Riot on Sunset Strip/Rarities

Liner Note Author: Alec Palao.
Photographers: Frank Zinn; Roger Armstrong.
Unknown Contributor Roles: David Aguilar; Bill Flores; Gary Andrijasevich; Mark Loomis; Tony Valentino; Dick Dodd; Sean Tolby; Larry Tamblyn; Dave Burke .
For this volume in their series of Standells two-fers, label of reissue Big Beat wisely paired two subsidiary releases, the soundtrack of the 1967 film Riot on Sunset Strip (to which the band contributed two songs) and a brief rarities compilation. The first leads off with the title track, one of the Standells' brightest moments, then proceeds through nine tracks of low-grade yet occasionally intriguing teen-exploitation fare from a cast including the the Chocolate Watchband and the Sidewalk Sounds, plus a band named the Mugwumps that has nothing to do with the Cass Elliot-affiliated conglomeration. The rarities disc has a few interesting moments from the Standells, including the time-signature shifts of "Love Me" and the Dylanesque ambiguities of "Our Candidate," but as expected, doesn't contribute much to their discography. Definitely a collector's release, but general garage fans will want to hear it simply for the period sound and styles. ~ John Bush