VA - Pebbles - 1992-2007, FLAC

Pebbles is an extensive series of compilation albums in both LP and CD formats that have been issued on several record labels, though mostly by AIP. Together with the companion Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, the Pebbles series made available over 800 obscure, mostly American "Original Punk Rock" songs recorded in the mid-1960s - primarily known today as the garage rock and psychedelic rock genres - that were previously known only to a handful of collectors. In 2007, the release of the Pebbles, Volume 11: Northern California CD marked the final album in the Pebbles series (curiously, Vol. 12 had been issued in 1999).
Though 1972's Nuggets compilation reawakened listeners to the sounds of mid-'60s garage rock, it only focused on the tip of the iceberg. Behind those forgotten hits and semi-hits lurked hundreds, if not thousands, of regional hits and flops from the same era, most even rawer and cruder. In the late '70s, the Pebbles compilations came along to fill in the gap and then some. The featured acts were unknown to anyone but collectors and those who happened to have lived in the areas where the bands played. More than any other factor, these compilations were responsible for the resurgence of interest in garage rock, which remains high among collectors to this day. Though the lyrics are at times downright juvenile and sexist, the main attraction is the sound and stance, which anticipates the outrage of punk rock, but tempers it with tough British Invasion-inspired melodies, harmonies, and hooks, as well as fuzz-toned guitars, Farfisa organs, and wildly manic songwriting and performances. There are a lot of great unknown songs on Pebbles, but there are also a fair number of generic tunes that have little to recommend them beyond an excess of energy, which can make listening to an entire volume at once as much a challenge as a joy.

Various Artists - Pebbles, Vol. 1 (1992) [AIP CD 5016]
Various Artists - Pebbles, Vol. 2 (1992) [AIP CD 5019]
Various Artists - Pebbles, Vol. 3 (1992) [AIP CD 5020]
Various Artists - Pebbles, Vol. 4 (1992) [AIP CD 5021]
Various Artists - Pebbles, Vol. 5 (1992) [AIP CD 5022]
Various Artists - Pebbles, Vol. 6 (1994) [AIP CD 5023]
Various Artists - Pebbles, Vol. 7 (1994) [AIP CD 5024]