English Freakbeat, Volume 3 is a compilation album in the English Freakbeat series that has been issued in both LP and CD format. (More from Wikipedia)
I have the Sons of Fred singles on two albums in the English Freakbeat Series; both sides of their 1965 single, “I, I, I Want Your Lovin’” and “She Only Wants a Friend” are the opening tracks on the English Freakbeat, Volume 3 CD (and are also included on the English Freakbeat, Volume 3 LP); and three more of their songs are on the English Freakbeat, Volume 4 CD (but not on the English Freakbeat, Volume 4 LP) – all but “You Told Me”. “You Told Me” is included on the Rare 60’s Beat Treasures, Volume 5 CD and also a later compilation album called Magic Spectacles.
While “I, I, I Want Your Lovin’” and “She Only Wants a Friend” feature the harmony vocals and intricate guitar that are hallmarks of the Hollies’ sound, the band’s R&B roots are still evident on both songs. The liner notes on the English Freakbeat, Volume 3 CD (probably by Greg Shaw) says that “their three releases are consistently intense, brilliant R&B ravers”. The Sons of Fred broke up after Mick Hutchinson and Pete Sears left the band.
(March 2014/2)
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Many of the songs in the English Freakbeat Series were by musicians that became famous in later bands or in other contexts. For instance, the English Freakbeat, Volume 3 CD has a song by the Raving Savages, who were the backing band for Screaming Lord Sutch. Many of the songs in the English Freakbeat Series were by musicians that became famous in later bands or in other contexts. The real attraction for the CD reissue though are three songs by a band called the Ravens; their bandleader Dave Davies and his younger brother Ray Davies were later in the Kinks, with Ray being the frontman and main songwriter for that stellar British Invasion group. Ray Davies was supposedly not involved in the Ravens at all according to the band’s official history; however, the CD liner notes as well as the review by Allmusic notes that some of these songs bear Ray Davies’ stamp and might have been sung (if not written) by him.
(March 2014/2)
