Koala released just one album, on Capitol in 1968. According to their listing in
Fuzz, Acid & Flowers:
The liner notes to this album suggest that this band were from Australia, a curious marketing ploy by Capitol that neither helped sell the record or impress the band (they didn't know a thing about being from 'Downunder' until they saw the record in the stores!). Actually, they were a New York garage punk band, and sound like one.
Anyway, I downloaded Koala a while ago and it's fast becoming one of my favorite '60s records ever. Imagine the Stones' Their Satanic Majesties Request (or a rougher Between the Buttons) covered in its entirety by Radio Birdman, the Dead Boys, or early Big Star, or the 13th Floor Elevators, or whatever. Punk, kinda, but with ambitious, broad (if not always pleasant, and also perhaps a little lispy/dorky) vocals, playing that's sloppy and barely competent but still hits all its marks as if it's determined to become the mighty meaty rock 'n' roll Who merely by force of will. Psych, kinda, yeah, but you know they're faking it. Come to think of it, I imagine Kiss' very first rehearsal, in a dreary loft space in East Accenty-Glam-Putz Loserville U.S.A., sounding something like this.
I'm already anticipating that this thread won't get any posts except for possibly Telecom if he's around and Duane if he's around, so I'm also looking for stuff that seems similar to what I'm describing (old or new, doesn't matter).
― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 7 March 2004 02:19 (twenty-one years ago)
search: "scattered children's toys" and "look at the way she comes"
― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 7 March 2004 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)
I must check this one out, thanks cindy.
― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 7 March 2004 02:37 (twenty-one years ago)
Sounds vaguely familiar to me. I'd like to see what the album cover looks like. I checked the Garage Compilation Database. They list Koala as Australian. Their song "Strange Feelings" is on
Electric Psychedelic Sitar Headswirlers #8. I never made it past #2 or #3 of that series.
― Curt (cgould), Sunday, 7 March 2004 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)
I've got all nine! If they ditched all the contemporary shit and dieted it down to a six- or seven-disc set it would be the greatest series ever.
I've haven't been able to find the Koala album cover yet... I have no doubt it's AWESOME though.
― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 7 March 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)
Hm, well, I seem to have a copy of this album (oh gee I wonder how) so I shall now investigate.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 March 2004 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)
*having done so* Indeed pretty good, dude's voice reminds me of SOMEBODY really strongly but I can't place it. Grr.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 March 2004 22:39 (twenty-one years ago)
Being Australian, I would like to fill you on my knowledge of Koala:
errmmm ...
― mentalist (mentalist), Sunday, 7 March 2004 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)