Song:Let's Talk About Girls
Album:Melts In Your Brain Not On Your Wrist: The Complete Recordings 1965-1967
The Chocolate Watchband are one of the more celebrated garage bands of the early psychedelic era. Of course the odd thing is they're more successful today then they ever were back then. And their original vinyl albums once sold for $100. Today you can get all their recordings on this 2CD comp from Big Beat. They were first formed in San Jose, CA in 1965 by guitarist Ned Torney and Mark Loomis. The had been in The Chaparrals. The band ended when Torney was recruited to join The Topsiders. Loomis went to work for The Shandels. But he didn't like the band and decided to reform The Chocolate Watchband with Shandels bassist Bill Flores and former Watchband drummer Gary Andrijasevich. Then they added former Topsiders guitarist Sean Tolby and Early Morning Reign lead singer David Aguilar. They began working with producer Ed Cobb (formerly of The Four Preps). They released some poorly distributed singles and appeared in the films Riot On Sunset Strip and The Love-Ins. But they weren't getting anywhere. So Loomis, Andirjasevich & Aguilar left. Tolby & Flores brought in new members but it didn't last and they split up Dec. 1967. But then they reformed in 1968 with Tolby, Flores, Loomis, Andirijasevich, Torney and original lead singer Danny Phay. They continued to work with Cobb but frequently he would record songs without the band and release them anyway. Don Bennett was brought in as lead singer for Let's Talk About Girls and a lot of songs were recorded by studio musicians. This would kill the band until the Nuggets garage band comps generated new interest in them. University professor David Aguilar reformed The Chocolate Watchband in 1999 and they've been playing ever since. Here's The Chocolate Watchband performing Let's Talk About Girls 2007.
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