SIGH CRY DIE 29 Tales of Woe and Despair (60s garage classics ) COMP CD

American mid-'60s garage rock is most often stereotyped as a kind of macho suburban variation on the R&B-based British Invasion rock of the Rolling Stones. But there was also a wide strain of gentler midtempo rockers and ballads that were often prone to lachrymose adolescent self-pity.

Subtitled "29 Tales of Woe and Despair," Sigh Cry Die has 78 minutes of the stuff, which -- in keeping with most Arf! Arf! '60s compilations -- is populated with bands mostly unknown even to the '60s garage buff.

When King's Ransom and Fenwyck are about the most familiar bands, you know this music is way-obscure. The influence of the Beatles, the British Invasion, and the Byrds permeates much of the material, with some side nods to the Beau Brummels and the Zombies, though there's usually a layer of amateurish lovesick despondency missing even from the most downbeat songs done by these role models.  Richie Unterberger

Tracklist

1          –Kings Ransom*        Without You 3:46

2          –Nomads*      How Many Times      2:48

3          –Strange Fate*           Love Is Like    2:42

4          –Illusions*      Her Own Way            2:18

5          –Romans*       I'll Find A Way           2:24

6          –Bittersweets*           She Treats Me Bad    2:45

7          –Changing Tymes*    She Laughed At Me   3:06

8          –Evil "I"*        Can't Live Without You        2:39

9          –Limits            Free As The Wind     3:15

10       –Fyrebirds*    I'm So Lonely             2:27

11       –Plagues*       To Wander     2:39

12       –Gents*           I'll Cry             2:10

13       –Non-Pareils*            Willow Tree   2:47

14       –Mere Existence*      Now    2:20

15       –Beach-Niks*             Last Night I Cried      3:16

16       –Morticians* With Another Guy     2:50

17       –Excels*          It Isn't So        2:29

18       –What-Nots* Nobody Else But You            2:37

19       –Joey Tedeschi And The Idols (3)   True Luv Goes Astray           3:05

20       –Zephyrs*      Take Her Back           2:23

21       –Saints*          Please Don't Leave Me         2:34

22       –Chayns*        Run And Hide            2:52

23       –Fenwyck       I Wanna Die   3:03

24       –Secrets*        He Treats You Bad    2:29

25       –Blue Condition*       Once There Was A Girl         2:25

26       –Pastels*        'Cause I Love You      2:30

27       –Four Rogues*           I'll Be Glad      2:21

28       –Four Speeds*           Why Did You Leave Me        1:51

29       –The Stairway To The Stars             Cry      3:06