A band they all love to hate? Reknowned for the utterly tasteless, and politically incorrect Spazz, this frantic punker has overshadowed their other 'pop' 45s, and probably from the bands point of view given a skewed perspective of what they were 'about'. Still a compulsive riff, with lyrics sung with in an almost (modern-day) Rap style, a bluesy mid-break, and a
Electric Prunes style arrangement are hard to ignore.
Amazingly, the Spazz 45 was also scheduled for release in the U.K. on EMI subsiduary Stateside, and demo copies were pressed, credited to The Elastick Band. Even stranger is that Spazz was played exactly once (almost) in Australia on Sydney radio station 2UW as a request.. about one minute into the track the DJ lifted the needle and apologised to the audience.. "I think we've heard about enough of that, I don't know what they're getting at and I don't care what they're getting at, but I find it offensive and I'm sure a lot of other people do too...."
Originally known as
This Side Up, they recorded a 45 for Century in 1966, before a slight personnel shuffle resulted in the new monicker The Elastic Band.
Given the reaction to Spazz, it's understandable that many people are disappointed with their other three 45s, which are in a straightforward pop-ballad vein. The final 45, Tunesmith was a Jimmy Webb composition and appears to have only been released as a Radio Promo, despite being advertised in Billboard. The Elastik Band's version was actually an attempt to beat another groups rendition which was then shooting up the charts somewhere in Oregon or Washington. They recorded it as a "cover record" for KAPP who flew them in from Arizona and within three days Universal recorded, pressed and distributed 45s of their cut. As a result, stations refused to play either record cause they didn't know which was the cover!
David Cortopassi later went on to play in Dangerfield, who recorded further 45s for Kapp and then he played with Rodan. Rodan also featured Scott Page on horns, who went on to play with Supertramp and Pink Floyd. Their manager loved them so much he put out a 12" LP for them gratis! Anyone out there with info??
If you haven't heard Spazz, and garage is your bag... then you're missing possibly one of the most tasteless records ever.
(Ivor Trueman/Josh Cortopassi/Tony Allen/Joe Rein/Max Waller)
01. Elastik Band Theme/Got a bettr reason now 2:56
02. Spazz 2:48
03. Mixed emotions 2:50
04. Think of today 2:13
05. The darkest corner 2:10
06. Don't say love 2:15
07. Popcorn 2:23
08. Papier 2:37
09. Fire & desire 3:10
10. All I need 2:31
11. The word is you 2:44
12. Pauper's fugue 1:56
13. Turn your head 3:00
14. In a family tree 2:41
15. I would still love you 2:27
16. Are you true 2:23
17. Mrs. Pig 2:34
18. Call me over 2:50
19. Lose yourself 2:01
20. Going going going gone 3:03
21. Spazz (radio broadcast) 3:07
Vince Silvera (Drums, Vocals Background)
David Cortopassi (Guitar, Vocals, Vocals Background, Vibraphone)
Scott Williams (Guitar Acoustic, Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Vocals Background, Guitar 12 String)
Russell Kerger (Vocals Background, Wurlitzer)
