ESCORTS (ab 1964)

Bring Down the House" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Treat Her Right (Roy Head) - 2:15 rating: *** stars

I'm not going to tell you their version ripped up the Roy Head original, but when you remember these guys were in still in their mid-teens and this was recorded live ... well, there results were actually quite impressive.

2.) You're Going To Lose That Girl (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 2:18 rating: *** stars

Apparently mid-'60s bands were not allowed to go on stage unless their repertoire included at least one Beatles song and one Dylan tune. So call 'You're Going To Lose That Girl' their contractual obligation performance. Again, it wasn't bad. Just not terribly memorable.

3.) Listen People (Graham Gouldman) - 2:25 rating: *** stars

Herman's Hermits ... Kudos to Colleran for nailing the guitar parts. Judging by the background noise, the audience sounded a but restless on this ballad.

4.) Gloria (Van Morrison) - 2:31 rating: **** stars

Can you even be considered a garage band if you don't include a cover of 'Gloria'? Isn't it a requirement to record this song? Again, their version beats about 95% of those you'll ever hear with Faber showing off some real frustration in his delivery. One of the album highlights.

5.) Mr. Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan) - 2:05 rating: **** stars

Another "contractual obligation" song. Thankfully they opted to cover The Byrds folk-rock arrangement. Guitarist Colleran shined on this performance.

6.) These Arms of Mine (Otis Redding) - 2:41 rating: *** stars

I can only think it took some real guts for a bunch of young, suburban white kids to take on an Otis Redding song. I suspect Otis would have approved of their enthusiastic performance.

7.) Turn On Your Love Light (Deadric Malone - Joe Scott) - 2:45 rating: **** stars

Well, for such a young crowd, they certainly exhibited good tastes when it came to outside covers. exhibit A - Bobby Bland's 'Turn On Your Love Light'. Another album highlight. Wish it had gone on longer.

8.) narration - 0:32

At least it was funny.



(side 2)

1.) Louie, Louie (Richard Berry) - 2:30 rating: *** stars

Another garage band requirement and with Faber slurring about half of the lyrircs, The Escort passed with flying colors.

2.) The Last Time (Mick Jagger - Keith Richard) - 2:54 rating: *** stars

It didn't do anything to stretch the performance envelop, but this was another performance that rose above the norm. Kudos to Richard Parrish for the nice bass work.

3.) Scotch and Soda (Dave Guard) - 2:19 rating: ** stars

The Kingston Trio did the best known version of this oldie. Kind of a strange tune to have in their set list, but I guess it gave couples a chance to neck. Even the audience seemed a little confused by the song.

4.) Bye, Bye Baby (Mary Walls) - 2:44 rating: *** stars

I've always loved the Mary Wells original, so this one comes in as an also ran type performance.

5.) Out of Sight (Ted Wright) - 3:25 rating: **** stars

James Brown wrote this classic under the pseudonym Ted Wright and, again, I suspect he would have approved of The Escorts' enthusiastic performance (complete with start and stop structure). Maceo Parker certainly would have been proud of Tom Hill's sax solo.

6.) Shout Parts I and II (O'Kelly Isley - Rudolph Isley - Randolph Isley) - 3:55 rating: **** stars

And for their garage rock post-doc thesis The Escorts turned in a rollicking cover of The Ilsay Brothers' 'Shout'.