The Remains (album)
| The Remains | ||||
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| Studio album by The Remains | ||||
| Released | September 26, 1966 | |||
| Recorded | 1966 | |||
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| Length | 25:46 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Bruce Patch | |||
| The Remains chronology | ||||
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The Remains is the debut album by the American garage rock band the Remains, and was released on Epic Records in September 26, 1966 (see 1966 in music). Though the album was largely overlooked at the time of its original release, The Remains has since received recognition as one of the more cohesive efforts of the era.
The Remains formed in 1964, quickly establishing themselves as a popular attraction across New England, and performing in sold-out venues to a loyal fanbase. By 1965, the group's popularity reached an apex, with the Remains earning four regional hits on Epic Records, and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. Prior to recording their debut album the band's manager John Kurland arranged an audition with Capitol Records on May 26, 1966. According to guitarist Barry Tashian, the group was interested in switching record labels because "At Epic, our unhappiness stemmed from the fact that, promotion-wise, we felt like we were the poor cousins to Bobby Vinton, Ed Ames, and the Yardbirds, Epic's biggest selling artists at the time". Though the session did not result in a recording contract, the recordings, which except for "Why Do I Cry?" were cover versions, later manifested themselves on the Sundazed Records release, A Session with the Remains.
Recording sessions commenced in mid-1966 as the Remains prepared for their tour alongside the Beatles. The recording time in the studio saw the group explore different musical textures, including a guitar raveup on the opening track "Heart", Jagger-like sneer in "Lonely Weekend", and the band's early R&B influenced regional hits "Why Do I Cry?" and "Diddy Wah Diddy". Tashian states the reason the Remains covered a fair amount of songs was to look "for a big national hit, and since we didn't seem to be connecting with the original songs we decided to put out some covers and see if maybe that would do the trick". Arguably, the band's most accomplished piece on The Remains is "Don't Look Back", the tune's regional popularity apparent by the Rising Storm's own rendition of the song in 1968. The hard-edged rocker later resurfaced on Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968.
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