60's Connecticut garage bands - Wildweeds

[beatbyrd]

The 'Weeds were a locally successful band that gigged a lot in the 60's. They had a #1 hit in the Northeast with "No Good to Cry", written by 19 year old 'Big Al' Anderson (who went on to NRBQ fame). I remember them saying that the song had made #14 in New Orleans and they thought that a national hit was possible. It didn't ever really penetrate west of the Mississippi. The song was covered later by the Poppy Family, the Box Tops (IIRC), and others (maybe the Allman Brothers, not sure). At the time, I had heard that the Wildweeds opened for The Doors at their infamous New Haven appearance.

Their bass player, Bob Dudek, was blind and played a Hofner violin bass, with a melodic McCartney style. I actually switched from drums to bass after clandestinedly playing the Hofner, when the band had left their stuff set up (guitars and all!) between a Fri/Sat gig at a place I worked. If it weren't for Bob's Hofner, I'd still be a drummer.

The Wildweeds were great live and kicked major butt on Beatles songs, as well as doing dead-on Motown covers (Four Tops, Temps. etc.). You can get a sense of their 'soul' sound from the 'B' side vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DDkmtygYGg

The 'B' side:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ9e8RSfcnc

Another high charting (in CT) single, that actually has the band 'performing':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGKMPNCHmyU

I'd guess that most have not heard of this band. Let me know what you think.
Tom

[rictified]

No good to Cry was a great song remember it well, I also have it on an WRKO radio album, it's not here so I don't remember the name but it had about 20 songs on it, all original artists and some great stuff.