The Tikis - If I've Been Dreaming / Pay Attention To Me. 1965 USA ~ SF Bay Area, California

From Santa Cruz comes The Tikis. Have you heard of the Beatles? So have The Tikis. Both tracks are similar to their 'She Loves You' style with a surf guitar mid song break. The Tikis later changed their name to The Other Tikis before moving on to their most famous moniker Harpers Bizarre. Feelin' Groovy baby.

Used to own.

5/20/25

The Merry-Go-Round – Come Ride, Come Ride / She Laughed Loud. 1968 USA ~ Los Angeles, California

Both of these tracks are very much influenced by the Baroque pop psych of the Beatles and all their followers. The A) side is likewise heavily orchestrated. Pretty good overall but not my favorite style of psych.

Used to own. This is the more obscure of the two She Laughed Loud singles by the band. Neither appeared on their sole album.

5/19/25

Matrix - Comin' Home / Slam Dunk. 1982 USA ~ Wisconsin

From Appleton, Matrix had a relatively successful career, obtaining major label releases on both RCA and Warner Bros. I've heard a couple of them, but don't recall the contents and didn't keep either around. On this single, Matrix mixes two entirely different styles. The a) is smooth soul with crooning vocals and horns. The b) is hard funk with tight charts. The bassist really puts in a strong performance here. This would be Matrix's last effort and neither of these are on LP.

Own. Label is more orange than the photo suggests.

2.5 / 3.5

5/19/25

Murl (Merrell Fankhauser) - Sail It Over The Ocean / Calling From a Star. 1979 USA ~ Hawaii

Wasn't sure what to expect here. I know Fankhauser best from his psych days and the band MU. Both tracks could be considered Yacht Rock. The B) side has some cool synth, that leans in towards a David Bowie type sound. I think I'll hold onto this one given that it's scarce but not expensive enough to sell.

Own with pic sleeve.

3 / 3.5

5/19/25

Bob Abbott - Long Way To My House / Silent Girl. 1975 USA ~ Houston, Texas

This one caught me by surprise. Both tracks more or less go under the category of soft rock, perhaps pop rock. However there is some delicious analog synthesizer putting it over the Yacht Rock line and more to my interest area. A complete unknown, I'm hanging onto to this title.

Own.

More info from Unknown Vinyl Records.

3/3

5/7/25 (new entry)

Sound Company - Truman's Daughter / I Am Your Hour. 1971 USA ~ Missouri

From Neosho, Missouri which is in the far SW part of the state near Joplin. The A) side is a nice driving hard rock with more than a hint of Southern rock which you might expect of a band near the Ozarks. It's the B) side that is the head turner. Sound Company introduces Hammond organ and the bass player lays down a mean groove while the drummer gets out the amphetamine kit. In comes the wah wah rhythm guitar. Think Rare Earth when they're on their A-game. A couple of chorus' later comes the payoff - an absolute wicked and blazing fuzz solo. This is followed by the vocalist going psychotic. I could have gone for 20 minutes of this! 

Own. With picture sleeve. Paid a buck at a thrift shop and it's in minty condition. Hell yea!

5/6/25 (new entry)