[Site editor's note: Nepotism yields some intriguing results this month as we offer you the first column by Erica Lynn Gruenberg's father, Mike. By all accounts he's a fervid music fan and vinyl devotee. Each month he'll use this bully pulpit to introduce us to some of his favorite semi-obscure sounds from the past. Here's the inaugural installment...]

The Remains

Recently I received my regular mailing from the record club. Normally, I look at the featured selection and make the choice to reject. This time, the featured selection was a 2 disc set entitled Rock - The Train Kept A Rollin'. This offering took the listener on a tour of hits on the Columbia/Epic labels catalog that spans thirty years. I rarely purchase these compilations because the good tunes are overshadowed by fill-ins and unwanted artists. I was frankly quite amazed at the depth of great tunes on the two discs. Most of the acts represented were major hitmakers. However, the group that caught my eye was a little known group called The Remains. For the uninitiated, The Remains were one of the opening acts for the 1966 Beatles tour. Prior to that tour, they opened for the Rolling Stones on a number of dates in 1965. Not bad for four young guys from Boston University.

Having been lucky enough to see the Beatles first at Forest Hills and then at Shea Stadium, I vividly remembered the Remains as an excellent group. Amidst the confusion and pandemonium that accompanied the Beatles, they played great tunes and were well received by the crowd at Shea. Furthermore, I remember buying the Remains album (Epic LN 24124) and being blown away by Side 1. There are no duds on Side 1. In my opinion, it can be easily classified as a perfect album side. I can't say the same for Side 2., but given that this was their first album, they deserve enormous credit for the tunes on side 1.

The compilation CD described earlier contains their first release, Why Do I Cry. My Remains album is in mono. The new version has obviously been remastered and the sound is excellent. It sounds a whole lot better than my mono version. This song still has excitement and holds up well after more than 30 years. Side 1 begins with Heart. This song starts out as a ballad and builds to uptempo rock tune with great vocals and harmonies. Next up is Lonely Week-End which is a great garage rock tune that clearly has been clearly influenced by Mick Jagger. Don't Look Back is another song that has traces of Mick and could bel a great college party song. It rocks. My favorite is Why Do I Cry which could be a popular today. Finally, the band covers the Diddy Wah Diddy tune to round out the side.

The Remains didn't remain very long. Sadly, the group broke up soon after the tour and the release of the album. The Remains are an example of an obscure group that was able to have their 15 minutes of fame and leave a musical legacy behind that has stood the test of time. My record collection contains over 4,000 records. I would estimate that more than half of the collection is devoted to obscure groups like the Remains. I hope to share some of those memories with you in the coming months.