Namesakes #113: The Shaggs

It's Unlucky A Hundred & Thirteen... but lucky for us, George is back with some cormorants... I tried looking for images relating to other definitions of the word shag, but I couldn't find any on the interweb. 

Take it away, George...

Please do not think I have chosen these bands because of the slightly suggestive titter-ye-not name. Nope, that tittering was reserved for the Billy Graves track posted over at the pages at Charity Chic Music a wee while ago. I happened on today’s choice whilst wasting a lovely Sunday afternoon scrolling through The Tube Of You (as Rol refers to it), after setting fire to a few dug-up bushes at the farm. One of the bands underneath was in one of those “worst bands of all time” pieces, and the chappie who posted it was wrong, of course, because the obvious contenders Gentle Giant and U2 were absent. So, below, are four bands with the same name. ONLY FOUR*, so there is absolutely no excuse for any reader to skip playing any or to cut short in any way their listening experience.

(*Or maybe five.)

THE SHAGGS #1

First, from First Bend, Indiana, what appears to have been a 5 piece garage band. Having played some of the tracks from there only album, “Wink”, they were all perfectly pleasant cover versions of well known 60s pop songs. Their version of a Who song, although not great, is not terrible. But you’re not getting that...

The Shaggs - Feel A Whole Lot Better

THE SHAGGS #2

Next up. A garage band from Miami, who made three singles, although only two solely accredited to them...

The Shaggs - Ring Around The Rosie

THE SHAGGS #3

The third group, from Orchard Lake, Michigan, were not prolific, as were the first two, releasing just one single. 

The Shaggs - She Makes Me Happy

So far, three nice easy tunes for you. I’m saving the best ‘til last. Some eejit proclaimed the Wiggins sisters’ group as the worst band ever (did I apostrophise correctly, Rol?*). Just listen to this, it’s the absolute bifters.

(*I think so.)

THE SHAGGS #4

Wait! I’ve discovered the Australian Shaggs cover of Kool Thing!

The Shaggs - Kool Thing

THE SHAGGS #5

And finally, here they are. Dorothy, Betty and Helen Wiggin. It’s The Shaggs. The album “defied expectations” and their parents declared that the girls were “inevitably…. bound for stardom”

Their sister Rachel plays bass on this one...

The Shaggs - That Little Sports Car

This is even better...

The Shaggs - I'm So Happy When You're Near

Yes, Mr and Mrs Austin, you were wrong there, but what a legacy! And if you want to fork out at least €50, you could own a copy of that incredible first album “Philosophy of the World”. I want this one on my shelves.

And yes, there were five bands, I know, but I just could not be bothered editing the first paragraph.

Thanks, as always, to Rol, for posting this piece on his blog.

WAIT! The album is on Bandcamp! And shortly will be listed on my spreadsheet!  An album that moved no less a musician than Frank Zappa to say it was “better than the Beatles”. I have more albums by The Shaggs than by Frank Zappa. And there’s a tribute album too. My cup overfloweth.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm shagged out after that lot. Thank you to George, as always.

It may be worth pointing out to him that there are quite a few bands listed on discogs called The Shags, with just one G. Normally, I'd roll them all in together, but I wouldn't want to lessen the impact of this post. We can Shag again another day.