Stories of the artists of records in the host's personal collection.
"What I Girl Can't Do/The Girl Who Faded Away"- The Hangmen (1965):
I'll have to get a better transfer when I go home, but this works for now
Record found at Blue Bones Vintage in Richmond, VA
The Hangmen were an American garage band hailing from Rockville, Maryland. The band consisted of Montgomery High School students Mike West (bass) and George Daly (rhythm guitar). They were later joined by fellow students Tom Guernsey and Bob Berberich who recorded various tracks with their previous band, The Reekers.
The group eventually convinced Scottish singer Dave Ottley to become part of the lineup to further differentiate the group from other American bands and to form a closer connection to the British Invasion. The Hangmen released their first single, “What A Girl Can’t Do/The Girl Who Faded Away” on the Washington, D.C.-based label Monument Records in 1965. The single soon became a regional hit in the D.C./Northern VA area and became so popular that on several occasions the group was greeted with near “Beatlemania” attention from adoring fans to the point where riots nearly erupted in the audience. The recording of “What A Girl Can’t Do” appearing on the Monument release was originally recorded by The Reekers but wasn’t a hit. Since the group included two future Hangmen (Guernsey and Berberich), the group decided to give all credit to The Hangmen.
“What A Girl Can’t Do” is a fast-paced rocker with the singer firmly telling his girl that she needs to stop running around and treating him like dirt (a common theme of garage tracks). “The Girl Who Faded Away” is the hauntingly moody flip side of the narrator waking up from a dream about a girl who he loves but is no longer with. The atmospheric guitar and vocal delivery make the listener question whether or not they are dreaming too, and if the singer will ever find solace or keep wandering around in the purgatory of unrequited love.
The Hangmen released two singles in 1966, “Dream Baby/Let It Be Me” and “Faces/Bad Goodbye.” Their last musical effort was their 1967 LP “Bitter Sweet” also released on Monument Records.