line-up 1 (1964-69)

- Butch Earnardt -- keyboards, sax
- Chris Layne -- vocals, rhythm guitar 
- Mike Parker -- vocals, lead guitar 
- Sam Shaw -- bass 
- Don Thurston -- drums, percussion 

- none known

Genre: garage

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  A Plane View of the Barracudas

Company: Justice

Catalog: LP 143 A/B

Year: 1967

Country/State: Highland Springs, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor stains on back; great overall shape

Available: 1

Catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $500.00

During their five year run The Barracudas never attracted much commercial attention and probably sold fewer records than a Taylor Swift sells in 60 seconds.  Still The Barracudas' lone 1967 album stands as a sought after and prized garage rock collectable.   I'm not just saying that since I own a copy ...

Formed in 1964 in the Richmond, Virginia suburb of Highland Springs, the band started out as a six piece, but by early 1965 was down to a quintet consisting of keyboardist/sax player Butch Earnardt, rhythm guitarist Chris Layne, lead guitarist Mike Parker, bass player Sam Shaw and drummer Don Thurston.  With Thurston's dad serving as their manager, a steady stream of local dances and battle of the bands competitions began attracting a local audiencer. By early 1966 the group had formed their own Cuda label, releasing a debut single

- 1966's  'I Can't Believe' b/w '20-75' (Cuda catalog number 45-001). 

The "A" side offered up an odd mixture of garage, folk-rock and Merseybeat moves.  The song was actually pretty good, but suffered from horrible production, sounding like they'd recorded it in a cardboard box.  While the 45 vanished without a trace, it didn't stop the band from continuing their efforts to break nationally.  Their next move was to self-finance an album with Calvin Newton's Winston Salem, North Carolina based Justice Records.  It's doubtful more than 1,000 copies were pressed.

1967 saw the release of their sole LP - the Newton produced "A Plane View of the Barracudas." In terms of content the set offered up a then-standard mixture of pop, soul and R&B covers.  Most of these performances weren't going to be a surprise to people - a pair of Beatles covers, Them's 'Gloria' (required by any band planning on playing at a frat parties) and a Motown tune ('Shot Gun').  To his credit Newton generously allowed the band to include two original songs - 'I Can't Believe' and 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again.'  While the covers were generally enthusiastic, if routine, the two original's were among the album's better numbers. Musically most of the set was rather raw and rough with flat production, though performances such as 'I'm a Lover, not a Fighter', 'Not Fade Away' and a nifty cover of The Byrds' 'Feel a Whole Lot Better' were fairly enthusiastic   The album standout came in the form of an extended cover of Bo Diddley's 'I'm a Man' (complete with some knock-your-socks-off Miike Parker fuzz guitar).  It was the one track that made up for other performance and production short comings.  The album is deserving of its reputation as one of the best Justice catalog releases but just remember it wasn't a groundbreaking effort.  That also raises the question who would want to pay the astronamical price original copies fetch.  In case you were curious, but wanted to save some bucks, in 1995 the Collectables label reissued the collection in CD format under catalog number COL-606.

"A Plane View of the Barracudas" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) I Can't Believe (Chris Layne) - 2:58 rating: *** stars

Penned by rhythm guitarist Chris Layne, 'I Can't Believe' was one of two originals on the album. As mentioned, previously released as a single, it was a decent mash-up of folk-rock and Meseybeat influences, but suffered from horribly flat production.
2.) Not Fade Away (Charles Hardin - Norman Petty) - 2:13 rating: *** stars

With the lead vocalist sounding determined to blow out his vocal chords, their cover of the Buddy Holly classic 'Not Fade Away' wasn't going to make you forget the original, but it was quick and energetic.  Certainly heard far worse versions of the tune.
3.) I Call Your Name (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 2:12 rating: *** stars

If you recorded a mid-'60s album you seemingly had to include at least one Beatles cover.  These guys were apparently over-achievers, including two Fab Four covers.  'I Call Your Name' has never been a favorite Beatles composition and their slightly out of tune cover didn't do much to improve on the original.
4.) Gloria (Van Morrison) - 2:45  rating: *** stars

There must be thousands of 'Gloria' covers out there.  Add this to the list of also-rans. Honestly it wasn't half-bad with Mike Parker even getting the guitar solo down pat, but why not pull out your copy of Them's original?  
5.) Blue Blue Feeling (Jimmy Henshaw) - 2:39  rating: *** stars

The late Jimmy Henshaw wrote it; Eric Burdon and the Animals had the hit (abbreviating the title to 'Blue Feeling.'   They included a cover on their self-titled 1965 debut album.  The Barracudas sped the song up a touch, Butch Earnardt down playing Alan Price's organ arrangement.  Earnardt made up for it with a sax solo.
6.) I'm a Lover, not a Fighter (J.D. Miller) - 2:02 rating: *** stars

Their cover of the late Joseph Delton Miller's rockabilly 'I'm a Lover, Not a Fighter' was the album's most obscure cover.  To my ears it sounded out of place on the collection.

(side 2)

1.) I'll Never Fall Again - 1:56  rating: *** stars

The second original, 'I'll Never Fall Again' also showed potential, but again suffered from horrible production and some weird abrupt time changes.  For a moment I wondered if my turntable belt was slipping.  LOL
2.) Feel A Whole Lot Better (Gene Clark) - 2:20  rating: *** stars

As a big Byrds fan, Gene Clark's 'Feel A Whole Lot Better' is one of my favorite Byrds tunes. The good news is The Barracudas' cover wasn't a total disaster.  Lead guitarist Parker got a chance to showcase his jangle rock credentials and the band showed some reasonable talent in terms of harmony vocals.
3.) All My Lovin' (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 2:00 rating: *** stars

The original melody was there, but the "group" vocals were iffy.  
4.) I'm a Man (Elias McDonald) - 5:56 rating: **** stars

For a bunch of guys still in their teens, their cover of Bo Diddley's 'I'm a Man' was surprisingly impressive.  It certainly displayed more energy that the lame Beatles covers.  There was even a tasty freak-out, fuzz guitar solo from Parker.  Always wondered who handled the extended harmonica solo.
5.) Shot Gun (Autry DeWalt) - 2:52 rating: *** stars

Well you weren't going to mistake Earnardt for Jr. Walker, but he certainly gave it his best.  I bet this one was a blast to hear live.

In the wake of the album's release the band continued to play the mid-Atlantic frat circuit. They also managed to release a cover of Richmond, Virginia's The Nine's ''(Days of a) Quiet Sun'' as follow-on 45 on the small Hollywood-based Satori label before calling it quits in 1969.

- 1968's  '(Days of a) Quiet Sun' b/w 'Apple Pie' (Satori catalog number 45-507) 

In August, 2004 the band (sans Chris Layne), reunited for their 35th high school reunion: 3rd Annual Blast From The Past August 21st, 2004 (springerconnection.com)

© Scott R. Blackerby September, 2024

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