The Buggs "The Beetle Beat" (Coronet, CX-212, 1964)
Another Beatles rip-off record, but this one honestly isn’t that bad. Yes, I’ll say it: The Buggs might even be pretty good. Sure we get the obligatory “She Loves You” & “I Want To Hold Your Hand” covers (as well as stray covers of other contemporary songs retitled so that, like almost every song on here, they include British locations in the name — “Just One Look” becomes “Soho Mash”, for example), but my faves are what I take to be originals. “Mersey Mercy”, “Liverpool Drag” & “London Town Swing” are truly pretty charming if you like that peppy early “Beat” sound, and on the whole LP only “East End” really sucks (well, and I guess “Swingin’ Thames” isn’t going on any mix tapes of mine in the foreseeable future either).
This one is pretty common in both Stereo and Mono editions, so it must’ve sold a lot at the time. Tracks by the Buggs also showed up on the Coronet compilation “At The Hop” (with the Four Seasons, Charlie Francis & Barbara Brown), and I’ve read somewhere that there was a followup album, but I’ve never seen it.
To wit: “In this album you will hear the original Liverpool sound recorded on location in England by the Buggs, a fast moving, well paced group that we are sure you will like.”
Another one I had!
And this one stings me when I think I gave it away to my sister (a Beatles fan) as a gag gift.
Faux-Beatles stuff is great, especially when poorly executed, like in a sixties cartoon or those stupid vultures in Jungle Book.
Too funny.
I’ll bet some of these bands weren’t half bad, but were forced into it by evil record execs (is there any other kind?).
yeah, YHANK YOU for these 2 jewels!! if you have others don’t hesitate, it’s genial!!!!
Bravo for your website!
schoub from France
I have this record. I think all of those “other” songs were retitled so royalties wouldn’t have to be paid…but they do sound really good. They could have called the album “The Early Rutles”!
Hey, has anybody heard of the group King’s Road? They did a double album of Beatles’ songs entitled “The Beatles 1962-1970.” It’s fairly good and includes a couple solo Beatle songs. It’s on the Pickwick label, PTP-2062 and it’s in Stereo! Does anybody know anything about this record, maybe the release date?
Hah, King’s Road! Yeah there’s a nice Pickwick discography page that Robert Plante put together which lists it as 1973.
Also interesting: a mention here sheds some more light on the group & their relationship to Pickwick in general:
“TRIBE- Tribe Sing The Creative Genius Of George Harrison, John Lennon & Paul McCartney- (w/ several George songs, plus their version of “Why” by Yoko Ono. King’s Road related group via Pickwick big shots Jerry Vance & Terry Philips aka Jerry Pellegrino & Philip Teitelbaum, both from the 60s band The Hobbits) Pickwick EX $12 Scarce!”
How disappointed I was when my Mom brought home this album thinking it was the real Beatles. I didn’t listen to it very much when I was a kid and teenager but really decided I liked it as I got older.
Now, at age 54, I love this album and it’s one of the favorites I have on my MP3 player. I wish I could find more by this group.
I love rip-off Beatles albums. My favs are BILLY PEPPER & the pepperpots, AMAZING! But i have THE BUGGS too, they sings and plays pretty good, yeah! yea! yeah! in th b-side is my fav. The best are THE SPONGETONES from North Carolina, they cut his first album in 80’s, is like to listen The Beatles lost album, try.
oh my God- when I read the comment by “anonymous”I flipped- my mom also bought this for me thinking it was the real Beatles and I was also very disappointed- I’m 54 too and it took me all this time to relocate this piece of my early childhood. I don’t know what happened to my album, but I am beyond thrilled to listen to it again- Thanks sooo much
THE BUGGS(Omaha-Nebraska). Somebody has any info about that fascinating band please? THE MANCHESTERS(A.K.A. The Chartbusters???) THE KNICKERBOCKERS (LIES! SMASH HIT) GREAT BAND FROM NEW JERSEY. THE BEARCUTS(Swing in The Beatle Mania) any info about that one? THE LIVERPOOLS(Beatle mania in USA).THE SPONGETONES(Charlotte-NC)Excellent band, has website. THE TEDDY BOYS(CD for sale on CD BABY). somebody else more???