Artist:The Leaves
Song:Hey Joe
Album:The Leaves ...are Happening! The Best of the Leaves
Most music fans are probably familiar with Jimi Hendrix' 1966 recording of Hey Joe. But this recording by the garage band The Leaves was recorded in 1964 though it didn't chart until 1966. The Leaves were founded by bassist Jim Pons and guitarist Robert Lee Reiner. They were students at what was then called San Fernando Valley State College in Los Angeles. At first they called themselves The Rockwells. Other members were John Beck on vocals Bill Reinhart on lead guitar and Jimmy Kern on drums. He was replaced by Tom Ray in 1965. First they played at parties. Then they were chosen to replace The Byrds at a residency at Ciro's on Sunset Strip. Pat Boone spotted them and got them a record deal with Mira Records owned by former Dot Records exec Randy Wood. Hey Joe was released in Nov. 1965. But the band didn't like it. They recorded a second version. They didn't like that either. After Reinhart was replaced by Bobby Arlin, they recorded it a third time and it reached #31 on the Billboard Hot 100. They released an album, appeared on various TV shows. They released a second album and split up after Pons left to join The Turtles. He went on to work with Frank Zappa. Of course the Hendrix version is much better known. But The Leaves version got a boost when it appeared on the garage band comp Nuggets. The reissue label Sundazed has released this comp. Though Hey Joe is credited to Rick Roberts and Dino Valenti, It was based on a traditional folk song. The Leaves heard The Byrds perform it at a club. Hey Joe was not a new song. The Leaves recording came out at the right time. Here's The Leaves performing Hey Joe 1966.
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