Soul. Inc, although displaying a magnitude of soul influences, diverged into practically every other mid-60s genre. Their name was not entirely apt! The 20 featured tracks on Volume 1 trace the Louisville band’s musical journey from 1965 until ’69 via a number of 45s released on local labels, alternate takes and previously unreleased songs. "Stronger Than Dirt" (later covered by fellow garage bands the Daybreakers and Us Four) is a fuzz laden tune, with a soul tinged verse, a wild solo, pounding drums and a comical lyric, apparently inspired by an Ajax advert from the TV. Danceable 60s garage punk just doesn’t come any better! A few months later when the Byrds startled every young band with "Eight Miles High" Soul Inc’s reaction was to write "60 Miles High" on which they nearly managed to achieve the psychedelic zest of the Byrds. "UFO" which is so influenced by Dylan that it might as well be fellow imitators Mouse & The Traps, is another excellent example of garage band parody. The magnificent moog segment is uncannily like the whacky sounds on the Osmond’s hit "Crazy Horses". Soul Inc an influence on the Osmonds? Maybe! Finally, the later proto-punk number "I Hate You" blends hard rock fret abuse with nihilistic singing. By the end of the decade the soul influence had completely gone.

As displayed on Gear Fab’s recent Grapes Of Wrath collection, the rapid changes that were undertaken in small town 60s American rock are cohesively traced.

Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills

Gear Fab GF-138 (45:31) GF-140 (63:32)

Kentucky: the 15^th State home of fried chicken and Bluegrass music. Not the ideal spawning place for one of America’s most underrated 60s acts one would think, but for a number of years, Lousiville – and few places else – were swaying to the wide range of musical styles tackled by young locals Soul Inc. Hot on the heels of Vol. 1 (reviewed in RC 244) the second volume of tracks tracing the band’s activities between the ‘65-’69 period ranges from fuzz filled garage rock, convincing blue eyed soul, psych-rock, harmony pop and Left Banke-like Baroque numbers; all excellent examples of each variant. In ’68 Soul Inc. gained a national hit with the more polished production "I Belong To Nobody" penned by guitarist Frank Bugbee. That spring, after colliding band opinions three members quit and soon re-emerged as Elysian Field. The new Gear Fab CD collects together 21 tracks from the ‘68-’71 period. Imperial records initially shaped the band into a gentle pop act backed by full orchestra -- the tracks from this era are all collected here. "Old Oak Tree" is as fine a representation of ’68 pop there is. The band soon again morphed into an all together heavier unit, again, as good as anyone else who tackled this area, and continued to record a succession of magnificent records into the ‘70s.

Both CDs are top notch and should be snapped up by any fan of American music recorded between ‘65-’71. These two releases have gained countless plays from this writer. Highly recommended!

Jon 'Mojo' Mills