Graham Reid | | 1 min read
Wake Me, Shake Me
Someone out there in Pearl River, New York will know of the four-pice Bruthers who released one single, Bad Way To Go, in 1966 for RCA.
But given that single all but disappeared (collectors like to say “ultra-rare”), those who remember the Bruthers are probably just the Delia brothers themselves or close family members.
We can't tell you much more than we already have except this: The Bruthers served up rough-edged and exciting garageband rock with swirling organ and fuzzy guitars alongside vocalist/songwriter Alf's sneering style which pushed them close to Paul Revere and the Raiders, Blues Magoos, the Young Rascals and – on The Courtship of Rapunzel – Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs.
They had a stab at the pop end of the spectrum (Don't Forget to Cry) but it wasn't for them: when they aimed for pop they just got wild with it and unleashed their guitarist Frank and organ player Joe again.
Their manager was Sid Bernstein who promoted the Beatles' Shea Stadium concert but it didn't help the Bruthers' career. He seemed more interested in another of his bands, the Young Rascals, and concert promotion.
Maybe it was Bernstein's enthusiasm for the Beatles that lead the Bruthers to cover I Wanna Be Your Man (not especially well).
They do an efficient and angry My Generation although of course it pales beside the original.
The Bruthers recorded about 10 songs for RCA however the label didn't see much future in them and they were dropped a year after that non-hit Bad Way To Go.
It was their finest hour – well, 2.55 seconds – and is frantic and thrilling. It's flipside Bad Love is pretty damn good too.
But – aside from appearances on compilations of garageband rock and, improbably, their unreleased Rock It To Me used when the Muppets first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in '66 – the Bruthers had no discernible career.
But they were a rock solid garageband and the Bad Way To Go compilation is one to check out if Paul Revere, the Young Rascals, Blues Magoos and others meant anything to you.
Bad Way To Go
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You can hear and buy the Bad Way To Go compilation here
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