THE JAY FIVE
What to do when you’re a second-tier German beat rock band who specializes in covering other bands’ big hits? Fill ‘em full of fuzz, for starters, and record ‘em as loud and bold as you can. That’s what the Jay Five do on their 1966/67 LP B-B-B Big Beat Bombs , a record that’s as contagious as their stutter. Sure, they b-b-break no new ground here – it’s all covers, no originals – but listen to the hotwired fuzz on “Hold Tight” and “Hideaway,” how it snakes around the vocals like a cobra on mescaline, while the rest of the band lays down a very admirable and tight recreation of English beat. And how the fuzz guitar sticks around through the entire “Paperback Writer,” buzzing ominously in the right channel background while the boys do their best to emulate the Fab Four’s original intricate harmonies. And speaking of harmonies, how many lesser bands have the sheer cajones to tackle the Beach Boys’ intricately produced “God Only Knows”?!? The Jay Five do, and, believe it or not, do a pretty good job. Okay, a damn fine job, to be honest, b-b-better than most Beach Boys tribute bands for sure. B-B-B-big beat bombs and B-B-Brian Wilson to b-b-boot. It may not be groundbreaking, but this is one heck of a lotta fun. Covers of Kinks, Hollies, Beatles, Beach Boys, Spencer Davis Group, etc.
D-D-D Dig!
Hideaway
