Excellent compilation from the legendary and great Soma records, from Minneapolis Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes (actually there are 11,842). There seems to be 10,000 great records from the state too, with a great rock ‘n’ roll scene going back to the rockabilly days. No Soma story could be complete without the Trashmen’s Surfin’ Bird and The Castaways Liar, Liar (which could possibly be my most perfect garage record of all time). There is plenty more to love on this set, The Deacons with the best version of Empty Heart I have ever heard, the High Spirits I Believe, The Messengers I’ve Seen You Around, The Gestures Run, Run, Run and let’s not forget Sir Winston & The Commons great punker We’re Gonna Love.
Tracks - Disc 1
1. Foot Stompin’ - The Underbeats
2. Surfin’ Bird - The Trashmen
3. The Grind - Gregory Dee and the Avanties
4. Run, Run, Run - The Gestures
5. Little Latin Lupe Lu - The Chancellors
6. The Noplace Special - The Titans
7. Let The Good Times Roll - The Del Counts
8. (Turn On Your) Love Light - The High Spirits
9. Why - The Accents
10. You Don’t Want Me - The Corvets
11. Liar, Liar - The Castaways
12. Bird Dance Beat - The Trashmen
13. Olds-Mo-William - Gregory Dee and the Avanties
14. Yo! Yo! - The Chancellors
15. Gary’s Tune - Lou Riegeert and the Troops
16. Don’t Mess Around - The Gestures
17. A-Bone - The Trashmen
18. Summer Place - The Titans
19. Cold 45 - The Four Wheels
20. Howlin’ For My Baby - The Accents
21. Bird Dog - The Del Counts
22. Tossin’ And Turnin’ - The High Spirits
23. Sam - The Castaways
Tracks - Disc 2
1. I Believe - The High Spirits
2. Goodbye Babe - The Castaways
3. Candlelight - The Gestures
4. I’ve Seen You Around - The Messengers
5. So Fine - The Chancellors
6. Book Of Love - The Underbeats
7. Fat Girl - The Embermen
8. Why Be Proud - The Boys Next Door
9. Summer’s Here - The Shades
10. Ridin’ High - The Gamins
11. Central High Playmate - The Four Wheels
12. I’ll Be Gone - The Rumbles
13. My Baby - The Messengers
14. Ride On - The Torres
15. Heat Wave - The Half Dozen
16. What Is The Reason - The Del Counts
17. Bright Lights, Big City - The High Spirits
18. Empty Heart - The Deacons
19. Gloria - Jimmy Kaye and the Coachmen
20. Keep Her Satisfied - The Unbelievable Uglies
21. I Can’t Stand It - The Underbeats
22. With Another Guy - The Del Counts
23. U.F.O. - Dudley and the Doo-Rytes
24. We’re Gonna Love - Sir Winston & The Commons
25. It Was A Very Good Year - The Sounds Like Us