair of tight, playful original groovers. "Four Banger" is a melodic item with lead guitarist Jimmy Day's pickin' and strummin' front-and-center. The piece's chord progression has a lot going on. It's patterned on the "stair-step" progression of C-Dminor-Eminor-F heard in countless hit songs ("Like a Rollin' Stone," e.g.). The band's keyboardist, Ken Weisflog, adds other relative chords to prolong the upward movement of the melody. It's a clever example of how something predictable can still contain surprises.
These lads are spot-on. They rehearsed and were prepared for this session. Two saxes blow in tight unison; piano, drums and bass are an air-tight rhythm section, bolstered by the driving rhythm guitar. Yes, this sounds like something the Douglas kids might dance to on an episode of My Three Sons, but it's done with real oomph. It would've annoyed Uncle Charlie.
"Cat Hairs, composed by lead guitarist Jimmy Day, is a bluesy shuffler with a rockabilly flavor. It's a 12-bar blues showcase for this talented picker, who plays some lines in tandem with the bass man. The sax of either Ted Vandeford or Dennis Yaden (who doubled on trumpet) take some solid turns, as does pianist Weisflog. The studio setting doesn't water them down; you feel that they were a hard-hitting combo in person and delivered a solid, impressive sound.
The Exotics' other singles appeared on Seafair, an Emerald City imprint that spanned 1956-1965 and was a home for many Pac NW teen rock combos alongside bland MOR pop. The group never broke out of their home turf and the ordeals of real life was the agent of their demise. They're one solid group and had the potential to make it on a national level, as The Ventures did.
Tomorrow: another visit to the weird world of Joe Meek with a 1964 single by Heinz Burt, bottle-blond bassist turned pop star.
These are fun, well-played tunes. I hadn't realized Dick Dale came up with his surf guitar sound as early as 1958. The Exotics were certainly playing their own interesting version of surf rock. Those white jackets with the black edges and black skinny ties are a hoot.
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