THE TROGGS/ TROGGLODYNAMITE POLS 001 (-67) UK STEREO

After their world-wide hit with "Wild Thing" and debute LP "From Nowhere...The Troggs" with follow-up promotion gigs it seems little energy was left for recording this second album. Though having the same kind of signature vocals and backing there's no immediate hit feeling and even if I wouldn't call it uninspired it comes through rather tired at parts, as if they were pushed rather than doing it for joy. It wasn't favoured by crtics at the time and even if fans bought it then there seems to be less love for it now. Haven't heard it for a while and my mind for this post was initially set on negative, but when listening while writing I'm feeling a lot more supportive. If I skip the comparisons and just open up it's really good garage if nothing else. Most of it apparently recorded direct by basic setting with few overdubs. I get lots of hard pumping bass and drums with a fair share of rattling guitars with or without fuzz. Not entirely enthralled by some of the softer invites, but the faster cuts are really endearing in a simplistic kind of way - e.g. "I Can Only Give You Everything" with a prominent fuzz guitar all through, "Mona" a very dirty semi-chaotic cover version, "I Want You To Come Into My Life" catchy up-tempo. So high time for revaluation. Why they bothered to release this "stereo" alternative to the mono I don't know. There's no real stereo on it and hardly any fake stereo either. All cuts are either true mono, enhanced mono or just minutely rechanneled. Listening with the mono button pushed hardly makes any difference at all. Good news is if you have one you really don't need the other other than for completist reasons. Originally released in Europe, downunder, South Africa and South America, but not in US. 2004 UK CD on Repertoire Records (REPUK 1020) came with eight bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here and laminated flip/back cover. (TRÖX*)