Wild Cherries

While the Wild Cherries made just four singles in the 1960s, those 45s (all issued in 1967 and 1968) were enough to cement a permanent cult reputation for the group among '60s collectors, as well as establish them as one of the most creative Australian '60s groups. Fusing soul and early psychedelia with intimations of hard rock and progressive rock, their singles "Krome Plated Yabby," "That's Life," and "Gotta Stop Lying" were unpredictably structured songs full of unusual instrumental effects and shifts in tempo and mood, though anchored by a sullen rebellious attitude. The Wild Cherries, of course, were not the only bands in the world venturing into such territory at the time, nor the best. Others were as well; some of the early work of the MC5 is roughly comparable, though not as pop-oriented. The Wild Cherries were the only outfit doing such things on record in Australia, however, and it's unfortunate that they dissolved before having a chance to record more, including an LP. The Wild Cherries (briefly known at their outset as the Black Cherries) were formed in late 1964 and early 1965 by keyboardist Les Gilbert with friends from Melbourne University's architecture school. Initially they were, like many mid-'60s British bands, heavily influenced by the R&B/rock of Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. The 16 tracks they recorded (almost all of them covers) in the mold of British groups like the Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Who, and early Manfred Mann were issued for the first time in 2007, and show them to be a good if derivative act in that style. After several personnel changes, however, the Wild Cherries developed a more original and soul-influenced sound. The key additions were soulful singer Danny Robinson and (in January 1967) lead guitarist Lobby Loyde, formerly in the...