1.
Big Money: "Once Upon a Time In a Galaxy Far Far Away"
Moonraker (1994)
Silly band, silly album, silly tune, but a great starter. This is a Swedish pop/synth duo, and the title of the track is the opening words of Star Wars.
2.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: "Skunk"
Now I Got Worry (1996)
"Skunk" opens the sixth album (in six years) by the American trio headed by Jon Spencer. To quote the band's website: "Jon Spencer was there first. He is the original. It was his sanctified outbursts and blues-bending riffs that began the new-fangled roots rock revolution that spawned countless imitators."
3.
The Electric Prunes: "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)"
The Electric Prunes (1967)
Three of the tracks on this compilation was picked from another compilation, called MOJO Music Guide Vol. 1: Instant Garage, which I got when I bought magazine MOJO sometime in the early noughties. A great compilation, in the same vein as this, and best of all is this tune by The Electric Prunes, with possibly the best title ever. The Prunes' first single.
4.
Pascal: "Stort och vackert"
Galgberget (2008)
A beautiful song by Swedish trio Pascal, with the (translated) lyrics consisting of one repeated phrase: "I'm gonna build something big and beautiful / that I will crush you with."
5.
The Iguanas: "Again & Again"
Demo (1965)
The band responsible for the nickname Iggy Pop. James Osterberg (Iggy Pop) was the drummer of the band (and singer on this track) when in high school, and "Iggy" derives from the band name. No real album was released, but some demo recordings have survived. I got this one from the Instant Garage compilation.
6.
The Sonics: "The Witch"
Here Are The Sonics (1965)
First single and signature song for shortlived (although re-awakened) American band The Sonics. A shorter mix of this song was the theme for Swedish TV show Filmkrönikan, where I worked in the mid-noughties. (The theme was then swapped for this Billy Brooks tune. Which is more film-y?) I saw a reunited Sonics line-up in Göteborg a couple of years ago. It was bad.
7.
Nirvana: "Territorial Pissings"
Nevermind (1991)
From the second album by the 90s most influential rock band. Although sometimes praised as a feminist song, it's mostly famous for being the song that the band played before smashing their instruments. I love the way Kurt Cobain's voice cracks at the end.
8.
The Ready Men: "Shortnin' Bread"
Single (1965)
An often recorded song, which begun as a plantation/folk song. This surf version differs from most though. Being the only single from American band The Ready Men, it was reissued in 1995 on a Ready Men compilation called Get Ready!!.
9.
Sonic Youth: "Scooter and Jinx"
Goo (1990)
A one-minute noise from Sonic Youths most successful album, Goo, there actually exists an official music video for this track, by underground filmmaker Richard Kern.
10.
The Beatles: "Helter Skelter"
The Beatles a.k.a. The White Album (1968)
Last one out, this is by far this compilation's longest tune. It earns its inclusion from the fact that this kind of sound from the world's biggest band obviously was monumentally influential, sometimes heralded as the birth of heavy metal. Sadly it also "inspired" psychopath Charles Manson and the Manson Family to commit several murders, including the murder of Sharon Tate. The recording was the last of 18 takes and famously ends with Ringo Starr throwing away his drum sticks, screaming "I got blisters on my fingers". How could I not end with that?
If any of you listened to it, please tell! / a-funk
